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Travel Advisory: Brazil - Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution

8/31/2026 | Report

Travel Advisory: Brazil - Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution

*OSAC does not issue travel advisories. These notices are sourced from travel.state.gov
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31 August, 2026
 
Travel Advisory
Travel Advisory

TRAVEL ADVISORY – Brazil

Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution

C – Crime

K – Kidnapping

Advisory Summary

Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to:

  • International land borders due to crime and kidnapping.
  • Informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados) due to crime.
  • Brasilia’s Satellite cities due to crime.

Advisory Summary

Crime

Violent crime occurs in urban areas, day and night.  Crimes include murder, armed robbery, and carjacking.

  • Gang activity and organized crime are widespread. and are often tied to the illegal drug trade.
  • Assaults are common, including with sedatives or drugs placed in drinks, especially in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Criminals target foreigners through dating apps or at bars before drugging and robbing their victims.

U.S. government employees working in Brazil need special authorization to travel to the following areas due to safety risks:

– Within 100 miles/160 km of Brazil’s land borders (except travel to the Foz do Iguacu and Pantanal),

– informal housing developments in Brazil and,

– the Administrative Regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

U.S. government employees are advised not to use municipal buses in Brazil due to serious risks of robbery and assault, especially at night.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping for ransom involving U.S. citizens is rare but occasionally occurs. Brazilians are most often targeted, but foreigners remain vulnerable. U.S. businesses frequently arrange enhanced security for senior executives in São Paulo and other major cities.

Organized criminal groups sometimes target individuals observed withdrawing money from ATMs or leaving banks. Use ATMs in secure locations such as shopping malls or major hotels. Express kidnapping — in which criminals force victims at gunpoint to withdraw cash from multiple ATMs or transfer funds via banking apps (commonly Pix) — is an ongoing threat to both locals and foreigners.

To reduce your risk, vary your routes and travel times; park in well-lit, guarded garages, as criminals often confront victims at their vehicles; and limit the number of bank and credit cards you carry to reduce potential losses.

 

Risks in Specific Areas

Level 4 – Do Not Travel

International Borders

Do not travel to international land borders due to crime and kidnapping. U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel within 100 miles/160 km of the international land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

  • Do not travel to these areas for any reason.
  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas .
  • Note: U.S. government employees are allowed to travel to Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park.

Informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados)

Do not travel to informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados) due to risk of crime.

U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel to informal housing developments in Brazil.

  • Do not travel to informal housing developments, even on guided tours.
  • Tour companies or police cannot guarantee your safety when entering these communities. Even in areas that police or local governments consider safe, the situation can change quickly.
  • Some informal housing developments have clear boundaries. Other areas are harder to spot. You might recognize these developments by looking for places where many people live close together, in impoverished conditions, or irregular construction.
  • Exercise caution near these communities as gang fighting and police clashes sometimes extend beyond their boundaries.
  • Check the Safety and Security Section and consult the maps on the Embassy’s website for details about favelas.
  • Do not travel to these areas for any reason.
  • Visit our website Travel to High-Risk Areas .

 

Brasilia’s Satellite cities Exercise increased caution when traveling to Brasilia’s Satellite cities due to crime.

U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel to Brasilia’s Administrative Regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

 

If you decide to travel to Brazil:  

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Review the Country Security Report  for Brazil.
  • Review our information on Crime Abroad  and for Victims of Crime .
  • Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
  • Use caution when walking or driving at night.
  • Stay aware of your surroundings.
  • Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry.
  • Stay alert when visiting banks or ATMs.
  • Give your itinerary to a family member or friend.
  • Avoid walking on beaches after dark.
  • Avoid going to bars or nightclubs alone
  • Do not accept food or drinks from strangers and always watch your drinks.
  • Be aware of possible online dating scams either for potential financial theft or physical harm.
  • Be careful at major transportation centers or on public transport, especially at night. Passengers are at higher risk of robbery or assault when using public buses in Brazil.
  • Use increased caution when hiking in isolated areas.

Develop a communication plan with family, employer, or host organization so they can monitor your safety and location if you travel through high-risk areas. Specify how you’ll confirm you are safe (text, calls, etc.), how often, and who you will contact first to share the information.

For More Information: