gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Tourism & short stayPublishedMedium impactVerified

U.S. State Department Updates Brazil Travel Advisory, Maintaining Level 2 with Enhanced Guidance on Specific Risks and L

🇺🇸 United StatesTravel Advisories1 recorded versionLast change 1 Sept 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The U.S. Department of State advises U.S. citizens to 'Exercise Increased Caution' in Brazil due to crime and kidnapping. Specific risks include violent crime (murder, armed robbery, carjacking, gang activity, organised crime) occurring in urban areas day and night, with assaults (including drugging) common, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Kidnapping for ransom, including 'express kidnapping' (forcing victims to withdraw cash or transfer funds), is an ongoing threat. U.S. government employees require special authorisation to travel within 160 km of Brazil’s land borders (except Foz do Iguacu and Pantanal), to informal housing developments, and to specific Administrative Regions of Brasilia (Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, Paranoa) between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. They are also advised not to use municipal buses due to risks of robbery and assault. U.S. citizens are advised 'Do Not Travel' to international land borders, informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados), and Brasilia's Satellite cities due to crime and kidnapping.

Overview

The U.S. Department of State has issued an updated Travel Advisory for Brazil, maintaining its 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution' rating. This revision expands on the details regarding prevalent criminal activities, such as express kidnapping and online dating scams, and refines geographical restrictions for U.S. government employees within Brazil, including specific times for 'Satellite Cities'. The changes primarily concern the explicit mention of new modus operandi for criminals and updated advice on how to mitigate these risks for travellers to Brazil.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • U.S. citizens travelling to Brazil
  • U.S. government employees working in Brazil

What changed in the latest version

Before

The last U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Brazil told people to be extra careful because of crime and kidnapping. It generally advised 'Do Not Travel' to areas within 160 kilometres (100 miles) of land borders. This excluded Foz do Iguacu and Pantanal. It also advised against travelling to informal housing developments and Brasilia's 'Satellite Cities' at night. It also told U.S. government employees not to use municipal buses. This was due to the risk of robbery and assault.

After

The U.S. Department of State advises U.S. citizens to 'Exercise Increased Caution' in Brazil. This is due to crime and kidnapping. Specific risks include violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, carjacking, and gang activity. Organised crime also occurs. These crimes happen in cities day and night. Attacks, including druggings, are common, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Kidnapping for ransom, including 'express kidnapping' (forcing victims to withdraw cash or transfer funds), is a continuous threat. U.S. government employees must get special permission to travel within 160 kilometres of Brazil's land borders. This excludes Foz do Iguacu and Pantanal. They also need permission to travel to informal housing developments. They also need permission for specific Administrative Regions of Brasilia: Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa. This permission is needed for travel between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. They are also told not to use municipal buses. This is due to the risks of robbery and assault. U.S. citizens are advised 'Do Not Travel' to international land borders. They should also not travel to informal housing developments, known as favelas, vilas, comunidades, or conglomerados. Lastly, they should not travel to Brasilia's Satellite cities. This advice is due to crime and kidnapping.

This updated warning means U.S. citizens travelling to Brazil must now know about more specific and detailed risks of crime and kidnapping. They need to take more personal security measures. For U.S. government employees, there are new restrictions for travelling to certain regions and informal housing developments. They are also told not to use municipal buses. This could affect their work travel. Travellers generally need to take more security steps. For example, they should use secure ATMs and change their travel routes. This helps to reduce the increased risk of 'express kidnapping' and other crimes. Not following these recommendations could make personal safety risks higher. It could also make consular help more difficult.

Explained simply

Imagine the U.S. government is like a responsible older sibling giving you advice for your holiday to Brazil. They’re saying, 'Be careful, because some sneaky people might try to steal your stuff, especially in cities.' They're not saying 'don't go', but 'be extra aware'. They've updated their advice to tell you that criminals are now using new tricks, like forcing people to use their phone banking apps to send money, or tricking people they meet on dating apps to drug and rob them. So, just like you wouldn't leave your phone unattended, you now need to be super careful about who you meet online and how you handle your money. They also point out specific areas, like certain border regions and informal neighbourhoods, where it's best not to go at all.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 31 Aug 2026PublishedMedium impact
    U.S. State Department Updates Brazil Travel Advisory, Maintaining Level 2 with Enhanced Guidance on Specific Risks and Locations

    The U.S. Department of State keeps its 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution' travel warning for Brazil. This is mainly because of higher worries about crime and kidnapping. The updated warning gives specific details on violent crime. This includes murder, armed robbery, carjacking, and gang activity. These crimes happen mostly in cities. It especially focuses on attacks and druggings in Rio de Janeiro. It also highlights the constant threat of different kinds of kidnapping, including 'express kidnapping'. This is when criminals force victims to withdraw cash or transfer money. The warning now includes new travel rules for U.S. government employees in certain areas. Also, it now clearly states that international land borders, informal housing developments, and Brasilia's Satellite cities are 'Do Not Travel' zones.

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