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BRASILIA – The government has banned international flights to Brazil that originate in or pass through the UK and Northern Ireland. An ordinance with the determinations was published in an additional edition of the Official Gazette on Wednesday night. The rule goes into effect on December 25.
The regulation also restricts the entry of foreigners of any nationality by road and other means of land or river transport.
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With the publication of the ordinance, Brazil joins the group of more than 40 countries that have already closed their doors to the United Kingdom after the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the region. On Wednesday, British officials announced the identification of another new variant of the virus that appears to be more transmissible.
The Brazilian government had resisted making this decision, in a push game between the country’s authorities. The ministries were holding each other accountable when asked later this week if they would join countries that have banned flights from the UK.
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In addition to banning flights, the ordinance issued by the Brazilian government also establishes restrictions on foreign travelers, coming or passing through the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in the last 14 days. Their shipping authorization for Brazil will be temporarily suspended.
The restrictions of the ordinance do not apply to Brazilian born or naturalized, immigrants with permanent residence, foreign professionals at the service of an international organization, among other exceptions. In such cases, if the traveler is originally from or has passed through the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, they must comply with the quarantine for 14 days when entering Brazilian territory.
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According to the decree, those who fail to comply with the rules are subject to civil, administrative and criminal liability; immediate repatriation or deportation; and disqualification of asylum applications.
Negative test to enter the country
Brazilians or foreigners, coming from anywhere, must present to the airline responsible for the flight, before boarding to Brazil, the lRT-PCR laboratory test with a negative or non-reactive result, performed within 72 hours prior to boarding. . This rule is effective as of December 30.
The test result must be presented in Portuguese, Spanish or English and must be carried out in a laboratory recognized by the health authority of the country of departure. If the flight has connections or stopovers and the traveler remains in a restricted area of the airport, the period of seventy-two hours will be considered in relation to the boarding of the first leg of the trip.
Accompanied children under 12 years of age are exempt from presenting the test, provided that all the companions present their documents with a negative result. Those over two years old and under 12 years old traveling alone must present the proof. Children under the age of two do not need to take the test.
