- Capital
- Brasília (BSB)
- Dialing Code
- + 55
- Time Zone
- UTC / GMT -2 and UTC / GMT -5
- Daylight Savings Time
- Observed by some states in Brasilia Time
- Language
- Portuguese
- Best Time to Go
- September – October and March – May
- Currency
- Real/Reais (BRL)
Travel Tips
- Only official taxis should be used
- USD is widely accepted in tourist areas
- All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated, bottled water is available
- High Season is from Christmas until Carnaval (late February / early March)
- September – October and March – May have good weather and low season rates
- Brazil lies across 4 time zones
- Spanish, English, Italian, French and German may be spoken in tourist areas
- States which observe DST: Distrito Federal (includes Brasilia), Espírito Santo (includes Vitória), Goiás (includes Goiânia), Minas Gerais (includes Belo Horizonte), Rio Grande do Sul (includes Porto Alegre), Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina (includes Criciúma) and São Paulo
Last updated 28 September 2026
Visa Guide
Foreign Representation in South Africa
Embassy of Brazil in Pretoria
152 Dallas Avenue, Corobay Corner Building, Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria 0181
Telephone: 012 366 5200
E-mail: brasemb.pretoria@itamaraty.gov.br
Visas: consular.pretoria@itamaraty.gov.br
Website: www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/
Consulate-General of Brazil in Cape Town
901 Touchstone House, 9th Floor, 7 Bree Street, Cape Town, 8001
Telephone: 021 421 4040
E-mail: cg.capetown@itamaraty.gov.br
Visas: consular.capetown@itamaraty.gov.br
Web: www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/
Public Holidays
2026
January: 1
February: 16 - 18
April: 3, 21
May: 1
June: 4
September: 7
October: 12, 28
November: 2, 15, 20
December: 24-25, 31
Visa Requirements
Visas are NOT required by SA passport holders for a maximum period of 90 days
Entry Requirements
- Return or onward ticket
- Accommodation arrangements. If staying with friends, a letter of invitation is required
- Sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay in Brazil
- Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months when entering Brazil and must have 2 blank pages
Health / Vaccinations
Compulsory:
Yellow Fever
Recommended Travel Vaccines:
Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio
Malaria Risk
South African Representative Abroad
South African Embassy
SES - Avenida das Nações, Lote 6, Quadra 801, 70406-900 - Brasília/DF
Telephone: +55 61 3312-9500
Email: brasilia.general@dirco.gov.za
Website: www.africadosul.org.br/
South African Consulate-General
Av. Paulista, 1754 - 12th floor, 01310-920 - São Paulo
Telephone: + 55 11 3265-0449
Email: costal@dirco.gov.za