Brazil
Local Laws & Customs
Last verified August 21, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Public Conduct
- Public consumption of cannabis remains prohibited even where possession itself has been decriminalized (see Drugs & Alcohol below); using it openly in public can still draw police attention.
Medicines You Can't Bring
- Bring prescription medications in original packaging with the prescription; stimulant medications and other controlled substances can require additional import documentation (ANVISA, Brazil's health regulatory agency) for larger quantities.
Photography & Drones
- Drones must be registered with ANAC (Brazil's civil aviation authority) above certain weight thresholds, and flying near airports, government buildings, and large public events is restricted.
Drugs & Alcohol
- The legal drinking age is 18, enforced nationwide.
- Brazil's 'Lei Seca' (Dry Law) prohibits driving with any measurable blood-alcohol level at all, a zero-tolerance standard, not the 0.08% threshold common in the U.S.
- In 2024, Brazil's Supreme Court decriminalized cannabis possession of up to 40g or cultivation of up to 6 plants (administrative penalty only, no arrest or criminal record); other drugs (cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines, opioids) remain fully illegal with serious trafficking sentences of 5–15 years.
Carrying ID
- Carry a photocopy of your passport (and ideally a driver's license) with you; ID is required if your age is in question and generally useful if stopped by police.
The Gotcha
Lei Seca's true zero-tolerance driving standard is stricter than what most Americans expect walking in, there's no 'one beer is probably fine' buffer the way there effectively is under a 0.08% BAC limit. If you're driving in Brazil at all, plan on zero alcohol, not 'under the limit.'
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Brazil International Travel Information (U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs)