Basics - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 44

Electricity

T 323 651 2664, W losangeles.itamaraty.gov.br; 80 SW 8th St,
26/F, Miami T 305 285 6200, W miami.itamaraty.gov.br; 225 East
41st St, New York T 917 777 7777, W novayork.itamaraty.gov.br;
and 300 Montgomery St, Suite 300, San Francisco T 415 981 8170,
W saofrancisco.itamaraty.gov.br.

Electricity supplies vary - sometimes 110V and
sometimes 220V - so check before plugging
anything in. Plugs have two round pins, as in conti-
nental Europe.

Entry requirements

Embassies and consulates
Foreign countries are represented at embassy
level in Brasília, and most also maintain consulates
in Rio and São Paulo. Elsewhere, consulates, vice-
consulates or honorary consulates are found in
many major cities, from Manaus to Porto Alegre.
Addresses and telephone numbers can be found in
the “Directory” sections for the cities in the Guide.
Where their country doesn't have a representative,
in an emergency a Commonwealth national can
seek help at a British mission, and a European Union
citizen at another EU mission.

Citizens of most EU countries, New Zealand and
South Africa only need a valid passport and either a
return or onward ticket (or evidence of funds to pay
for one) to enter Brazil. You fill in an entry form on
arrival and get a tourist stamp allowing you to stay
for ninety days. Australian, US and Canadian citizens
need visas in advance, available from Brazilian consu-
lates abroad; a return or onward ticket is usually a
requirement. You'll also need to submit a passport
photo with your visa application and pay a processing
fee (consulates in the US only accept postal money
orders, while consulates in other countries may
accept certified cheques). Fees vary according to
nationality, with US citizens currently paying US$160,
Canadians C$81.25 and Australians A$42.
Try not to lose the carbon copy of the entry form
the o cials hand you back at passport control; you
are meant to return it when you leave Brazil, but
you are no longer fined if you don't. Citizens from
the EU, New Zealand and South Africa can extend a
tourist permit for an additional ninety days by
applying at least fifteen days before their initial one
expires, but it will only be extended once; if you
want to stay longer, you'll have to leave the country
and re-enter. There's nothing in the rulebook to
stop you re-entering immediately, but it's advisable
to wait at least a day.
You'll be fined if you overstay your tourist permit
or visa. A US$10-equivalent charge, payable in
Brazilian currency (R$23 at the time of writing), is
made on tourist permit and visa extensions .
Academic visitors and researchers making a short
trip or attending a conference are best advised to
enter on a tourist visa - check with your local
consulate for advice.

BRAZILIAN EMBASSIES AND
CONSULATES ABROAD
Australia Embassy and consulate: 19 Forster Crescent, Yarralumla,
Canberra, ACT 2600 T 02 6273 2372, W camberra.itamaraty.gov
.br; consulate: Level 6, 44 Clarence St, Sydney T 02 9267 4414,
W sydney.itamaraty.gov.br.
Canada Embassy and consulate: 450 Wilbrod St, Ottawa, ON K1V
6M8 T 1 613 237 1090, W ottawa.itamaraty.gov.br; consulates: 1
Westmount Sq, Suite 1700, Montréal T 1514 499 0968,
W montreal.itamaraty.gov.br; 77 Bloor St W, Toronto T 1 416 922
2503, W toronto.itamaraty.gov.br; consulate: 2020-666 Burrard St,
Vancouver T 1604 696 5311, W vancouver.itamaraty.gov.br.
Ireland Embassy and consulate: Block 8, Harcourt Centre, Charlotte
Way, Dublin 2 T 01 475 6000, W dublin.itamaraty.gov.br.
New Zealand Embassy and consulate: Level 13, 10 Customhouse
Quay, Wellington T 04 473 3516, W brazil.org.nz.
South Africa Embassy and consulate: 177 Dyer Rd, Hillcrest O ce
Park, Woodpecker Place 1/F, Hillcrest, Pretoria T 012 366 5200,
W pretoria.itamaraty.gov.br; consulate: 22 Riebeek St, Triangle
House 21/F, Cape Town T 021 421 4040, W cidadedocabo
.itamaraty.gov.br.
UK Embassy: 14-16 Cockspur St, London SW1Y 5BL T 020 7747
4500, W brazil.org.uk; consulate: 3 Vere St, London W1G 0DG
T 020 7659 1550, W cglondres.itamaraty.gov.br.
US Embassy: 3006 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20008
T 202 238 2700, W washington.itamaraty.gov.br; consulates:
3500 Lenox Rd NE, One Alliance Center, Suite 800, Atlanta
T 404 949 2400, W atlanta.itamaraty.gov.br; 175 Purchase St,
Boston T 617 542 4000, W boston.itamaraty.gov.br; 401 N
Michigan Ave, Suite 1850, Chicago T 312 464 0244, W chicago
.itamaraty.gov.br; Park Tower North, 1233 W Loop South, Suite
1150, Houston T 713 961 3063, W houston.itamaraty.gov.br;
8484 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 300, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

Gay and lesbian travel

Gay life in Brazil thrives, especially in the large
cities, Rio in particular being one of the great gay
cities of the world. In general, the scene benefits
from Brazil's hedonistically relaxed attitudes towards
sexuality in general, and the divide between gay
and straight nightlife is often very blurred.
Attitudes vary from region to region. The two
most popular gay destinations are Rio and Salvador.