The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued a fresh update to its Brazil country advice on 18 July 2026. Although the overall risk level for most of Brazil remains unchanged, the guidance now highlights three new areas of concern that business and leisure travellers need to factor into their plans. Firstly, the warning section expands the list of river zones in the western Amazon where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Criminal gangs involved in illegal mining, timber and drug trafficking are reportedly more active along remote stretches of the Amazonas, Japurá, Rio Negro and Itaquaí rivers. Companies that send staff to riverine research sites, mining concessions or community projects will need to review their journey-management plans, ensure they have credible local security partners and, where possible, shift meetings to urban hubs such as Manaus, Santarém or Belém. Secondly, the update adds detailed advice on common scams in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and the north-east’s resort towns. These include fraudulent taxi apps that clone legitimate platforms and credit-card skimming at beach kiosks. The FCDO urges visitors to use only official airport taxi desks, insist on metered cabs in town and pay by contactless or mobile wallet whenever possible. Employers should brief travellers on safe-payment practices and consider adding corporate ride-hailing accounts that screen drivers. Thirdly, the ‘Safety and security’ section now flags a rise in express kidnappings around the Porto Maravilha port redevelopment zone in Rio and near Congonhas Airport in São Paulo. The guidance recommends travelling during daylight where feasible, avoiding displays of jewellery or high-end electronics, and using hotels that provide door-to-door transport after dark. Mobility managers should update their risk assessments and remind assignees that local police response times can be slow in traffic-congested areas. While the FCDO’s entry-requirements page remains unchanged—UK citizens can enter Brazil visa-free for up to 90 days—travel insurers may treat any trip that ignores the new ‘against all but essential travel’ advice as a non-covered activity. Human-resources teams should therefore cross-check itineraries that include river expeditions or projects in Amazonas state. In practical terms, the new advice reinforces existing best practice: register with your embassy, keep copies of ID separate from originals, and monitor local media for protests that can spill over into roadblocks and airport delays. The timing of the update is significant: July and August are peak months for Europeans escaping winter for Brazil’s beaches, and for corporate travellers attending Brazil-focused side events ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November. By acting now, companies can adjust duty-of-care protocols, brief their people and avoid costly last-minute itinerary changes.
