Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Barroso votes to uphold vaccine passport requirement

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Wednesday night, Federal Supreme Court (STF) Justice Luis Roberto Barroso voted to uphold the decision to require travelers entering Brazil to present proof of vaccination and a test to detect Covid-19.

The injunction trial began on Wednesday and will end at 11:59 PM on Thursday, December 16.

The only travelers exempted from presenting the vaccine passport are people who are not vaccinated for medical reasons, who come from a country where the vaccine is unavailable, or for exceptional humanitarian reasons.

In his decision, Barroso emphasized that Brazilians and foreigners with residence in Brazil must also present a negative test and proof of immunization. “This is a measure to encourage vaccination, to avert the risk of infection of people living here,” he wrote in his decision.

Should travelers lack the “vaccine passport” they will be required to undergo a 5-day quarantine, followed by a PCR test. Barroso said that “it is up to the health authorities to regulate the monitoring and consequences of non-compliance with these determinations.”

On Monday night, the Federal Attorney General’s Office (AGU) lodged an appeal against the Justice’s decision. AGU requested that Barroso change his decision to ensure that “Brazilians and foreigners residing in Brazil may return to the country without proof of vaccination, provided they comply with the quarantine established.”

Following AGU’s appeal, the Justice on Tuesday night clarified the decision and said that Brazilians and foreigners residing in Brazil who left the country before the date of the ruling are subject to the former rules, i.e., they are not required to present proof of vaccination.