Request for proof of vaccination to foreigners is random at Brazilian airports, travelers say

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Foreigners who on Sunday morning, December 26, landed at the Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo said that proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is randomly requested by Brazilian authorities.

American Jessie Lewis, 29, landed in São Paulo with personal trainer Paulo Moura, 31, and said she was not approached by authorities upon arrival, despite having a negative PCR test and proof of vaccination in hand.

“Before boarding, in the United States, I had to present the test and the DSV (Traveler’s Health Declaration),” she says. “Upon landing here, the request was made randomly,” the American continued.

The personal trainer said he had to present his vaccine passport in a separate line for Brazilians. “I showed proof of vaccination along with my passport at immigration, it was quite fast,” he said.

American Christopher James, 22, also reports not having been checked by Brazilian authorities. “I thought it was going to take longer, but I only had to show my passport and visa,” he says.

Coming from Spain, Brazilian Meire Jane says that the approach was different. “They gave me a piece of paper as soon as they checked my vaccination certificate and I had to hand it in at immigration,” she said. Spaniards on the same flight did likewise, she says.

The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) began to demand the vaccine passport to foreigners who land in Brazil on December 13. The measure complied with a ruling by Federal Supreme Court (STF) Justice Luís Roberto Barroso.

Barroso’s decision resulted from an appeal by the Federal Attorney General’s Office (AGU), which requested the Justice to determine the scope of his order to demand compulsory proof of vaccination against Covid-19 to people entering Brazil.

According to the decision, only people coming from countries with confirmed unavailability of immunizers or who can prove that they have not been vaccinated for medical reasons are exempted from submitting the document.

GRU Airport, the airport concessionaire, reported that it is up to ANVISA to provide information about the checking of vaccine passports.

In a statement, ANVISA said that proof of vaccination for travelers coming by air must be checked by the airline before boarding to Brazil. ” According to STF guidance, the document may be randomly checked by ANVISA,” the agency said.

HIGH TRAFFIC

The national boarding area at Guarulhos airport was crowded with passengers early on Sunday morning.

The lines to check in luggage took up to 2 hours, according to passengers. “I arrived 3 hours earlier and I’m getting nervous,” said salesman Alan Freitas, 28, who had been standing in the line for over an hour to board a flight to the northeast.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of nearly 5,000 flights worldwide since Christmas Eve.

By 10 AM on Sunday, 5 domestic flights were delayed and none had been canceled, according to GRU Airport.

In the international departure terminal there was also heavy traffic at the Covid-19 testing labs set up near the departure gate.

Despite the requirement to test negative to enter many countries, passengers decided to take the test a few hours before traveling. One of the companies installed in the terminal delivers the results within 4 hours.