Did you know that it is possible to travel without a passport? That’s right! There are 9 countries you can travel to with just your HR, all of them in South America.
You can go through immigration and enjoy your vacation with just your Brazilian identity document. All this thanks to bilateral government agreements to facilitate transit between our neighbors.
Photo: Disclosure/Federal Police
In this post we tell you the rules for entering Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru and other neighboring countries in 2023 and 2024.
See too:
• 5 backpacking itineraries across South America
• Travel through Latin America: complete guide from Mexico to Argentina
• What is the best travel insurance for South America? See 5 tips
Which countries do you not need a passport to travel to?
Thanks to Mercosur’s diplomatic agreements, you don’t need a passport to travel to 9 South American countries:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
See more about each of them.
Argentina
Buenos Aires awaits you and it’s right there. Our neighboring capital is beautiful, charming, lively and relatively cheap for Brazilians.
Furthermore, how about visiting the wineries of Mendoza, the lakes of Bariloche, the Andean north or the beauties of Patagonia?
All of Argentina, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, welcomes you with open arms. And without a passport. See more travel tips for Argentina here.
Bolivia
From La Paz to Salar de Uiuny: Bolivia is incredible and very cheap. With a rich and present indigenous culture, landscapes that look like something out of a science fiction film and a happy and receptive people, Bolivia is, for many people, their favorite destination in South America.
And the best part: we don’t even need a passport to travel there. If you want to discover a different place, have unique experiences and spend little, this could be the destination for you. Be sure to read the text in which we explain, number by number, how much it costs to travel through South America.
Chile
Start with Santiago. Run to the hills for a walk if it’s winter, or enjoy the view of the Andes and the liveliness of the city if it’s summer.
Don’t forget the wineries, Atacama and Patagonia: Chile is beautiful, has diverse ecosystems and flights there are often at good rates. See more travel tips for Chile!
Colombia
The capital Bogotá is rich in urban culture, gastronomy, history and art, but without losing the warmth and friendliness of the Colombian people.
The country also has Caribbean beaches in Cartagena, San Andrés and Santa Marta; Amazon rainforest and Andean mountains. It’s diversity for South Americans, no faults.
And if you are still scared by this name, know that the history of violence resulting from drug trafficking has been left behind for more than a decade and today we can enjoy the riches of this unique and, why not, magical country?
See some travel itinerary ideas for Colombia.
Ecuador
Ecuador is the smallest country in South America, but it is not far behind when it comes to cultural and, of course, natural wealth.
The country is home to the famous Galápagos archipelago, a symbol of biodiversity and well known for being the place where Darwin best developed his theory of evolution.
But this is not the only option for nature lovers: the country still has 14 volcanoes within its territory, coastline, Amazon rainforest and snow-capped mountains. Check out some travel tips for Ecuador.
Paraguay
Paraguay is much more than the area just after the Friendship Bridge – in reality, that region of Ciudad del Este does not represent what the country is at all.
Despite being known for cheap shopping (and having a bad reputation for offering products of dubious quality, another stereotype), the country still has a lot to show in terms of history, natural beauty and nightlife.
How about going there? Promotions to Asunción, the country’s capital, are frequent. Check out some travel tips for Paraguay.
Peru
Lima was the capital of Spanish America, which left the city full of historic buildings.
Before that, however, Peru was also the capital of the Inca Empire, and the historical remains of these two eras make it one of the most interesting and visited countries in the world.
In addition to Machu Picchu and Cuzco, just to name two of its biggest stars, the country also has cities such as Puno, Iquitos and the Nazca line.
Not to mention the unique cuisine. See some travel tips for Peru.
Uruguay
Another simple trip that isn’t expensive. And it fits on a long weekend. Montevideo, Punta del Este and Colônia del Sacramento can be visited in four days.
Or you can combine them with Buenos Aires, which is an hour from Uruguay. Here we have a ready-made itinerary to explore Uruguay by car.
Venezuela
Between Marguerita Island, the San Roque archipelago and part of Mount Roraima, Venezuela has much more to offer than what the news shows us.
We have little content about Venezuela here at 360 – just one post, the result of a few hours in Caracas. But we are sure that the country makes for quite a trip.
Which countries in South America require a passport to travel?
In South America, only Guyana, Suriname and the British islands in the south of the continent require a passport for Brazilian travelers.
Which countries in Europe do not require a passport to enter? Do Italy and Portugal require a passport?
For Brazilian citizens, all European countries require the presentation of a passport to enter the country, including Italy and Portugal.
The requirement is only not valid for those who have dual European citizenship. In this case, people can travel within the Schengen Area without a passport.
However, requiring a passport is not the same as requiring a visa. European countries do not require visas for Brazilians traveling for tourism. In this post you can see what documents are required to travel to Europe.
What documents are needed to travel without a passport
A passport is not mandatory, but there is still a list of documents required to enter these countries. See what they are:
Valid National Identity Card
To travel without a passport in South America, in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Peru, you must present your identity document (RG) to the immigration officer, as stated above.
But be careful: it is important that the document is in good condition, that is, no wallet is torn or falling apart, and that the photo is current.
According to Itamaraty, the document must be issued within 10 years, but it is good to understand this more as a basis for what would be a “current photo” than anything else. If you’ve moved a lot and the photo doesn’t look like you, even if the document is less than 10 years old, it’s best to get another ID.
And attention: CNH and other official Brazilian documents are not accepted.
Proof of entry into the country
When you enter the country, you will receive a paper informing you of your entry date and the length of legal stay you are entitled to.
Keep it and present it again when leaving the country. If you lose it during your trip, you will have to pay a fine. The amount of this fine varies from place to place.
Furthermore, during the pandemic, some countries, such as Argentina, required a specific form to be completed. Pay attention to whether there are still any requirements in force before boarding.
Is it mandatory to present Travel Insurance at immigration?
Although they do not need a passport, Brazilians traveling to Venezuela must have taken out travel insurance. The document is mandatory and may be required at immigration, so it’s best not to risk it.
In other countries, insurance is optional, but we recommend that you never travel without one. Insurance protects you in the event of any medical emergency, theft, lost luggage or the need to interrupt your trip due to some major unforeseen event, you will have peace of mind.
Do you want to know how to spend little on taking out insurance?
We have discount coupon that can reach up to 25% of the insurance value, and also allows you to compare between different insurers and find the best coverage for you, including coverage for Covid-19.
Did you like it? Then take advantage of the offers below:
Vaccination Certificates for South America: Yellow Fever and Covid-19
Proof of vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory and required upon immigration to some South American countries, except Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Peru.
Some countries in the region also started to require proof of vaccination against Covid-19 upon immigration. As this requirement changes a lot, our suggestion is that you check directly on the website of the consulate of the country to which you intend to travel.
In the post below there is a step-by-step guide for you to obtain the bilingual certificate in the SUS app:
See here how to obtain your international vaccination certificate against Covid-19 and Yellow Fever.
In addition, the government recommends that travelers be immunized against hepatitis A and B, tetanus and diphtheria, typhoid fever, meningococcal infection. These, however, are not mandatory vaccines.
Is it necessary to present a PCR test against Covid-19 to travel in South America? And quarantine?
At the moment, South American countries no longer require a Covid-19 test to board, but this may change depending on the epidemiological situation in each country and the emergence of new variants.
Check all the rules with the consulate of your travel destination before boarding, as they can change at any time!
Cheap airline tickets to travel without a passport through South America
Do you want to find a cheap ticket for your itineraries in South America? Then take a look at the Passagens Promo promotions. There you can compare prices between the main companies and find out about unmissable discounts.
