Brazil reintroduces TIPs for travellers' vehicles
 

As I expected. Brasil safe haven is no longer.
Message from a friend who crossed into Brasil from Uruguay yesterday.

"My knowledge was, that Brasil doesn't register the car. This has CHANGED at least at the border of CHUY we have passed today. They said that since "this year" the law changed back to registration of cars. The Immigration asked for the car datas when they registered the personal datas in the computer. The Receita Ferderal (Customs) registered all details of the car in the computer and gave us a signed form sheet, which has to be presented, when leaving the country."

BUGGER!!!!!!!! But HAD to happen as the previous system just didn't make any sense at all.

Our plan was to cross from Cusco into Brasil in a couple of weeks and head to Brasilia where a friend had offered us a free parking spot in his back yard. Guess we will still go there but then head down to Uruguay where we can leave the truck for up to a year. Only an extra 3500km over what I was planning - but guess that since we rarely plan anything, it is easy to change. Was just about to book plane tickets from Brasilia so the timing of this bad news was perfect.

Thanks for the information.

Would you consider changing the title of your thread to something along the lines of "Brazil again requiring temporary importation at borders," or "Changes in temporary import procedures, Brazil"....?

That would help spread the word to anyone interested, if that's your aim. If not, leave it as it is.

Mark

Are we assuming this includes bikes too?
Since it's new regs perhaps there is a way to get a waiver in order to leave your vehicle there for extended period?

Some countries offer a bonded facility or have some means where you can do this as long as you get paperwork to allow it. Worth a question perhaps?

Brazil is in real economic trouble ATM. Changes be a comin'!

Mark, I don't think I can change the title, just the body, so if you want to, feel free to change it to "Brazil reintroduces TIPs for travellers' vehicles" or similar.

Since had confirmation from two other recent visitors to Brazil that they were issued with TIPs at southern borders with 90 day validity, possibly extendable by 90 days

The TIP waiver was just in response to the wave of vehicles expected from Chile and Argentina for the World Cup and maybe they didn't revert earlier was because they thought they might get a similar invasion for the upcoming Olympics. They are waiving visas for the Olympic period instead.

Thanks. Lots of planning hinged on the absence of TIP at Brazil borders--buying, selling, long-term storage....

I duplicated your thread and re-named the new one. Hope that worked.

Mark

Edit to add: ok, I see you arrived at the same place. Lemme tidy up a bit...

We are crossing from Peru into Brazil in a couple of weeks so I guess if that border is also issuing TIPs we can take it as universal.
Yes Mark, I wouldn't be the only one to be planning on taking advantage of the apparent loophole even though I was always skeptical that it was a real loophole. Wonder what happens if anyone has left their vehicle there thinking they could come back in a couple of years and just drive out. Might have to do it at the falls since they don't seem to care too much.

I wonder how consistent this will be, procedures before were also never the same, every bordercrossing was different, at some you got a TIP, at others they did not know what you were talking about. Police never asked about it as they did\do not know that it is different than for Mercosul vehicles which do not require a TIP.

Yes, I guess we are all aware that the only fixed rule is that there are no fixed rules.

My confirmation came from a traveller who does not need a visa to enter Brazil, but he was still issued with a 90 day TIP.

My concern as I enter Brazil in a few days is that even if they do not issue me with a TIP at that western border, that doesn't mean I don't have to comply with the law that is on the books, so I would be very unwilling to take a chance and go ahead with my original plan to leave our camper in Brasilia for a year. Even before when no border post was issuing posts and 'everyone' said there was a free for all, my thoughts were that while they might have temporarily given up on the paperwork to save long lineups at the borders, the underlying rules still applied.

Tony, et al.

If you are in Brazil without a TVIP, and you are concerned that you will be asked for the TVIP upon exit, then go to one of the badly controlled crossings. There are quite a few uncontrolled crossings with Paraguay (not just at the relaxed Foz crossing). There are also crossings with Uruguay which are a complete free for all (not Chui). Even up north, it's a wild situation. Chui is the most professional crossing i've seen in Brazil, so think about that for a minute.

Yes, the falls crossing is a shambles, but I prefer to not push my luck too much. Just because the aduana man in Argentina was asleep under a tree last time I went through, doesn't mean he will be this time. Go over the TIP validity by one day in Peru and stories are you lose your vehicle. In Ecuador it is more than $300 per DAY. Don't know what the situation is in Brazil, but I do know that Uruguay have TIP validity of 1 year so why take a chance.

Brazil was never a place to leave a vehicle until world cup, so presumably there was a good reason for that..

Paraguay wants 160 dollars each for a visa and it can't be obtained at the border AND all my research points to a total lack of points of interest to me so it is not on our itinerary.

"Paraguay wants 160 dollars each for a visa and it can't be obtained at the border AND all my research points to a total lack of points of interest to me so it is not on our itinerary."

Can Paraguayan citizens get a visa at the border in Australia? and what does it cost them each?

I notice a slight smell of arrogance in your comment:frown:

Totally irrelevant comment and the last half of the sentence is the key - and anyway,perhaps your nose is more attuned to your own odour.. They have to make up their own mind whether Australia is worth their while visiting. We can get a visa at the main airport as it happens but the cost plus the plane fare would make Paraguay even less attractive. No different to the decision we made to skip the entire central Americas, or not to go to Nascar town let alone go up in a plane or to bypass Salta and barriloche. On the other hand we have been through Bolivia and will be returning, not because entry is free (and I bet not reciprocated for Bolivians to Australia) but because it IS a very worthwhile destination regardless of cost. Argentina at 100 dollars and Brazil at $30 also good value. Paraguay is not and even if free, I would not go out of my way to travel there. Research "10 must-sees in Paraguay". After 5 they are really struggling.

and anyway,perhaps your nose is more attuned to your own odour.



Really?????
here?




Its the WAY you said it tony

Some Brazil tips...
 

Tony,

Sad to hear, I traveled in the reverse direction last year and no issues with the Brazilians, Great people great country. I hope to come back when they open the bridge with F. Guiana.

The Brazilian officials at the crossing from Uruguay just told me to keep my vehicle title with me. I left my truck in Brazil for about two months while I flew back to California, again no issues at the airport whatsoever. When leaving at the Assis border going into Peru it was very simple and the Brazilian Official was great. Note to others going in this direction I was required to show and present a copy of my IDP at this border. ( The only time while in South America. )

In Brazil the first 100 miles or so of BR317 is in very bad shape requiring you to use both sides of the road to protect your vehicle. Also in this stretch there is one short ferry crossing that requires payment so make sure you get some Real's at the border. Just past the border on the Brazilian side there is a fuel station on the right, Station owner let me park overnight very friendly. ( Last year fuel was much cheeper in Brazil than Peru. )

Also last year many truck strikes that would bring large section of roadway to a grinding halt for much of the day. I noticed this on sections of BR364 in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso Do Sul. If you are driving late in the afternoon and encounter a road stoppage find a truck stop and park for the night. They did not seem to do this in the morning hours.

If you have to leave your truck / camper in Uruguay I highly recommend Paraiso Suizo. Good people, good location, and good monthly rates.

Safe travels,

I read that at some borders they started this already in October.
I crossed at Bernardo de Irigoyen / Dionisio Cerqueira in Dicember and nothing happend.
Now I am also worried about what might happen if they stop me leaving the country again in a years time.
Traveling with a big old camper and my bike in the trailer.

Thanks for the tips Freedom Traveler. Hope my decision to not bother with renewing my IDP after many years of slavishly following the rules doesn't come back and bite me. Perhaps they will accept 6 expired ones as evidence of good intentions.

Yes Groschi, that was always one of my concerns when I was hesitating following all the advice that Brazil was open slather - what happens if I get caught inside when they close the gate again. Lets hope they are sympathetic.

Tony et al. It's impossible to get caught inside if Brasil 'closes the gate again'. There are many crossing points where you can just drive on in. Many. I've seen them. I've used them.

Yes agreed but then there can be a problem getting into the next country because some of them look for the exit stamp of the last country and keep flipping pages until they find it. Possible if Immigration and Customs reamain completely separate, but I imagine it canb't be far off when they share databases.
Hopefully anyone who has already left their vehicle there in the expectation that the no-TIP deal would continue will be able to find one of those open borders.

Anyway, presumably no longer an issue provided all border crossings are once again issuing TIPs

Mr. Churchil, if you have nothing to do please don't do it here.

I have crossed to Brasil today from Bolivia via San Matias crossing. Receite Federal only wrote down car data and did not give me the TIP. I have forgotten to ask them about it as I was not aware that they were the customs guys... Once in Caceres Policia Federal did not know if TIP was necessary or not and since local branch of the customs was closed (Sunday) I could not ask them as well.

In two-three days I will be in Cuiaba and will ask there (hope they will not send me back to the border to get my TIP!).

Tofel, Don't ask for a TVIP in Cuiaba. Don't ask anywhere. I've never been asked by a Brasil official on exit for the TVIP during the time when TVIP's were issued - they simply don't even care. The problem is only if you have a TVIP, then you need to get it stamped out at exit in order to clear your name in their computer.

Marker, any idea where I can read what countries don't require a TIP?
I am traveling with a camper, trailer and bike with Chilean plates and will leave all in Brazil for the next six month until I come back here.
I would love to know if its legal with the plates I have.
Otherwise I will go to Iguacu once I get back cross over and back to have 3 month traveling without worries.

Groschi

Just an update --

We entered Brazil a few days ago at Inapari, and I was interested to see what happened as far as the TIP went since recent reports that they had stated issuing them again.. Aduana palmed us straight through to Immigration and we were served by an Federal Police officer about to head off to Australia on official duties so he was keen on practicing his Australian drawl.
I queried him on the situation regarding leaving vehicles in Brazil and he said nothing has really changed and it has always been the case that even if they don't always issue paper TIPs at all borders, there is a very good chance that when you leave, they will want to see your vehicle registration papers to prove you are entitled to be driving the vehicle. The license plate details were recorded on our visitors entry slip this time so that constitutes a record of our entry. Not always checked, but often enough. AND there was never any relaxation of the obligation to take your vehicle out with you, just they didn't bother checking so rigorously. One of those cases we strike all the time where it isn't their job to make sure we obey the rules, just their job to catch us when we do break them so it is always on us to know what the rules are.
We'll leave our camper in Uruguay and save potential hassles.

Hi Groschi,


Having Mercosul plates it should not be a problem in Mercosul countries
But even then somerimes we get at some borders a TIP, especially in Argentina they are keen and also register your car at immigration. Brazil,paraguay and Uruguay are ok. Here in Brazil there are many argentinians 'living' here for a year or more and have their argentinian plates still.