5 things you should know about filming in Brazil in 2023

01 Change in Brazil’s government and the return of cultural incentives 

With a controversial anti-culture agenda, former president Jair Bolsonaro had dissolved the Ministry of Culture and blocked incentives worth $200 million for film, TV, music and other creative industries. This January, when President Lula started his term, a new Minister of Culture was announced to head the reopening of the dedicated office and the funds that had been blocked by Bolsonaro’s administration were liberated. Due to his previous mandates, Lula is known for investing heavily in cultural initiatives, so his administration is very likely to ensure support of the film and TV production industry, as well as international co-productions with Brazil.

02 Vaccination requirements and current rules related to Covid-19

The latest update from the National Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) was from November 2022. It states that to enter Brazil you need: proof of complete vaccination against Covid-19 OR an antigen or RT-PCR test carried out one day before departure with a negative or non-detectable result for Covid-19. For proof of vaccination, the single dose or last dose of the primary vaccination schedule must have occurred at least 14 days before the departure date. Documentation should be presented in Portuguese, Spanish or English.

Aside from above the prerequisite to enter Brazil, some establishments within Brazil require a vaccine passport. If you plan to travel to the Amazon, for example, the yellow fever vaccine must be taken at least 10 days before the trip.

To help you to navigate the maze of vaccination protocols, Story Productions can determine precisely what documentation and vaccines are needed based on the location demands of your project.

03 Permits to film and equipment entry into Brazil

All foreign productions that want to film in Brazil must be supervised by a Brazilian production company registered with the national film agency Ancine. Once the Ancine permit is granted through a national company, foreign individuals are allowed to obtain a filming visa to enter Brazil, which then facilitates the importing of film equipment into the country. All foreign productions must acquire an Ancine permit, with the exception of news-related projects.



Besides the filming permit, additional documentation might be required depending on the location within Brazil where you plan to shoot and what your project is about. Extra permits are necessary for projects related to wildlife, flying drones, unsafe areas and other special situations.

We hope that these tips gave you good insights for the year ahead if you have a project in Brazil on the horizon. And if you feel overwhelmed with all the variables, get in touch with Story Productions and we will help smoothly resolve all your needs.

Story Productions is a full-service company, handling everything from permits, location scouting and local fixers, to casting, logistics and post-production. Write to us today and discover how we can assist you with your next project.