Shooting in Brazil: Covid-19

The audiovisual industry, like so many others, was hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic and has used its creativity and technology to work with widespread safety measures in place. We're posting regular updates below.

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Page last updated on Thursday 2nd March 2023

Latest Covid-19 / Coronavirus stats:

See latest statistics for Brazil at Brazilian Ministry of Health website

Safety protocols for filming in Brazil

Brazil opens up even further for filming

Can I film in Brazil during the pandemic?

Our aim is to always make filming happen. We can assess whether your audiovisual project is feasible or if it should wait for a better moment. Planning and pre-production are key in providing safe sets for everyone involved in the process.

At Story Productions, we value the safety of our crew above all else and we review each request on a case by case basis. Our clients have chosen not to—with very rare exceptions—send crews to Brazil during the pandemic and opted instead for the Story Productions crew to deliver the full service, be it remotely or in-person.

After the first Covid-19 wave hit Brazil, the sector reopened with protocols that proved very successful in containing the spread as well as providing safe sets.

Ancine processes authorisations for foreign crews to film in Brazil. Foreign crews are allowed to enter Brazil. Our travelling to Brazil guide has further details.

Filming protocols in Brazil during the pandemic

We have more detailed posts on the safety protocols for filming in Brazil in general, as well as filming in São Paulo specifically. At the latter, you can find the English versions of the “Protocols for Health and Safety for Audiovisual and Film Work” and the “Protocol for Filming and Recording in Public Spaces”. The principal entities connected with the audiovisual sector issuing authorisations are Agência Nacional do Cinema (Ancine), Spcine, and Rio Film Commission.

Film, television and commercial shoots in Brazil

Prior authorisation by the Brazilian Film Agency (Ancine) is required for foreign film crews flying into Brazil (except for news productions, which do not require prior arrangement). If you hire the local Story Productions crew to handle your project and do not fly in crew from abroad, no Ancine authorisation is required.

Shooting on location, in studios, on private property, and inside people's homes is authorised, with the appropriate safety precautions and creative and technological workarounds to minimise.

Drone footage
Authorities have imposed no new restrictions on drone filming during the Covid-19 crisis in Brazil. We'll be posting any updates to this if the situation changes.

Story Productions' network of drone operators is still working normally, in Brazil's largest cities as well as the Amazon region, albeit following Covid-19 safety precautions.

Coronavirus in Brazil: at a glance

The first case of Covid-19 was officially confirmed on February 26 2020. Filming in Brazil has resumed. However, the country is large and safety recommendations vary from one region to another. Story Productions is closely following all the regional safety protocols for filming during the pandemic as well as the phased easing of restrictions for the commercial sector and the public at large, state by state.

Covid-19 vaccinations started in Brazil on January 17 2021. Priority groups include health professionals, the elderly, quilombola communities, and indigenous communities (almost 900,000 people). Over 86 per cent of the indigenous communities have already been fully vaccinated (as of March 3 2022).

Brazil has a population of more than 215 million inhabitants. As of March 2 2023, over 182 million people have been vaccinated: 85.05 per cent of the population has received a first dose, and 80.56 per cent has received a second dose. Around 50.52 per cent of the population has received a booster shot. The vaccines currently being used are CoronaVac (produced by the Butantan Institute in São Paulo), AstraZeneca/Oxford (produced by Fiocruz in Rio de Janeiro), Pfizer/BioNTech—and Janssen (produced by Johnson & Johnson in the US)—all administered in two doses

Want to film in Brazil? We provide full production services which include implementing regional safety protocols, whether that's in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, or other Brazilian locales. Contact us to confirm the current situation at your location of choice.

Case numbers

Case numbers vary from state to state, due to the latest variant in global circulation. Not a single Brazilian state is currently in lockdown.

Travel to Brazil

For detailed information on the requirements for foreigners entering Brazil, see our page on travelling to Brazil during Coronavirus.

Use of masks

While in most Brazilian cities mask use is no longer mandatory, some states have exceptions, such as the continued use in hospitals. As the mandates can vary greatly, rely on Story Productions to confirm the policies for your chosen filming location. In the state of São Paulo, from November 26th, everyone has to wear masks in public buses, terminals, subway stations and trains. As the mandates can vary greatly, rely on Story Productions to confirm the policies for your chosen filming location.

Where masks are required, they must be well-adjusted to the face, covering the nose and mouth, with no openings to allow the possible exchange of air or respiratory droplets. Bandanas or scarves are not permissible substitutes. Using a face shield without a mask is not allowed. Acrylic or clear plastic masks are not permitted. Masks cannot have an exhalation valve. Hand-made cloth masks must have more than one layer of cotton material and must be well-fitted.

Vaccine Passport

A vaccine passport is no longer required to access bars, restaurants, event venues, theaters, etc. As there can be specificities in the location you desire for your shoot, we recommend checking with Story Productions directly to help determine what will be needed.

Bringing equipment

Wishing to bring your own filming gear? Whether it's for TV, film, commercial or a photo shoot, importing gear sure requires forward planning! Read our complete guide to importing equipment to Brazil.

Testing

If a Covid-19 test is required before returning to your country of origin, the São Paulo International Airport (GRU, the main international airport in the country) can perform a PCR test for approximately $75 USD. The test site is located in Terminal 3, and results are ready within 4 hours.

Federal versus state governments

Brazil is as big as the continental United States and is the largest country in South America, with a population of 212 million. Similar to the US, some states have adopted policy approaches to contain the spread of Covid-19 that are at odds with the federal government’s response to the health crisis.

Governors have the power to adopt restrictive measures in their states during the pandemic, including social distancing, quarantine, and the closure of schools, leisure events, and businesses.

Filming during Covid-19: current restrictions

Restrictive measures have been relaxed in all cities. Mask use is not mandatory anymore, besides in hospitals and medical clinics; although it is recommended for those with flu-like symptoms, high-risk comorbidities, the immunosuppressed and the unvaccinated. Non-essential services are open for normal operating hours, with 100 per cent occupancy for both enclosed and open-air environments. All sights may be accessed any day, including weekends. Full-capacity concerts and conferences are now authorised.

Audiovisual productions are allowed in all cities and public spaces, no longer limited to specific hours.

Brazil no longer requires proof of vaccination to access public spaces, events, and other social environments. Nonetheless, Brazilians and foreigners must present to the airline, when entering the country, a proof of vaccination, either printed or electronic, or a proof of a negative or undetectable Covid-19 test, such as an antigen test or RT-PCR laboratory carried out one day before boarding time.

What other production work can take place?

Story Productions' production and post-production teams are navigating pandemic safety guidelines and finding creative ways to produce new content. We're leveraging our network of contacts across Brazil to carry out online casting for documentary and news projects. We're offering virtual location scouting to clients by tapping into our large catalog of work across Brazil. We’re enabling our clients to remotely accompany audiovisual projects from anywhere in the world with our well-established live streaming services.