A number of people have asked us about the tri-border region, that is the name given to the area where Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet. In particular, people get confused about customs and immigration between Brazil and Paraguay. So how does it work? What are the rules? Do you have to get your passport stamped?
The border between Brazil and Paraguay is basically open. Anyone can jump on a moto-taxi and whizz across in a couple of minutes. Drivers of cars are not normally stopped by customs officers either. Nobody will ask to see your passport. The rationale behind this open border arrangement is free trade between the two countries. (It’s worth noting that Argentina is not part of this agreement and has much stricter border and customs checks)
However, anyone planning to travel on beyond the immediate border area is required to check in with the passport offices on both sides of the Puente la la Amistad (Friendship Bridge) that links Paraguay and Brazil. Once to get a stamp out of the country you are leaving, and once to get a stamp in to the country you are entering.
Certain citizens need a visa for Brazil but not for Paraguay, and vice versa. For example on my last trip to that area, one of our group was a Cypriot (Cyprus) passport holder. Cypriots don’t need a visa for Paraguay, but they do for Brazil. In Asuncion, we went to the Brazilian consulate and asked for a tourist visa, but they said it would take 3 days and there was no time for that in our itinerary. Fortunately, at the Brazilian consulate in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, he was able to obtain a visa in 3 hours one morning, and we crossed to Brazil that same afternoon.
The requirement to obtain stamps in passports also applies to people travelling on long distance buses between Brazil and Asuncion. Many times the bus drivers want to save time and refuse to stop at customs, but it is important to be insistent. Stories abound of travellers who have arrived overland in Asuncion without a visa, only to be forced into paying huge fines when trying to leave by air from Asuncion.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I’ll try to answer. Otherwise, I’m now researcging overland border crossings from Paraguay to Bolivia and will let you know what I discover.
Tags: border, ciudad del este, customs, foz de iguazu, friendship bridge, passport
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