When things go wrong
Most Australians have a great time in Brazil and don't have health, safety or other problems. However, sometimes things don't go as planned.
Explore these pages for general advice about what you can do when things go wrong, including if you are a victim of a crime.
Local emergency authorities
If you’re in a life-threatening situation or need immediate assistance, contact the local emergency services.
- local police: call 190
- ambulance or medical emergencies: call 192
- fire and rescue services: call 193
Female survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault can access a dedicated hotline that provides access to local support services, including police, by calling 180 or via the WhatsApp phone messaging application on +55 61 99610 0180.
Tourist Police who speak English are available in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and at some major airports.
Rio de Janeiro: +55 21 2334 6802 or +55 21 2332 2924
São Paulo: +55 11 3257 4475
I need urgent help
If you need urgent help, emergency consular assistance is available 24 hours a day. You can contact one of our offices or, outside business hours, call the Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) in Canberra on:
1300 555 135 (within Australia)
+61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas)
Frequently asked questions
I need legal advice, can you help me?
You'll need to engage a local lawyer. To assist you, we maintain a list of English-speaking lawyers for you to consider. A list of English-speaking lawyers in Sao Paulo is available here.
However, consular officers aren't lawyers themselves. They can't make representations on your behalf. They can't give you or your family legal advice or recommend which lawyer you should choose.
I’m sick and need to see a doctor, can you help me?
We can’t book appointments for you but we do maintain a list of English-speaking doctors and hospitals. A list of English-speaking doctors and hospitals in Sao Paulo is available here.
You should ask the health care provider how much your care will cost before they treat you and contact your travel insurer as soon as possible. Depending on your cover they may help you arrange medical treatment and may have a list of preferred doctors and hospitals to consider.
If you are unable to pay, you can also access health care through the public system for free. We can't pay your medical bills for you.
I need emergency medical assistance, what should I do?
Call the local emergency services (192) or go to a hospital immediately. You should also contact your travel insurer. Most have 24-hour hotlines and processes in place to help in emergencies.
We maintain a list of emergency service providers that can assist you, for example arrange a medical evacuation. We can't organise or pay for your medical evacuation back to Australia.
A family member or friend has died in Brazil, can you help repatriate their remains to Australia?
You will need to appoint a funeral director in Brazil, who will need to work with Australian funeral director to return your loved one's remains to Australia. We can provide a list of local funeral directors.
Last update: 25 July 2024