The first two days in Rio de Janeiro, in priority order: what has to happen, what should, and what can wait. Tick things off as you go.
For Rio de Janeiro
How long you are staying
Must do
Free, online through Receita Federal or at its offices with your passport. SIM registration, bank accounts, leases and many apps ask for it.
Claro, Vivo and TIM sell prepaid SIMs in their shops; registering one usually needs a CPF, though shops can register a passport. A local number unlocks WhatsApp contacts, banks and delivery apps.
Jaé pays buses, the BRT and the VLT, and also works on the metro. Pay by QR code in the app or ask for a physical card; the Bilhete Único integrations are already enabled.
On a VITEM visa, register within 90 days of entry; on a residence authorisation granted in Brazil, within 30 days of its publication. Book online and pay the GRU fees first.
Safety, noise and quality change street by street. Walk the block at night, check the porter and the entrance, and ask your Insider about that exact address.
Should do
Phone snatching is one of the most common street crimes in Brazilian cities. Use it inside shops or with your back to a wall, and carry a cheap second phone if you can.
190 is the military police, 192 SAMU, the free public ambulance, and 193 the fire brigade, which also handles rescues.
With your CPF. It is the login for federal services, the digital work card and your tax return.
Primary care is assigned by address. Enter it on the city's Onde ser atendido tool to see which Clínica da Família covers you.
Banks ask for the CPF, the CRNM or its protocol and proof of address. Pix pays for almost everything once you have it.
On every flat, get the three monthly numbers and the last condomínio statement before you compare.
Nice to do
The lunch plate of rice, beans, salad and a meat or fish, at a neighbourhood lanchonete. The cheapest good lunch in the country.
A towel, some cash and a cheap phone. Beach kiosks rent chairs and umbrellas and will keep an eye on your things while you swim.
Many embassies run a registration or alert service for nationals living abroad. Two minutes now saves a scramble in an emergency.
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