Lisbon to São José do Rio Preto (LIS–SJP) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Portuguese passport holders enter Brazil visa-free for up to 90 days, extendable once for another 90 days (180 days total per year). No fee, no advance application. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At Guarulhos (GRU), Galeao (GIG), or any Brazilian airport, you receive a stamp. Portugal and Brazil share a special bilateral relationship under the Treaty of Friendship, which also lets Portuguese citizens apply for permanent residency and equal rights (Estatuto de Igualdade) without a visa.

The shared language (with accent and vocabulary differences) makes Brazil the most accessible long-haul destination for Portuguese travelers. To extend your stay beyond 90 days, visit a Policia Federal office at least 15 days before your initial 90 days expire. The extension fee is BRL 200 (about EUR 35). Overstaying triggers a fine of BRL 100 per day (up to BRL 10,000) payable at departure.

Direct flights from Lisbon to Sao Paulo Guarulhos run about 9 hours 30 minutes on TAP and LATAM. TAP also flies direct from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro (10 hours), Belo Horizonte, Recife, Natal, Fortaleza, Salvador, and Brasilia. Porto has seasonal direct service to Brazil. Brazil uses the Brazilian real (BRL), trading at roughly 5.70 BRL per EUR 1. ATMs (Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itau) dispense reais. Card payments work in cities. No mandatory vaccinations for entry, but yellow fever vaccination is required for visiting the Amazon region, Pantanal, or Mato Grosso.

Metro Red Line runs from downtown Lisbon (Alameda, Oriente) to the airport in 20–25 minutes (€1.85 single, or €0.48 on a Viva Viagem card). Trains run from 6:30am to 1am. The airport has its own station (Aeroporto) at the end of the Red Line.

Taxis from central Lisbon cost €10–15 and take 15–20 minutes with no traffic. Uber and Bolt are widely available at similar or lower prices. AeroBus (Carris) is slower (30–40 min) but cheaper at €4.