Working in Brazil

<p>I have a photographic project in Brazil soon and wondered if I may have trouble with the Brazilian customs with my photo gear. I'll be taking quite a bit of kit, two D3's five lenses, flash kits and a few tripods. Should I register the gear somewhere?</p>

<p>I've taken Pelican cases of Contax MF gear in. There is no place to "register" anything, however unless your visa says you can work, don't tell them you are working.</p>

<p>Don't forget insurance. Having been in and out of Brazil since 1998, I wouldn't go there without it. Of all of the countries I've worked in (LatAm), Costa Rica, Honduras, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil is the most like Africa that I've seen outside of Lagos, Nigeria. Sitting in the Hotel Tropico bar in Luanda, Angola (another Portuguese speaking formal colony), I asked a guy if he liked Brazil. His answer was no, it's like Africa, or Europe, but you can never tell which part you're in. My personal experience is there is less corruption in Nigeria, at least on the street level where we live.</p>

<p>You are going to have fun, it's a great place to party and meet people. Insurance.</p>

<p>Ok, thanks....I'm insured this week.</p>

<p>Hi Jake,<br>

Since that you're not a resident, you are not supposed to register your device in you entry in brazil.<br>

Of course that is not a good thing to say that you're coming to work because it will require a appropriated VISA, not a TOURIST VISA. But this procedure (regarding the visa) its normal in US, EUROPE, in every place of the world. Usually US Imigration its terrible than brazillian authorities in this subject.<br>

But, if you need a VISA to work in Brazil, the procedure its simple and not expensive. You can contact brazillian consulate or embassy in your country and ask informations.<br>

Brazil is Safe, but as in any big country, we have crime. Hire an insurance for the equipment and enjoy Brazil. Differently of HAWAII we dont have someone stoling your devices/photo_gear on the beach sand or breaking your door house to stole.<br>

Oh: Forget about Africa stuff, brazil its completely different and has his own "features".<br>

Welcome.<br>

Fraja.</p>

<p>Fraja, my experince in Natal is not as you present it. I was cleaned out in my hotel with a gun to my head, an Italian was shot a week later. A work mate was robbed on the beach in REC, they left him his underwear to return to the hotel.<br>

Brazil is one of the most crime ridden countries I have ever been in, the worst in Latin America I have seen. I spent 1990 to 2003 between Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Honduras, Costa Rica and Colombia. I was also routinely robbed by the police Brazil. Once I was even pulled over (with my GF and her 11 year old kid in the car) while the police "found" cocaine. Off to the ATM we went.</p>

<p>Brazil tends to be the most corrupt country I have ever lived in, anecdotal evidence for sure, but that's why I sold my house and biz in the Northeast. It was interesting watching a cop a drug dealing informant jointly bust a touist in RJ. We watched the whole seen from start to finish. Look at their aviation industry and crash "investigations", it is a society for the military and the industrialists. I lived and worked the entire coast from RS to RN. RS is much better, but I'd be called a racist if I said thought it was due to being mostly settled by German and Italian immigrants. While in the "Nordeste" a sugar cane mill was busted for slavery, SLAVERY in 1999! I'm told by Brazilians it still exists though I have to doubt.</p>

<p>Sorry Fraja, my opinion is different, when it comes to my life, I'll choose my own instinct for survival.</p>