Exploring the Friendship Bridge : Easy & Casual Border Crossing Experience

The cities of Ciudad del Este in Paraguay and Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil are divided only by a river, connected by the iconic Friendship Bridge. This bridge, with its border control points at each end, serves as a vital link between the two bustling cities.

I was crossing from Ciudad del Este into Brazil. Despite having luggage, I opted to walk across the bridge, driven by two key considerations:
Traffic: I had heard that the bridge is often congested, with a 600-meter drive sometimes taking over 15 minutes. Walking would be a quicker and more pleasant option.

Border Inspection: If you take a bus or colectivo, the vehicle won’t stop for passengers to go through immigration. For foreigners like us, who need to clear customs, this can be a hassle. You have to request the driver to stop, but there’s no guarantee they will wait, or where exactly they might pause.

Walking across the bridge >>

I arrived at the bridgehead on the Ciudad del Este side. A steady stream of people was making the same journey, so I simply followed along. Surprisingly, there was no visible border control from the Paraguayan side, and I walked straight onto the bridge without any checks.

The walk itself was a breeze. The bridge features wide, shaded sidewalks on both sides, providing a comfortable and safe passage. Even at midday, the sunshades offered ample cover, and a refreshing breeze occasionally swept through, allowing me to enjoy the scenic river views. The only downside was the occasional whiff of exhaust fumes from the passing vehicles.

Crossing and entry procedures >>

After about ten minutes, I reached the Brazilian border control. To my surprise, there was no inspection, and pedestrians simply walked through. Even motorcycles zipped past without stopping. Cars, however, were occasionally flagged down, and their trunks inspected, likely to check for large quantities of goods.

Although the controls here are notably relaxed, and you can enter without having your passport checked, I planned to travel further into Brazil and wanted to avoid any potential issues. So, I decided to complete the formal entry procedure.

I approached one of the staff members managing the area. He didn’t speak Spanish or English, and after a bit of gesturing, he called over a colleague to guide me to a small office on the other side of the road. Inside, two customs officers were stationed, and only one person was waiting in line.

The entire process was swift, taking just about three minutes. The customs officer glanced at my visa twice, then—snap!—stamped my passport with the official Brazilian entry mark.

With that, I returned to the main path and followed the other pedestrians into Foz do Iguaçu.

I finally made it to Brazil!

Both Paraguay and Brazil maintain very relaxed border controls, with minimal checks. Crossing this checkpoint is incredibly straightforward!

So, could someone enter Brazil without a visa from here?