São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) — The Complete 2026 Airport Guide
Guarulhos is Latin America’s busiest airport and Brazil’s front door to the world — but the single most important fact isn’t inside the terminal. If you hold a US, Canadian or Australian passport, you now need a paid Brazilian e-Visa to land here, and even to connect through airside. Sort that before you book. Then the good news: the airport itself is manageable, and there’s a R$5 train into the city that almost no first-timer knows about.
Last verified: July 2026. Fares, terminal assignments and Brazil’s entry rules change often — confirm the specifics on your ticket, on the official e-Visa portal, and at airport signage before you travel.
Quick reference
| Detail | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Airport | São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International, IATA GRU (also called Cumbica) — Latin America’s busiest airport by 2025 traffic, ~47.2 million passengers, a title it recently reclaimed |
| Location | In Guarulhos, ~25 km northeast of central São Paulo — not the close-in airport; that’s Congonhas (CGH) |
| Terminals | T3 — the modern international terminal (LATAM long-haul, Star Alliance, oneworld). T2 — mostly domestic plus some regional South-American international. T1 — domestic only (Azul) |
| Into the city | CPTM Line 13 train ~R$5.20 (~€0.85) + free terminal shuttle, ~60–90 min · Airport Bus Service coach ~R$40–47 to Paulista/Congonhas/Tietê · taxi ~R$130–200 · Uber/99 ~R$80–140 |
| Entry | US, Canadian and Australian citizens need a paid e-Visa (~US$80.90) since 10 April 2025 — including for airside transit. EU and UK citizens: visa-free, 90 days |
| Watch out for | No visa = no boarding (QR code checked at check-in) · confusing GRU vs Congonhas vs Viracopos · rush-hour traffic doubling your taxi time · unofficial taxi touts in arrivals |
The 2026 trap: US, Canadian and Australian travellers need a visa — even to connect
For a decade these three nationalities entered Brazil visa-free. That ended. Since 10 April 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia must hold a Brazilian e-Visa before flying — a reciprocity move, restoring the requirement Brazil dropped in 2019. It is now fully enforced: airlines check for a valid QR code at check-in, and without it you will not be boarded.
The part that catches people out is transit. This is not a “you only need it if you leave the airport” rule. If you’re a US, Canadian or Australian passport holder connecting through GRU airside — say, on your way to Buenos Aires or Santiago — you still need a transit e-Visa. There is no visa-free international-transit corridor here for these three nationalities. Plan for it the same as any entry visa.
Three São Paulo airports — make sure you’re going to the right one
São Paulo has three commercial airports, and mixing them up is an expensive, hour-eating mistake. Here’s the clean split:
- GRU (Guarulhos) — the big international gateway, ~25 km northeast of the centre. Almost every long-haul flight from Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia lands here. This guide.
- CGH (Congonhas) — the close-in domestic airport, only about 8 km from downtown, ~25 minutes in normal traffic. It handles the busy São Paulo–Rio and other domestic shuttles (plus a handful of short regional routes). Convenient, but not where your intercontinental flight goes.
- VCP (Viracopos) — out in Campinas, roughly 95–100 km from central São Paulo (well over an hour by road). It’s a low-cost and Azul-heavy hub. A “São Paulo” fare that’s suspiciously cheap sometimes means Viracopos — check the airport code before you book, and budget the long transfer.
If your itinerary connects a GRU international arrival to a domestic flight out of Congonhas or Viracopos, that’s a self-transfer across the city, not an airport connection. Give yourself hours, not minutes — and if you’re on separate tickets, your bags won’t be checked through.
The terminals: T3 is where the world flies in
GRU has three passenger terminals, and for most readers of this guide only one of them matters on arrival.
- Terminal 3 — the newest and best terminal, opened for the 2014 World Cup, with 22 gates. This is the intercontinental terminal: LATAM’s long-haul flights, and the Star Alliance and oneworld carriers that link São Paulo to Europe and North America. If you’re arriving from Lisbon, London, Madrid, Frankfurt, New York or Miami, you’ll almost certainly land at T3.
- Terminal 2 — the largest and busiest by volume, but mostly domestic, with some regional international routes around South America. It’s split into a West Pier (domestic) and an East Pier (domestic and international).
- Terminal 1 — domestic only, used by Azul, and the most basic of the three (no jet bridges — expect a bus or walk to the aircraft).
The terminals are separate buildings on the same site, linked by a free internal shuttle bus and walkways. They are not as far apart as the tale of some mega-hubs, but crossing between T2 and T3 still means a shuttle ride, not a stroll — factor it into a tight connection.
Getting into São Paulo
Here’s the honest headline: there is no direct metro or train station inside the terminals. You cannot walk off your flight and onto a rail platform the way you can at some airports. What GRU has instead is a nearby commuter-rail station plus a free shuttle to reach it, a set of comfortable express coaches, and the usual taxis and ride-apps. The right choice depends on your budget, your luggage and — above all — the traffic.
| Option | Price | Time to the city | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPTM Line 13 train | ~R$5.20 (~€0.85 / $0.95) | ~60–90 min incl. shuttle & transfer | By far the cheapest; beats traffic; best if you travel light |
| Airport Bus Service | ~R$40–47 (~€7–8) | ~60–90 min | Comfortable, direct to Paulista/Tietê/Congonhas; traffic-exposed |
| Uber / 99 | ~R$80–140 (~€14–24) | ~30–90 min | Door-to-door value; legal at GRU with marked pickup points |
| Taxi (official stand) | ~R$130–200 (~€22–35) | ~30–90 min | Late arrivals or heavy luggage; use the authorised ranks only |
The R$5 train — cheap, but it takes a couple of connections
GRU is on CPTM Line 13-Jade, and this is the local secret worth knowing. It works in three steps: from your terminal, take the free GRU shuttle bus (roughly every 15 minutes) to the Aeroporto-Guarulhos station; ride Line 13 to Engenheiro Goulart; then change to Line 12-Safira, which runs to Brás and Luz in the centre — from Luz you’re on the São Paulo Metro network. A single CPTM/Metro fare is about R$5.20, and it’s completely immune to road traffic, which on a bad day is the whole game. Reckon on 60–90 minutes door to centre once you include the shuttle and the change. It runs roughly 04:00 to midnight (Saturdays to about 01:00), so it’s not an option for a red-eye landing.
Airport Bus Service coaches — the comfortable middle
The official Airport Bus Service runs air-conditioned coaches from GRU to the places most visitors actually want: the Avenida Paulista hotel corridor, Congonhas airport, the Tietê bus terminal and Barra Funda. Fares are roughly R$40–47 depending on the route (for example, the Paulista and Congonhas lines run around R$46.50, the Tietê express nearer R$40) — treat these as a guide and confirm the current fare at airportbusservice.com.br or with the driver, as prices are adjusted periodically. Buy online or at the counter for most routes; for the Paulista/República line you generally pay the driver.
Taxis and ride-apps — and how to stay safe
Uber and 99 both operate legally at GRU with designated pickup points (follow the app’s instructions to the right level), and typically run R$80–140 to central São Paulo — usually cheaper than a metered taxi. Regular taxis from the official ranks run about R$130–200. The safety rule at GRU is simple and worth taking seriously: use only the official taxi stands — the authorised operators include Guarucoop and Ligue-Táxi — and ignore anyone approaching you inside the arrivals hall offering a ride. Those touts are not the deal they present. Whatever you take, remember that at 3am the trip is 25 minutes and at Monday rush hour the same trip can top 90 minutes and R$200 — traffic, not distance, sets the price and the pain.
Entry: e-Visa or visa-free, by nationality
Brazil’s entry rules split sharply by passport in 2026, so check which side you’re on before anything else.
- United States, Canada, Australia — e-Visa required. Since 10 April 2025 these nationalities need an electronic visitor visa (or transit e-Visa) for tourism, business and transit. It costs about US$80.90, is applied for at brazil.vfsevisa.com, and — critically — the airline checks your QR code at check-in. Each stay is capped at 90 days, up to 180 days in any 12-month period.
- European Union and United Kingdom — visa-free. EU and UK citizens enter without a visa for tourism for up to 90 days (extendable once with the Federal Police, for up to 180 days a year). Carry a passport valid at least six months with a blank page, and make sure you actually get an entry stamp — an unstamped entry can mean a fine on the way out.
- Everyone else — Brazil’s requirements vary widely by nationality; confirm your own country’s current rule with a Brazilian consulate before you book. Don’t assume a neighbour’s rule applies to you.
Note that Brazil sits outside the Schengen area, so there’s no EES or ETIAS here — those are European systems. GRU still uses a conventional immigration desk; automated e-gates exist for some nationalities and Brazilian/Mercosur residents, but most first-time foreign visitors will queue at a staffed counter. Arrivals halls can back up when several long-hauls land together, so a big buffer helps if you’re self-connecting onward.
Lounges
The lounge action is concentrated in Terminal 3, where the international flights are. What you can get into depends on how you’re flying:
- Star Alliance passengers — the former Star Alliance lounge now operates as Espaço Banco Safra in T3, and Star Alliance First/Business and eligible-status flyers are pointed there. Because it serves the alliance, it isn’t a general walk-in.
- LATAM / oneworld premium passengers — the LATAM VIP Lounge in T3 covers LATAM’s own premium cabins and oneworld First/Business travellers.
- Everyone else — the W Premium Lounges. These are the reliable pay-in or membership option, with locations across the terminals. They accept Priority Pass, LoungeKey, Dragonpass and Visa Airport Companion, and are the replacement access point for Amex Platinum/Centurion cardholders after the Centurion Lounge at GRU closed on 28 February 2025. Walk-in access runs around R$320 for three hours; via a lounge marketplace you can sometimes get in from roughly $38.
If your access is through Priority Pass or a card, check the specific W Premium Lounge location for your terminal and gate area on the day — several sit airside near the international gates in T3.
Connections and minimum times
GRU doesn’t publish a single passenger-facing minimum connecting time the way some hubs do, and airlines set their own. In practice, for an international-to-international connection, plan for around two hours, and give yourself more if anything about the itinerary is tight.
The saving grace is that GRU concentrates its long-haul traffic in Terminal 3, so an international-to-international connection on LATAM or within an alliance often keeps you inside one terminal — no shuttle, just re-clearing security. The moment your connection crosses between T2 and T3 (common when your onward leg is a regional South-American or domestic flight), add time for the free inter-terminal shuttle. And the biggest one to respect: if you connect to a domestic flight, you clear immigration and collect your checked bags before re-checking — international arrivals aren’t airside-sealed to domestic departures. On separate tickets, budget generously; there’s no through-check to rescue a missed connection.
Food, money and practicalities
Food: Terminal 3 has the widest choice, from grab-and-go to sit-down, with the usual global chains plus Brazilian options — a padaria (bakery) coffee and a pão de queijo (cheese bread) is the local move, and the por-quilo (pay-by-weight) buffets are a fast, fair way to eat a full plate. Prices are airport-inflated; a proper meal runs meaningfully more than in the city.
Money: Brazil runs on the real (R$), and it’s overwhelmingly card-friendly — contactless works almost everywhere, including on transport. Prefer bank ATMs (Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Santander, Caixa) over the exchange booths for better rates, and if an ATM or card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline it and pay in reais to dodge the poor built-in conversion. You rarely need much cash.
Connectivity: GRU offers free Wi-Fi across the terminals. A Brazilian eSIM bought before you land is the least-hassle way to have data on arrival for your ride-app and maps; physical SIMs are sold in the arrivals area but can involve paperwork.
Safety: the airport itself is fine; ordinary big-city sense applies. Keep valuables close in the arrivals crush, only accept rides from the official ranks or your booked app, and don’t flash phones or cash at the kerbside pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Do US, Canadian or Australian citizens need a visa for Brazil in 2026?+
Yes. Since 10 April 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need a Brazilian e-Visa to enter — and also to transit through, even airside. It costs about US$80.90, is applied for at the official portal brazil.vfsevisa.com, and airlines check for a valid QR code at check-in, so no visa means no boarding. Each stay is limited to 90 days. EU and UK citizens, by contrast, remain visa-free for up to 90 days.
Is there a metro or train directly at GRU airport?+
Not inside the terminals. GRU sits on CPTM Line 13-Jade, but you reach it by taking a free GRU shuttle bus (about every 15 minutes) from your terminal to the Aeroporto-Guarulhos station. From there Line 13 runs to Engenheiro Goulart, where you change to Line 12-Safira for Brás and Luz in the centre. A single fare is around R$5.20 and the whole trip is roughly 60–90 minutes — cheap and traffic-proof, but with two changes and no service overnight.
What’s the difference between GRU, Congonhas and Viracopos?+
GRU (Guarulhos) is the main international airport, ~25 km northeast of central São Paulo — where almost all long-haul flights land. Congonhas (CGH) is the close-in domestic airport, only ~8 km from downtown, handling shuttles like São Paulo–Rio. Viracopos (VCP) is a low-cost, Azul-heavy hub out in Campinas, ~95–100 km away. Always check the three-letter code on your ticket; a cheap “São Paulo” fare is sometimes Viracopos.
How much is a taxi or Uber from GRU to central São Paulo?+
Uber and 99 typically run about R$80–140 and are usually cheaper than a metered taxi; both are legal at GRU with designated pickup points. Official-rank taxis run roughly R$130–200. Traffic is the wild card — 25 minutes at 3am, over 90 minutes in weekday rush hour. Only use the official taxi stands (operators such as Guarucoop and Ligue-Táxi) and ignore anyone offering a ride inside the arrivals hall.
Which terminal will my international flight use at GRU?+
Long-haul intercontinental flights, LATAM’s international services and Star Alliance and oneworld carriers use Terminal 3, the modern international terminal. Terminal 2 is mostly domestic with some regional South-American international routes, and Terminal 1 is domestic only (Azul). Always confirm the terminal printed on your boarding pass, as some regional international flights depart from T2.
Do I need a visa just to connect through GRU without leaving the airport?+
It depends on your passport. Most nationalities can transit airside without a Brazilian visa. But US, Canadian and Australian citizens do need a transit e-Visa even for an airside connection through Brazil, following the April 2025 rule change — there is no visa-free transit corridor for those three nationalities. EU and UK travellers transit freely.
How long should I leave for a connection at GRU?+
Plan for about two hours for an international-to-international connection, and more if it’s tight. Connections that stay within Terminal 3 are simplest. If you’re connecting to a domestic flight, you must clear immigration and re-collect and re-check your bags, so allow extra — and far more if you’re on separate tickets, since your bags won’t be through-checked.
Which lounges can I use at GRU without a business-class ticket?+
The W Premium Lounges in Terminal 3 are the go-to: they accept Priority Pass, LoungeKey, Dragonpass and serve as the Amex Platinum/Centurion access point after the Centurion Lounge closed in February 2025. Walk-in is around R$320 for three hours, or from roughly $38 via a lounge marketplace. The Star Alliance (Espaço Banco Safra) and LATAM VIP lounges are for alliance and premium-cabin passengers.
At a glance
| Codes | GRU / SBGR — São Paulo/Guarulhos–Gov. André Franco Montoro Intl (Cumbica) |
| Terminals | T3 (international long-haul, LATAM/Star/oneworld) · T2 (domestic + some regional intl) · T1 (domestic, Azul) |
| Location | ~25 km northeast of central São Paulo, in Guarulhos |
| Cheapest to city | CPTM Line 13 + free shuttle, ~R$5.20, ~60–90 min (via Engenheiro Goulart → Line 12) |
| Easiest to city | Airport Bus Service coach to Paulista/Tietê/Congonhas, ~R$40–47 |
| Entry | US/CA/AU: paid e-Visa (~US$80.90), incl. transit · EU/UK: visa-free 90 days |
| Other SP airports | Congonhas (CGH, domestic, ~8 km) · Viracopos (VCP, low-cost, ~95–100 km) |
| Wi-Fi | Free, across the terminals |
Before you fly
- 📊 Check what a good fare to São Paulo looks like — our price-check tool shows the typical deal range so you know a bargain when you see one.
- 🧳 Baggage checker — confirm your airline’s carry-on and checked allowance before you pack.
