Brasília Time (BRT)

Brasília Time (BRT) operates at UTC−3 hours and is the official time zone for Brazil's capital, Brasília, along with many of the country's most economically significant and populous states. Sometimes referred to as "Brasília Official Time," BRT does not observe daylight saving time and stays consistent throughout the year. It is the primary time reference for a large part of the Brazilian population.

Importance and Global Use of BRT

BRT is crucial for the smooth functioning of government, finance, and commerce in Brazil, since it covers major cities like Brasília, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. Its stable UTC−3 offset supports predictable daily routines, transportation schedules, education, and public services across the densely populated southeast, northeast, and central-west regions.

Internationally, Brasília Time provides a clear reference for coordinating business, aviation, and diplomatic relations between Brazil and its partners in Europe, Africa, and North America. Its consistent timekeeping helps streamline international trade, travel, and global communications.

Where and When BRT is used worldwide

South America

Brazil states using BRT all year:

• Alagoas
• Amapá
• Bahia
• Ceará
• Distrito Federal
• Espírito Santo
• Goiás
• Maranhão
• Minas Gerais
• Pará
• Paraíba
• Paraná
• Pernambuco (except Fernando de Noronha, which uses FNT time zone)
• Piauí
• Rio de Janeiro
• Rio Grande do Norte
• Rio Grande do Sul
• Santa Catarina
• São Paulo
• Sergipe
• Tocantins

Other Time Zones in UTC -3

Other time zones share the same offset as Brasília Time (BRT), but are known by different names. While their clocks align, they may represent different regions or countries based on local time zone definitions.

• Atlantic Daylight Time – ADT
• Argentina Time – ART
• Chile Summer Time – CLST
• Falkland Islands Summer Time – FKST
• French Guiana Time – GFT
• Pierre & Miquelon Standard Time – PMST
• Paraguay Summer Time – PYST
• Paraguay Time – PYT
• Suriname Time – SRT
• Uruguay Time – UYT