Documents

Those who are undocumented in Brazil may be notified to leave the country voluntarily within a period of up to 60 days, under penalty of a fine. Therefore, it is very important that you seek to regularize your immigration status as soon as possible. It is important that you know that the undocumented immigrant is guaranteed access to the following services and rights:

CPF
The Federal Revenue of Brazil guarantees the issuance of Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) for refugees and undocumented immigrants (Note Cogea nº 02, January 20, 2021).

1. Request the CPF.
2. Send an email to [email protected] with the pre-registration and requested documents.

For more information on CPF, please refer to the section below.

HEALTH
The entire SUS network (hospitals, UPA, UBS, etc.) is accessible to refugees and undocumented migrants, who are even entitled to be vaccinated free of charge against COVID-19 in Brazil.

EDUCATION
Access to public education is also guaranteed to the refugee or immigrant person regardless of the regularity of the migratory status, according to Law 13.445/2017

Resolution nº 1/2020 of the National Education Council also guarantees that the lack of documents cannot prevent the right of refugee and immigrant children and adolescents to enrol in Brazilian public basic education networks.

BANK
To open a bank account in Brazil, a refugee or immigrant person without documents issued in the country can present another recognized identification document, such as the passport or identity card of the country of origin (BCB Normative Instruction No. 2020).

Each bank, however, performs an internal security assessment for accepting a foreign document. In this sense, the Federal Public Defender’s Office (DPU) has already recommended to banking institutions that identification documents from the countries of origin, such as passport, ballot or consular card, as well as identity cards are documents capable of proving the civil identity of refugees and immigrants, regardless of their immigration status.

In addition, accounts with a low limit on the amount deposited (up to R$5,000.00) can be opened using a cell phone, simply by providing some data such as name and CPF. Refugees or undocumented immigrants are also guaranteed to open a digital social savings account, which does not require documents (Decree nº 10.316/2020 – art. 11, p. 1, I). For more information, see the Financial Information Booklet.

SOCIAL AND ASSISTANCE BENEFITS
The Migration Law guarantees access to social assistance services to refugees or immigrants regardless of their migratory status (art. 4, VIII). The Federal Supreme Court has already guaranteed (decision in RE 587970) that immigrants are beneficiaries of the country’s social assistance programs.

In addition to the decision of the STF, the Public Defender’s Office of the Union has already clarified that the right to social assistance is guaranteed to all people residing in Brazil, regardless of their regular or irregular migratory status (Official Circular nº 3578466/2020, April/2020). Thus, as long as they fulfill the specific rules for obtaining benefits, such as the Auxílio Brasil, the undocumented immigrant can apply for them, registering in CadÚnico through the CPF. Remember that benefit withdrawal may depend on having a bank account.

Every asylum seeker will receive a provisional protocol, valid for 1 year and renewable until CONARE’s final decision on their asylum claim. This protocol will be your identity document in Brazil. It serves as proof of your regular migration status and that you are protected and cannot be returned to a country where your life is at risk. With this protocol, you will be entitled to obtain a work and social security card (CTPS), individual taxpayer registry (CPF) and the right to access all public services available in Brazil. According to Brazilian law, the Protocol is a valid document throughout the national territory and demonstrates that you have a legal right to be in Brazil.

Despite being an official document, it can sometimes be challenging for a Brazilian to recognize the protocol as a valid document, as the Provisional Protocol is very different from other Brazilian identification documents. If you face problems accessing services and rights using this document, contact the Public Defender’s Office (DPU) or UNHCR’s partner organizations.

In order for the provisional protocol to remain valid and for you to continue working regularly, it is necessary to renew it at the Federal Police every year. Applicants who do not renew the protocol within the deadline are subject to the archiving of their asylum application. Pay attention to the renewal date noted in your protocol, and go to the Federal Police before the expiration date.

Asylum seekers who have had their refugee status recognized by Brazil have the right to obtain the National Migratory Registration Card (CRNM), an identity document for migrants in Brazil. The issuance and renewal of the CRNM can be done at any unit of the Federal Police. Pay attention to the expiration date of your CRNM. The renewal of the CRNM must be done three months before the expiration date of the old document.

For reasons of confidentiality, the document you have as a refugee does not mention your migratory status as a “refugee”, but uses the category “resident” according to the Brazilian Refugee Law. (9747/1997).

To issue or renew the CRNM, check the procedures.

In case of doubts and for more information, contact the Federal Police by calling 194 or by e-mail at [email protected], or civil society organizations that work with refugees.

If you filed your document in a location in Brazil and changed your address, make a change of address request on the Federal Police website.

For more information, you can consult the Federal Police closest to your residence. Have your refugee application protocol or residence permit in hand and a document proving your new address.

According to Resolution 933/2022 of the National Traffic Council (CONTRAN), the driver of a motor vehicle, coming from a foreign country and qualified therein, provided that criminally attributable in Brazil, may drive in the national territory within a maximum period of 180 days, respecting the validity of the original license – supported by international conventions or agreements

Necessary documents that the foreign driver must carry :

1. Driving license from the country of origin, within the validity period;
2. International Driving Permit (PID) accompanied by a valid foreign driver’s license, in the case of documents issued by a Contracting Party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968;
3. identification document;
4. A document proving the date of entry into the country.

In cases where the foreigner spends more than 180 days in Brazil and wants to continue driving in Brazilian territory

1. You must undergo the Physical and Mental Aptitude Exams and Psychological Assessment, respecting your category, to obtain the National Driver’s License (CNH).
2. What to do: it is necessary to enter the DETRAN portal corresponding to the Brazilian state where the person resides to verify which documents are required.

The non-qualified foreigner, with regular stay in Brazil, intending to qualify for driving a motor vehicle in the national territory, must meet all the requirements outlined in the Brazilian traffic legislation in force.

How can refugees and migrants obtain a CNH in Brazil?

Procedures and values ​​for refugees to obtain a CNH in Brazil vary according to the state. However, we emphasize that refugees and migrants have the full right to obtain a CNH in Brazil to drive motorcycles (Category A), cars (Category B), trucks (Category C), buses, minibuses and vans (Category D) and vehicles over 6 tonnes (Category E).

We also highlight the existence of the CNH Social program in some states of Brazil, which aims to allow low-income people to obtain a CNH free of charge. For more details, look for the DETRAN website for the state you are in:

• São Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Amazonas
• Roraima
• Rio Grande do Sul
• Paraná
• Brasilia

Refugees recognized in Brazil have the right to apply for a “Foreigner Passport”, also called a yellow passport, depending on their documentary status.

Asylum seekers are not eligible for this passport, and they must await the decision of the National Committee for Refugees (CONARE) on their status in order to apply for a travel document.

To apply for a passport, you must access the link and follow the instructions described on the “Get Passport” page.

After filling out the online form, you must select your documentary status and follow the steps.

Pay attention to the list of documents required to apply for a passport!

If you want to travel abroad, check the need to communicate or request authorization from CONARE in the “trip abroad” section.