Information for the Ukrainian population
Ukrainian nationals and stateless persons affected or displaced by the armed conflict in Ukraine can enter Brazil without a visa. Once in Brazil, Ukrainians have up to 90 (ninety) days to either (1) apply for asylum; or (2) request a temporary residence permit for humanitarian purposes. The latest regulation governing this process is Interministerial Ordinance No. 50, of December 2024.
For more details, please visit the respective links of the differences between the two legal pathways available in Brazil and the types of document regularization, step-by-step procedure to request asylum in Brazil, and list of UNHCR’s partner institutions across Brazilian states where support is available.
For information and help at the Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, you can visit the Advanced Post for Humanized Attention to Migrants (PAAHM). The service offers free assistance to refugees and migrants, including orientation and referral to the social assistance network and public shelters available.
📍 Location: Terminal 2 – Wing B – Mezzanine – Room 116
⏱️ Opening Hours: every day, 7h to 19h
📞 Phone: +55 (11) 2445-4719
📧 Email: [email protected]
Attention: There is no resettlement program from Brazil to other countries. Therefore, UNHCR Brazil does not relocate refugees from Brazil to other countries. If you wish to move to another country, you must seek the relevant consular authority on your own.
1. Does Brazil provide any kind of support for the purchase of airline tickets?
The Brazilian government and UNHCR Brazil do not provide material assistance for travel to Brazil, such as airfare, accommodation or financial support.
2. How can a Ukrainian national or stateless person apply for recognition of refugee status?
Please consult the step-by-step procedure to request asylum in Brazil.
3. How can a Ukrainian national or stateless person apply for a temporary residence permit for humanitarian purposes?
To apply for a temporary residence permit for humanitarian purposes, Ukrainian nationals or stateless persons must submit the following documents to the Federal Police:
- Travel document, even if expired;
- Birth certificate, marriage certificate, consular certificate, or affiliation self-declaration; and
- Declaration of absence of criminal records in Brazil and abroad in the last five years.
After reviewing these documents, the Federal Police will register the individual and issues National Migration Registration Card – CRNM, valid for two years.
Obtaining a residence permit implies withdrawing any pending application for refugee status recognition if previously submitted.
4. What if I am a national of Ukraine and I am already in Brazil?
Ukrainian nationals who are already in Brazil, regardless of how they entered the country, may either request asylum or a temporary residence permits for humanitarian reception purposes.
5. Where can I find help when in Brazil?
You can seek support from government institutions, universities and civil society organizations that are UNHCR partner organizations. These actors provide assistance with documentation procedures, free legal services, psychosocial care, referral to employment and education opportunities, and Portuguese classes. In addition, the Brazilian Government offers various social assistance programs.
