FAQ on Asylum Claim

The asylum claim is entirely free. The presence of a lawyer is not mandatory. If you need support with your asylum claim, you can always look for one of UNHCR partners – there you will find lawyers and you will be not charged for receiving their support.

No.  At any moment after arriving in Brazil, a foreigner who considers him or herself a victim of persecution in his/her country of origin will be able to submit an asylum claim. It is not necessary to travel to or live in Brasília, where the headquarters of CONARE is located, to begin the procedure of recognition of refugee status.

The authorities cannot detain or penalize you for entering Brazil without an entry visa if you are arriving from a country where your life or freedom may be in danger. However, please note that when submitting your asylum claim you must declare your veridical name and personal information, even if you do not have any documents with you. Remember to explain in your Asylum Claim Form why you had to use false documents and which documents were false.

No. The Asylum Claim is individual. All family members who wish to claim asylum must go personally to a Federal Police Unit and request asylum. Members of the same family will receive the same Process number (but with different protocol identification numbers), what means they will go through the steps of the process together. However, each family member will receive an individual identification number and Provisional Protocol (Protocolo Provisório).

You have the right to request CONARE to separate your request from another person of your family at any moment of the procedure. In the case of children (under the age of 18) that are not with their parents or not accompanied by anyone, a public defender will be appointed to support him during his request for refuge.

However, if you already have your refugee status recognized in Brazil, you can file a family reunification and extension of refugee status application.

I am already registered in Sisconare

If you are already registered in Sisconare, just enter the system and, on the home screen, choose “update my data”

I’m not registered on Sisconare yet

In that case, you will need to update your data by electronic application. To do this, follow these steps.

With the exception of the form that you will fill out, SEI is in Portuguese, so we put here the step by step highlighting the words in Portuguese in quotes so that you can identify when filling out the petition:

Step 1 – Fill out the  “Formulário de atualização cadastral”

Step 2 – Access SEI and register as a user, according to the instructions in the manual available at the link.

Step 3 – After obtaining access to the SEI, enter the system with your login and password.

Step 4 – On the left side, under “peticionamento”, choose the “intercorrente” option.

Step 5 – In “número de processo”, enter the number of your Refuge Protocol and then click on “validar”.

Step 6 – After clicking on “validar”, the SEI will complete, in the “Tipo” field, the information “Migrações: Pedido de Refúgio”. Click “adicionar”.

Step 7 – Then, go to the “escolher arquivo” option. Select the form already filled in with your information.

Step 8 – In “tipo de documento”, choose “formulário” and, in the “complemento do tipo de documento” field, place “atualização cadastral”

Step 9 – In “formato”, choose “nato-digital”.

Step 10 – Then click on “adicionar”.

Step 11 – In “interessado”, include your own name.

Step 12 – After including the form, click on “peticionar”.

After this registration, your registration will be analyzed by the General Coordination of Conare

If you need support contact us by e-mail [email protected] or by phone (61) 2025 9734

In case you need any help in this process you can also contact your nearest UNHCR partner organization. Click here to access the list of organizations.

The Brazilian Refugee Law does not set a deadline for the conclusion of the asylum process. Even though the Protocol is valid for one year, the conclusion of the asylum process usually takes more time than this.

Therefore, if your protocol is about to expire and CONARE has not reached a decision on your request, you must go to a Federal Police unit and renew it. You can renew your provisional protocol as many times as necessary until a final decision is reached.

If you have already been interviewed by CONARE, the best way to consult the status of your process is through the email – [email protected]. Keep your information updated so they can contact you when a decision is reached.

With the exception of the form that you will fill out, SEI is in Portuguese, so we put here the step by step highlighting the words in Portuguese in quotes so that you can identify when filling out the petition:

Step 1 – Fill out the “Formulário de desarquivamento de solicitação de reconhecimento da condição de refugiado”.

Step 2 – Access SEI and register as a user, according to the instructions in the manual available at the link.

Step 3 – After obtaining access to the SEI, enter the system with your login and password.

Step 4 – On the left side, under “peticionamento”, choose the “intercorrente” option.

Step 5 – In “número de processo”, enter the number of your Refuge Protocol and then click on “validar”.

Step 6 – After clicking on “validar”, the SEI will complete, in the “Tipo” field, the information “Migrações: Pedido de Refúgio”. Click “adicionar”.

Step 7 – Then, go to the “escolher arquivo” option. Select the form already filled in with your information.

Step 8 – In “tipo de documento”, choose “formulário” and, in the “complemento do tipo de documento” field, place “Desarquivamento”

Step 9 – In “formato”, choose “nato-digital”.

Step 10 – Then click on “adicionar”.

Step 11 – In “interessado”, include your own name.

Step 12 – After including the form, click on “peticionar”.

After this registration, your registration will be analyzed by the General Coordination of Conare

If you need support contact us by e-mail [email protected] or by phone (61) 2025 9734

If you prefer, watch the video prepared by CONARE (in Portuguese):

In case you need any help in this process you can also contact your nearest UNHCR partner organization. Click here to access the list of organizations.

With the exception of the form that you will fill out, SEI is in Portuguese, so we put here the step by step highlighting the words in Portuguese in quotes so that you can identify when filling out the petition:

Step 1 – Fill out the “Formulário de desistência da solicitação de reconhecimento da condição de refugiado”

Step 2 – Access SEI and register as a user, according to the instructions in the manual available at the link.

Step 3 – After obtaining access to the SEI, enter the system with your login and password.

Step 4 – On the left side, under “peticionamento”, choose the “intercorrente” option.

Step 5 – In “número de processo”, enter the number of your Refuge Protocol and then click on “validar”.

Step 6 – After clicking on “validar”, the SEI will complete, in the “Tipo” field, the information “Migrações: Pedido de Refúgio”. Click “adicionar”.

Step 7 – Then, go to the “escolher arquivo” option. Select the form already filled in with your information.

Step 8 – In “tipo de documento”, choose “formulário” and, in the “complemento do tipo de documento” field, place “desistência”

Step 9 – In “formato”, choose “nato-digital”.

Step 10 – Then click on “adicionar”.

Step 11 – In “interessado”, include your own name.

Step 12 – After including the form, click on “peticionar”.

After this registration, your registration will be analyzed by the General Coordination of Conare

If you need support contact us by e-mail [email protected] or by phone (61) 2025 9734

If you prefer, watch the video prepared by CONARE (in Portuguese):

In case you need any help in this process you can also contact your nearest UNHCR partner organization. Click here to access the list of organizations.