Information for the Afghan population

Brazilian Program for Resettlement, Admission, and Humanitarian Reception through Complementary Pathways and Community Sponsorship (PRVC-PC) – or Brazilian Community Sponsorship Program for Afghans

Since September 2021, the Government of Brazil grants humanitarian visas for people affected by the situation of human rights violations in Afghanistan.

Since October 2023, the issuance of humanitarian visas for Afghans is subject to the confirmation of support by an accredited civil society organization (CSO) that acts as “community sponsor”.

Community sponsorship refers to programs in which individuals, groups or organizations come together to provide financial, emotional and practical support toward reception and integration of refugees.

In December 2024, Interministerial Ordinance No. 49/2024 limited the access to humanitarian visas to Afghans who left Afghanistan after 15 August 2021, without having established permanent residence in a third country.

Requests for family reunification visas are still available at any Brazilian Embassy abroad, based on pre-existing rules. For more information on family reunification in Brazil, click here.

In September 2024, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) launched the Public Call No. 01/2024 to accredit civil society organizations interested in supporting the reception and local integration of Afghans in Brazil, inviting CSOs to apply to become a community sponsor within the Brazilian Community Sponsorship Program for Afghans.

To participate, organizations must be legally constituted in Brazil and must submit a proposal under the specifications of the Public Call to MJSP. Further instructions about the requirements and procedures for an organization to apply to become a community sponsor can be found at the Public Call No. 01/2024.

The MJSP is reviewing proposals that have already submitted and accrediting as sponsors the organizations that comply with the selection criteria. There is no limit as to how many people may be supported by the community sponsors, and proposals can be submitted on a rolling basis.

Once accredited as sponsors, organizations commit to provide support to beneficiaries, including financially, on the three pillars of the program: pre-departure and movement; reception and shelter; access to rights, socioeconomic inclusion and community insertion.

As of May 2025, three civil society organizations have been accredited by the MJSP as community sponsors: Panahgah, Estou Refugiado e MAIS (Missão de Apoio à Igreja Sofredora). The accreditation status of additional organizations can be consulted here.

Currently, there is no direct application procedure to become a beneficiary of the “Program for Resettlement, Admission, and Humanitarian Reception through Complementary Pathways and Community Sponsorship (PRVC-PC)”.

Accredited community sponsors have the prerogative to choose who they will receive and host in Brazil:

based on selection criteria proposed by them and validated by the MJSP within the following groups, but not limited to them: families, women, people unaccompanied by family members, specific groups such as LGBTQIA+, people who are victims of violence and/or human trafficking, the elderly or people with disabilities; and
provided that the individuals comply with the basic requirements for the issuance of humanitarian visas established by the government of Brazil in Interministerial Ordinance No. 49/2024:

1. The person is an Afghan national who left the territory of Afghanistan as of August 15, 2021, without having established permanent residence in another country;
2. The person holds a valid travel document;
3. The person is able to present a criminal record certificate issued by Afghanistan or equivalent consular document.

At the moment, only persons nominated by these sponsors will be able to apply to a humanitarian visa.

The visas for the beneficiaries nominated to the Program can only be issued at the Brazilian Embassies in Islamabad, Pakistan and Tehran, Iran. It is important to note that UNHCR does not receive nor process applications for humanitarian visas.

In addition to this, UNHCR will identify and refer 5% to 10% of community sponsors’ beneficiaries, selecting the refugees with the most severe vulnerabilities and protection needs, according to UNHCR resettlement criteria.

❗ IMPORTANT: Resettlement opportunities such as these – with the identification of profiles and referral by UNHCR – are not a right. Contrary to other UNHCR services, UNHCR does not accept applications for resettlement.

❗ ATTENTION: All services delivered by UNHCR are free of charge. One should not pay anyone for resettlement consideration, identification and referral by UNHCR or partners at any step in the process.

Be aware of fake news on resettlement, humanitarian visas or community sponsorship that may be circulating on social media. For official updates, please refer to the MJSP announcement and to this page.

Please note that UNHCR Brazil does not provide material assistance to, nor support travel arrangements for, people who wish to leave their countries of origin or temporary residency, If you are in Iran or Pakistan and in need of support, please reach out to UNHCR offices there for more information on support programmes locally available.

For Iran, you can contact UNHCR by email at [email protected] or through the hotlines available in different cities: https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/contact/. Please also visit: https://help.unhcr.org/iran/en/what-are-the-main-services-for-asylum-seekers-and-refugees-in-iran/.

For Pakistan, you can contact UNHCR by email at [email protected] or through the hotlines available in different cities: https://help.unhcr.org/pakistan/contact/. For more information, please visit: https://help.unhcr.org/pakistan/new-arrivals/.

If you are in other countries, contact the UNHCR office nearest to you.

The humanitarian visa will be valid for 180 (one hundred and eighty) days, for a single entry in Brazil. Once in Brazil, humanitarian visa holders have a maximum of 90 (ninety) days to present themselves to the Federal Police with the right to (1) apply for asylum; or (2) apply for a temporary residence permit for humanitarian purposes. To better understand the differences between the two legal avenues available for Afghans in Brazil, types of documental regularization, click here.

You can seek support from government institutions, universities and civil society organizations that are partners of UNHCR for help with documentation procedures, as well as support with free legal services, psychosocial care, referral to employment and education opportunities, and Portuguese classes. For more information on UNHCR partner organizations in São Paulo and in other states of Brazil, click here.

For information and help at the Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, you can look for the Advanced Post for Humanized Attention to Migrants (PAAHM). The post offers free assistance to refugees and migrants, as well as orientation and referral to the social assistance network, including to public shelters available.
Location: Terminal 2 – Wing B – Mezzanine – Room 116
Opening Hours: everyday, 7h to 19h
Phone: +55 (11) 2445-4719
Email: [email protected]