Housing

Where to get shelter?

If you arrive in the country and have no place to stay, you should  contact the nearest Specialized Social Assistance Reference Center for information (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). The stay in public shelters is free , however, places are limited .

While there are some shelters specifically designed to receive asylum seekers and refugees, they have limited spaces. Most places in the shelters are open to Brazilians, refugees and migrants in vulnerable situations. Shelters often have limits on length of stay, ranging from just one night to a few months.

In case of difficulties to get a place in the public shelters, look for UNHCR partner organizations by clicking here.

Some UNHCR partner organizations have specific shelters for refugees and migrants. In addition, they can guide you in your search for a temporary stay in Brazil. To consult a UNHCR partner in your state, click here.

Can asylum-seekers and recognized refugees rent a house?

There are no impediments for asylum seekers and refugees to rent a house or apartment in Brazil. Renting must be done through a rental contract, in which all rights and duties of landlords and tenants must be included. For more information, access the material created by Caritas Arquidiocesana de São Paulo, a partner organization of UNHCR, by clicking on the image below. The information is in Portuguese .