The Brazilian government has announced a new change in its humanitarian visa and reception policy for Afghanistan asylum seekers and those who seek refuge in Brazil. The Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have brought new changes to the humanitarian visa and residence permit for Afghanistan applicants. This change is due to the consideration of Brazil as a gateway for Afghan emigrants who fled the Taliban to move to the United States of America after passing dangerous routes.

The newly published policy will be effective from October 2nd, 2023, up to December 2024 and changes as follows:

Changes in applicants:

Afghanistan Applicants, stateless persons, and persons directly affected by the events of 15th August in Afghanistan. Those who left Afghanistan before this date are excluded.

Changes in place the people can apply:

Applicants seeking temporary Brazil visas can only apply for humanitarian visas at Brazilian embassies in Tehran, Iran and in Islamabad, Pakistan. Previously, the applicants could apply at the Brazil embassies in Moscow, Russia; Doha, Qatar; Ankara, Turkey; or Abud Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Changes in availability of accommodation:

New policy Requires that Afghans provide proof of available shelter spaces via civil society organizations and state cooperation agreements to be granted visas.

Applicants should enter Brazil within 180 days.

Once an immigrant arrives in Brazil, they have a 90-day deadline to register with the Federal Police and obtain their National Migration Registration Card (CRNM).

The documentation requirements for temporary visas and residence remain unchanged. It’s still possible for immigrants to apply to stay in Brazil indefinitely, but they must do so 90 days before their final date of residence. To meet the requirements, the immigrant must not be absent from Brazil for more than 90 days, go through immigration control every time, prove they have the means to support themselves, and have no criminal record. Additionally, the immigrant must give up their refugee status and renounce their migratory status of humanitarian reception.

This change was prompted by a scabies outbreak among Afghan immigrants residing at São Paulo International Airport earlier this year. However, some experts and activists have expressed concerns about the new policy, which resembles the criticized American migration policy of requiring migrants to have an employer or place to stay in the destination country before applying for a visa. The national secretary of Justice, Augusto de Arruda Botelho, assures that the change aims to improve the reception of Afghans who have yet to establish a solid base in Brazil. Since the start of 2022, Afghans have been a significant part of the migrant flow crossing the Darien Strait, known as the “jungle of death,” between Panama and Colombia.

Note:
Applicants applying before 1st October 2023 will be subject to the rules of policy announced on September 2, 2021. Starting 2, 10, 2023, only applications meeting the requirements of the new ordinance will be processed.
The source of the above information is the government of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Folha de S.Paulo – Folhapress.
Brazil announced the humanitarian visa in September 2021 for applicants of Afghanistan. read the detail here
previous announcements:

Interview of Brazil Humanitarian Visa for Afghanistan resumed.
Brazil Humanitarian Visa for Afghanistan is temporarily suspended

How to apply for a Brazilian Humanitarian Visa?

The new procedure has not been published yet, and it is not clear how to apply and verify the reception capacity of Civil society in Brazil to be granted a Brazil humanitarian visa for Afghanistan. Check the previous procedure on these announcements below:

Brazil announced the humanitarian visa in September 2021 for applicants of Afghanistan. read the detail here

Interview of Brazil Humanitarian Visa for Afghanistan resumed.
Brazil Humanitarian Visa for Afghanistan is temporarily suspended