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OnAsylum

South America

Brazil

Runs one of the largest asylum systems in the Americas through CONARE, and has historically maintained a broad, inclusive definition of who qualifies.

At a glance, for someone deciding whether to come here

Not tourist facts — the things that actually shape daily life while your case is pending and after it's decided.

Right to workAllowed immediately via the protocol document issued at registration — one of the fastest right-to-work timelines anywhere.
Cost of living Moderate Lower than the US or Europe, though São Paulo and Rio are notably pricier than the rest of the country.
Healthcare while pendingFree public healthcare (SUS) is available to everyone, including asylum seekers, regardless of status.
LanguagePortuguese — a real barrier for most, though large Spanish-speaking migrant communities exist.
Family reunificationGenerally accessible, especially given Brazil's broad protection framework.
After you're granted statusRecognized refugees get permanent residence directly, a notably stronger starting position than temporary-permit systems.
ClimateMostly tropical to subtropical — hot for much of the year across most of the country.
Existing communityLarge Venezuelan and Haitian communities, with established support networks in major cities.
Recognition rate ~87% CONARE recognized refugee status in about 86.7% of merits-based decisions from 1997 through 2022 — one of the highest rates anywhere on this list, reflecting Brazil's broad protection definition. Source ↗
Starter content, pending expert review. This page describes general, publicly known information about how this country's asylum system works. It is not legal advice and may be out of date — policies change often. Last drafted 2026-09-04.

How you could qualify to enter this system

  • In-land asylum application to CONARE
  • A separate humanitarian visa, available to Venezuelan, Afghan, and Haitian nationals directly at Brazilian consulates or land borders — often faster than the CONARE route

How the process generally works

Applicants register with the Federal Police, receive a temporary protocol document permitting work while the claim is processed, and are interviewed as part of CONARE's review — interview waits for Venezuelan applicants in Roraima or São Paulo have run around 14–18 months. The humanitarian visa route, where you qualify for it, skips this entirely: it grants immediate work authorization and a path to permanent residence after 2 years, rather than CONARE's uncertain 1–3 year process.

Step by step

  1. Register with the Federal Police

    Via SISCONARE online or in person — you receive a protocol document that permits work immediately.

  2. Interview Venezuelan applicants in Roraima/São Paulo have waited around 14–18 months for this step

    With a CONARE Eligibility Officer, who prepares a recommendation.

  3. CONARE decision

    A collegiate body under the Ministry of Justice reviews the recommendation and decides.

  4. Appeal, if refused 15 working days to file

    Decided solely by the Minister of Justice — final and unappealable.

What you'll typically need

  • Passport or ID if available
  • Evidence supporting the claim

Support available while your case is decided

  • Right to work while the claim is pending
  • Caritas and other church-affiliated organizations providing on-the-ground support

If you're Venezuelan, Afghan, or Haitian specifically, ask about the humanitarian visa before assuming you need to go through CONARE — it's often the faster and more certain option. CONARE itself has added staff and interview capacity in 2026, gradually working down its backlog, but still receives roughly 30,000–50,000 new applications a year against limited interview capacity.

Common pitfalls

  • Not checking the humanitarian visa route first if you're Venezuelan, Afghan, or Haitian — it's often faster and more certain than going through CONARE, with immediate work authorization.
  • Assuming the appeal to the Minister of Justice is just one of several options — it's the final step; there's no further appeal after that decision.
  • Underestimating the wait for a CONARE interview in high-volume states — real waits have run over a year in Roraima and São Paulo specifically.
Sources checked for this page