Brazil – COVID-19: Resumption of Immigration Deadlines and Procedures
Brazil–Resumption of Immigration Deadlines & Procedures
On October 21, the Brazilian authorities published a note (or “ordinance”) confirming the resumption of immigration deadlines and procedures – including by the Federal Police – which were paused beginning March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The note also confirms that any individuals who over-stayed their legal permissions for stays in Brazil during the period March 16, 2020 to November 3, 2020, will see that period not counted by the authorities.
On October 21, the Brazilian authorities published a note1 (or “ordinance”) in the country’s Official Gazette confirming the resumption of immigration deadlines and procedures which were paused beginning March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2
The note specifies that the Brazilian Federal Police will restart deadline counting as from November 3, 2020, for:
— foreign nationals who come to Brazil for business or tourism purposes,
— immigrants who have short- or long-stay visas, and
— those who already have approved residency in Brazil.
In other words, the Federal Police will not consider the period from March 16 to November 3 for matters related to immigrants such as expired ID renewals, business/tourism visa renewals, and others.
Moreover, the above-noted individuals will now have the possibility, for example, to renew their ID documents or to extend their business visas.
WHY THIS MATTERS
This new ordinance affects all foreign travelers who arrived in Brazil during the pandemic and remain currently in the country. The new policies should bring welcome relief to individuals who over-stayed their legal permissions for staying in Brazil.
The note indicates how services provided by the Brazilian Federal Police will return to normal shortly. And this should help multinational organizations to resume their business travel and cross-border business plans.
More Details
The note also confirms that any individuals who over-stayed their legal permissions for stays (i.e., tourism and business purposes) in Brazil during the period March 16, 2020 to November 3, 2020, will see that period not counted by the authorities.
Moreover, the determination or counting of the maximum period of absence from Brazil for those with permanent visas will restart only from November 3, 2020, in the event that they have been out of the country for reasons related to the pandemic – the period from March 16, 2020 until November 3, 2020 will be disregarded.
Additionally, the documents issued by the Brazilian Federal Police, and any other issued immigration papers, that expired beginning March 16, 2020, will be considered valid and useable until March 16, 2021, for entry or registration purposes.
It is important to note that temporary visas are considered valid until the expiration described on the visa, except for those that have been extended by a Brazilian Embassy or Consulate abroad.
KPMG NOTE
Travelers seeking to enter Brazil should regularly check the latest information made available by the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate about entry and exit from the country and the restoration of passport and visa services.
The KPMG International member firm in Brazil continues to monitor the situation around travel and border restrictions and will endeavor to keep readers of GMS Flash Alert apprised of any new developments.
FOOTNOTES
1 See the Brazilian government announcement of October 19, Portaria 18-DIREX/PF N° 18 (in Portuguese) as published in the Diário Oficial da União, 21/10/2020, Edição: 202.
2 For prior coverage of travel restrictions, see the following issues of GMS Flash Alert: 2020-425 (October 09,2020), 2020-417 (October 01, 2020), 2020-389 (September 04, 2020), 2020-348 (August 07, 2020), 2020-312 (July 10, 2020), 2020-284 (June 17, 2020) and 2020-119 (March 26, 2020).
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* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Brazil.
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