Brazil – COVID-19: Immigration Deadlines Extended until September 2021
BR – Immigration Deadlines Extended until September
On March 8, the Brazilian authorities published a note (or “ordinance”) confirming the extension of immigration status deadlines and procedures – including by the Federal Police -- until September 16, 2021. The Brazilian government had previously extended immigration deadlines until March 16, 2021, for all foreign nationals who could not proceed with immigration procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 8, the Brazilian authorities published a note1 (or “ordinance”) in the country’s official gazette confirming the extension of immigration status deadlines and procedures that restarted on November 3, 2020.
Originally, the Brazilian government had extended immigration deadlines until March 16, 2021, in a previous ordinance2 for all foreign nationals who could not proceed with immigration procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, considering the continued public health measures that have impacted all procedures, the Brazilian authorities decided to extend this period until September 16, 2021.
WHY THIS MATTERS
This new ordinance affects all foreign travelers who arrived in Brazil during the pandemic and have remained in the country. It also affects employers and their globally-mobile employees as they are going to have an additional period to regularize their workforce.
The note indicates that these individuals may now have the ability, for example, to renew their ID documents or to extend their business visas. This should provide relief to the Brazilian individuals who could not collect their passports in a timely manner.
More Details
The ordinance confirms that documents issued by the Brazilian Federal Police and any other issued immigration papers that expired after March 16, 2020, will be considered valid and useable until September 16, 2021, if the foreign national is currently residing in Brazilian territory.
It is important to note that the extension does not apply to any foreign individuals who have stayed for more than 30 days outside of Brazilian territory since March 16, 2020.
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 March 08, Portaria 18-DIREX/PF N° 21 (in Portuguese) as published in the Diário Oficial da União, 08/03/2021, Edição: 44.
2 For prior coverage of travel restrictions, see the following issues of GMS Flash Alert: 2021-047 (February 5, 2021), 2021-025 (January 15, 2021), 2021-007 (January 5 ,2021), 2020-501 (December 22 ,2020), 2020-469 (November 25, 2020), 2020-425 (October 9, 2020), 2020-417 (October 1, 2020), 2020-389 (September 4, 2020), 2020-348 (August 7, 2020), 2020-312 (July 10, 2020), 2020-284 (June 17, 2020), and 2020-119 (March 26, 2020).
*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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