Brazil pauses offshore humanitarian visa filings under new national framework

Brazil’s humanitarian visa rules now run under one framework

Brazil’s Interministerial Ordinance 60/2025 took effect on Jan. 1, 2026, replacing the old country-by-country humanitarian visa setup with a single national framework. The permit still gives eligible applicants two years of temporary residence and full work authorization after registration with the Federal Police.

The change doesn't affect ordinary tourist, expat or digital-nomad routes. It does, however, pause new humanitarian filings abroad until the government issues a joint act naming the nationalities, crisis conditions and consulates that can process them.

Who the rule touches and who it doesn’t

The framework is aimed at people fleeing war, generalized violence, disasters or state collapse. Eligibility now depends on the nationality or group named in a future joint act, plus the crisis the government recognizes for that group.

Travelers on visitor visas, remote workers using Brazil’s separate digital-nomad route and standard long-term migrants stay under their own rules. People already in Brazil under the old humanitarian system by Dec. 31, 2025 can still apply under the new framework, even if their stay is irregular.

What applicants need to line up

Humanitarian visa applicants now need a hosting commitment from a nonprofit with a federal cooperation agreement and the capacity to provide housing and integration support. Fees stay waived for principal applicants and dependents.

After arrival, holders must register within 90 days and then apply for the temporary residence permit. They can later seek indefinite residence under standard migration rules and the two-year permit includes work rights, making it distinct from the regular visa updates covered elsewhere.

Read our full Brazil guide for the complete picture.