This year, Brazil’s Federal Police received 9,082 refugee requests by mid-July—more than double the total for all of 2023 and the highest number in over a decade
Brazil is set to implement stricter entry regulations for certain foreign citizens from Asia, aiming to curb the trend of migrants using the country as a transit route to the United States and Canada. The new restrictions, announced by Brazil’s justice ministry, will come into effect on August 26 and will primarily target Asian migrants who require visas to stay in Brazil.
A significant number of these migrants—over 70%, according to official documents—are from India, Nepal, and Vietnam. Many of them purchase flights with layovers in São Paulo’s international airport, with plans to stay in Brazil temporarily before continuing their journey north. A Federal Police investigation revealed that this pattern has led to an increase in migrants using Brazil as a launch point for their onward travel toward the U.S. and Canada.
Starting next week, migrants arriving in Brazil without proper visas will be required to either continue their journey by air or return to their country of origin. This move aims to reduce the backlog and congestion at Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo, where there has been a significant influx of migrants since early last year. The Federal Police have noted “great turmoil” at the airport due to the growing number of travelers seeking refuge.
The journey many of these migrants undertake is not without risk. According to reports, many travel from São Paulo to the western state of Acre, on the border with Peru, before heading through Central America and eventually attempting to enter the U.S. from its southern border. This route is known for being particularly hazardous.
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While Brazil has historically been welcoming to refugees, including those from Afghanistan, the surge in applications from migrants using Brazil as a transit point has led to frustration within the government
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This comes at a time when the system is already under pressure from individuals seeking humanitarian visas from countries like Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Between September 2021 and April 2024, Brazil granted 11,248 humanitarian visas to Afghan nationals alone
An investigation by The Associated Press in July highlighted the plight of migrants, including those from Vietnam and India, who have passed through the Amazon and often returned to Acre. This shift in migrant patterns has been partly driven by evolving U.S. border policies, which have led to uncertainty and a “wait-and-see” approach among many migrants.
Brazil’s new guidelines will not affect the 484 migrants currently at São Paulo’s international airport. However, the country’s federal prosecutors have expressed concern about the strain on Brazil’s immigration system, noting that the high number of foreign arrivals is overwhelming the airport’s capacity. Airlines have been urged to provide basic supplies to migrants awaiting their refugee status applications.
In January 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. However, his administration has since tightened the guidelines for humanitarian visa concessions, reflecting a more restrictive stance amid the growing challenges facing Brazil’s immigration system.
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