On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Brazil LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Brazil country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Brazil COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Brazil.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Brazil is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Since 1961 Brazil has been a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It has also ratified the Convention’s 1967 Protocol in 1972. In 2007, Brazil also accepted the UN Statelessness Conventions.
Domestically, Brazil adopts the refugee definition set by the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees of 1984.
In 1997 the Brazilian Government adopted Lei Federal nº 9.474/97, which implements and internalises the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol. This law also defines who can be considered as a refugee and what is the procedure to request refugee protection in Brazil.
Regarding migrants’ rights and obligations, Brazil’s 2017 Lei Ordinária nº 13.445/17 (referred to as “Lei de Migração”) establishes a new approach to migration flows – one that is based on human rights. This law determines the principles that guide migratory policies in Brazil, the protection of migrants’ rights, and it also regulates the entry and stay of immigrants in the country.
Legal aid organisations
Address: Rua Luís Ferreira, n° 142 – Tatuapé – São Paulo – SP, 03072-020
Tel: +55 (11) 2257-3467 / +55 (11) 94449-5269(whatsapp)
E-mail:contato@cdhic.org
Working Hours: Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 16:30 hs.
CDHIC (Centro de Direitos Humanos e Cidadania do Imigrante) is a civil society organization that aims to promote, organize, carry out, and articulate actions aimed at building a migration policy respectful of the human rights of immigrants and refugees. It acts in providing legal and orientation on social services and in migration regularisation. It aimes to promote the sustainability of the enterprises of migrant people and the guarantee of decent working conditions for all.
São Paulo Office:
Address: R. Teixeira da Silva, 217 – Vila Mariana, São Paulo – SP, 04002-030, Brazil
Tel: +55 11 3627-3400
E-mail: plantao.sp@dpu.def.br
Working Hours: from 8:00 to 14:00 hs.
The Federal Public Defender´s Office (DPU) is an institution created to, among other responsibilities, promote the broadest defense of the fundamental rights of people in need, including their individual, collective, social, economic, cultural and environmental rights, and to support all kinds of actions capable of providing adequate and effective protection.
DPU provides legal assistance and representation to asylum-seekers, refugees, and vulnerable migrants throughout Brazil. DPU also works on strategic litigation and carries out advocacy actions.
ProMigra – Project for the Promotion of the Rights of Migrants
ProMigra is a project connected to the Law School of the University of São Paulo (FDUSP) that works to promote, raise awareness and enforce the rights of migrants in the city of São Paulo and metropolitan region.
It was started in 2015, due to the growing complexity of migratory phenomena.
Currently, the project has 53 members – students and interdisciplinary professionals from 11 different areas of training and performance – and it provides Free Legal Assistance to immigrants through this link.
Brasília (Headquarters):
Address: SCN Quadra 5, Edifício Brasília Shopping Torre Norte – Sala 318, Brasília, DF
Tel: +55 61 3044-5744
E-mail (for all offices): brabr@unhcr.org
São Paulo (SP) Office:
Address: Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 1744, 8º andar São Paulo – SP
Tel: +55 0800 729 2363
Manaus (AM) Office:
Address: Rua Franco de Sá, 270, Sala 1107, Condomínio Amazon Trade Center, Manaus
Tel: +55 92 3090-4210
Boa Vista (RR) Office:
Address: SETRABES – Bloco 4, Av. Mário Homem de Melo, 2310 – Bairro Mecejana, Boa Vista – RR
Tel: +55 0800 729 2363
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Rio de Janeiro Office
Address: Praça Cruz Vermelha, 10, Centro – Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Tel: +55 (21) 2507-3577
Email: editoria@cvb.org.br
Brazilian Red Cross (BRC) provides asylum-seekers, people granted protection in Brazil humanitarian assistance, and referral to relevant state authorities for targeted assistance in accordance with their competence.
São Paulo Office:
Address: Av. Thomaz Edison, 355 – Barra Funda – São Paulo – SP
Tel: +55 (11) 33925-911
Email: caritas.sp@caritas.org.br
Caritas was founded on 12 November 1956, is one of the 170 member organisations of Caritas International. Its origin lies in the mobilising action of Dom Helder Camara, then Secretary General of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB). The areas of action represent the diversity of activities that Caritas carries out in the country at different levels and throughout the Network. There are five priority areas: Popular Solidarity Economy (EPS), Living with Biomes, Program for Children, Adolescents and Youth (PIAJ), Environment, Management of Risks and Emergencies (MAGRE) and Migration and Refuge. It provides humanitarian support to migrants and refugees in Brazil.
The CRAS is a public service unit that offers Social Assistance services to the population. There you can make your Unified Registry, receive guidance on social benefits; get advice about your rights; ask for support to solve difficulties in living with and caring for your children; access social assistance services, benefits and projects; have support and guidance on what to do in cases of domestic violence; receive guidance on other public services. It is free and maintained by the Municipality and the Federal Government. Every city should have one.
Brasília Office (Headquarters)
Address: SAUS Quadra 5 – Bloco N – Ed. OAB, Rooms 301 a 308 – South Wing CEP: 70070-913, Brasília-DF – Brasil
Tel:+55 61 3771-3772
Email: iombrazil@iom.int
International Organization for Migration (IOM) assists foreign citizens with assisted voluntary return to the countries of their origin as well as provides consultations on safe travel and stay abroad. IIOM in Brazil provides a comprehensive response to the humanitarian needs of migrants, internally displaced persons, returnees and the host community, and works closely with federal and local governments, as well as academics and universities.
Address: Rua Glicério, 225 – Liberdade – São Paulo/SP
Tel: +55 (11) 3340-6950
Email: contato@missaonspaz.org
Missão Paz is a Scalabrinian philanthropic institution that has been active since the 1930s in the city of São Paulo, supporting and welcoming immigrants and refugees. Throughout its history, it has received and acted on behalf of migrants from different parts of the world. Nowadays, Missão Paz assists individuals from more than 70 nationalities every year. The current structure of Mission Peace is formed by five major axes: the Casa do Migrante (House of the Migrant), the Migrant Pastoral and Mediation Centre (CPMM), the Migration Studies Centre (CEM), the Transversal Axes and the Church of Our Lady of Peace; besides other transversal activities.
The Casa do Migrante is the shelter of Missão Paz that allows stateless persons, immigrants, refugee seekers and refugees to stay according to their individual needs. With a capacity to accommodate up to 110 people, divided between female and male dormitories, it has mixed integration areas, including a TV room, library, meeting room, playroom and laundry. The stay at the Casa do Migrante includes meals, Portuguese classes, psychological support and monitoring by social workers. All residents of the house receive personal hygiene materials and clothing, and can use their address to receive correspondence.
Missão Paz also has a Legal sector, which provides free orientation and legal assistance to immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons. In addition to providing clarifications on migratory regularization, the sector works in other fields of law, assisting with labour, family and social security issues, among others. Their working hours are: on Mondays from 13:30 to 16:30 hs and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 16:30 hs.
Brazil LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Brazil.
Brazil COI
Find Brazil country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated April 2023