Foreigners facing delays in visa registration at local Federal Police

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Foreigners in Brazil are experiencing significant delays in getting appointments to register with local Federal Police offices.

What does the change mean? Foreigners who enter Brazil with a work visa are legally required to register with the local Federal Police office within 30 days of arrival, but in some jurisdictions they are not able to schedule appointments within that timeframe.

• Implementation timeframe: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: All work visas.
• Who is affected: Foreigners required to register with the Federal Police.
• Impact on processing times: Some offices are scheduling appointments more than six weeks out.
• Business impact: Businesses should be prepared for the delays and possible negative impact on timelines, travel schedules and putting those foreign workers on the local payroll.
• Next steps: Foreign nationals required to register should schedule an appointment with the local Federal Police as soon as they arrive, or work with their BAL attorney to schedule an appointment before arrival as soon as they receive the visa stamp and confirm their arrival date in Brazil. Those who must leave Brazil while waiting for an appointment should consult their BAL attorney.

Background: The delays in appointments with the Federal Police are occurring across the country. The São Paulo office is currently scheduling appointments up to six weeks out. Foreigners who do not register within 30 days of arrival are legally subject to monetary penalties and may be denied entry if they depart the country and return more than 30 days after the first entry without having registered.

BAL Analysis: The delay in registration can have consequences for foreign workers who are not able to register within 30 days or who leave and reenter the country. The delay also impacts the ability of employers to put foreign workers on the local payroll because they must wait until the registration is processed by the Federal Police.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in Brazil. For additional information, please contact brazil@bal.com.

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