Uncertainties of the New government of Brazil on the Issue of Foreigners

The new Brazilian government that took office on January 1, 2019, has promoted major changes in its bureaucratic and administrative structure. Among the main measures is the elimination of the Ministry of Labor, the body responsible for administering and supervising compliance with labor standards, as well as contributing to the training of workers. Its functions are being transferred to three different ministry departments: Economy, Citizenship and Justice and Public Security.

Besides the end of the ministry, which is a target of criticism from various sectors of society, immigration has been suffering from disorganization, which affects the regularization of foreign workers in Brazil.

Brazil’s former migration law – which was passed in the 1980s at the time of the military regime – was replaced in 2017. According to the new law, the Ministry of Labor must determine the entry of executives and professionals from abroad. However, the current government transferred this administration to the Ministry of Justice. Further, during the first few days of the new administration, it was the Ministry of Economy that published information regarding the approval of new visas.

The new president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, lines up with U.S. President Donald Trump’s view on the issue of foreigners. On his eighth day in office, he fulfilled a campaign promise and announced the departure of Brazil from the Migration Pact of the United Nations, which the United States did not sign either.

While seeming to diminish the rights of foreigners in the country, Bolsonaro also beckons for an economic policy open to the international capital and the participation of foreign. It is too early to define exactly what the new government's foreign policy will be and how it will work on a day-to-day basis. However, it is possible to predict that Brazil will continue to rely on the knowledge and work of professionals from other countries for its own development.

Fragomen Brazil remains attentive to the unfolding events, closely following every detail, to guarantee its clients a safe and regular stay in Brazil.