Federal Police to Suspend Services in Anticipation of Strike

The Federal Police in the Federal District and 21 of Brazil’s 26 states have declared a one-day suspension of services next week, as a warning of a potential strike. In affected regions, new work visa holders may be unable to complete in-country registration within the required 30 days after entry. Delays may occur in entry and exit processing at ports of entry and in business and tourist visa extensions.

The Federal Police branch in the city of Macaé — a major destination for offshore and oil and gas workers — will suspend services on February 10. In the Federal District and the following 21 states, services will be suspended on February 11: Acre, Alagoas, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, Roraima, Sergipe, São Paulo and Santa Catarina.

Federal Police unions are attempting to negotiate improved working conditions and higher salaries. If negotiations stall, the Federal Police in the affected regions may continue to suspend services and may declare a strike.

What This Means for Employers

Employers may need to postpone their foreign nationals’ travel plans next week and should be prepared for delayed registrations in the coming weeks. Foreign nationals should not be subject to fines for failing to register within 30 days of arrival if the Federal Police is responsible for the delay in registration.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].