A recognized refugee in Brazil has the right to family reunification. Under the Brazilian Law, family members who are entitled to a family reunion are:
- Spouse or partner;
- Ancestors;
- Descendants;
- Another member of the family group who is economically dependent on the refugee.
The procedures are different depending on the situation:
- If your family members live in Brazil.
If you have family members who live in Brazil, they can apply for family reunification and receive refugee status in Brazil through a simplified procedure. The refugee may apply for family reunion to CONARE to his or her spouse, ascendants and descendants. For other members of the family group, the family reunion may be requested whenever there is confirmed economic dependence with the refugee and the family member applying (according to Art. 2 of Law 9,474 and Art. 1 of Resolution 16 of CONARE). To apply for family reunion, the refugee must attend a Federal Police unit, taking the completed Family Reunion Visa application form (available at the bottom of this page). - If your family members are outside of Brazil.
If your family members are not in Brazil, it is possible to ask CONARE to inform the Brazilian Consulate in the country where your relatives are that you are a refugee recognized by the Brazilian government. In this case, the refugee must complete the family reunion request form and send it to CONARE through the Electronic Protocol. CONARE analyzes the visa application and sends it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue the visa for family reunion (Article 1, Paragraph 1 of Normative Resolution 16). - Conversion of standalone process to family reunion request.
A refugee relative who may have initiated an autonomous refugee petition process may request to convert it to a family reunion request through the Family Reunion Refugee Request Form (at the bottom of this page).
Be aware: the form for a family member who is already in Brazil is different from the form that must be completed on behalf of the relative who is outside the country.
This will facilitate the issuance of an appropriate visa for your family. It is important to keep in mind that all travel costs, such as airfare, are your responsibility. The Brazilian government will not bear the costs of your family coming to Brazil.
For more information about family reunification, you can contact CONARE through the following email: rfamiliar.conare@mj.gov.br. Do not forget to include your full name, the number of your National Migration Registration Card/RNE, nationality and address in your email. You should explain the situation and list which family members are willing to travel to Brazil. CONARE will answer you in a few days with further instructions.
To receive more information on how to bring your family members to Brazil or for assistance in the family reunion process, please contact UNHCR or one of our civil society partners.