The interiorization is a program of the Brazilian federal government for the Venezuelan population living in Roraima and Amazonas that aim to move safely to other parts of Brazil. The programme is primarily for Venezuelans who are in a situation of vulnerability in the cities of Boa Vista, Pacaraima and Manaus, both in shelters and outside them. The interiorization process is completely voluntary and free.
How does the interiorization process work?
The government and the United Nations contact municipalities, civil society entities, companies or individuals interested in welcoming Venezuelans in other Brazilian states, depending on the modality, and ensure the proper functioning of the program. Upon specifying the number of available positions, Venezuelans who wish to participate in the process are identified, selected and then go through a health check before the trip. In destination cities, Venezuelans often have more job opportunities and may continue to access public health, education and social assistance programs.
I am Venezuelan and want to be interiorized, what should I do?
Anyone can request the insertion of their name in the registry of the interiorization process free of charge and voluntarily. For this, the following steps have to be followed according to the type of interiorization that is desired.
Minimum requirements
You must have all the basic requirements for registration in the internalization system:
a. Request for Asylum Protocol, Temporary Residency Protocol or National Migration Registry (RNM);
b. Physical Person Registry (CPF);
c. Vaccination certificate:
1) Yellow Fever: Mandatory for people between 9 months and 60 years. You must wait 10 days after the vaccine to embark;
2) Triple viral: Mandatory for people between 6 months and 49 years. You must wait 14 days after the vaccine to embark;
d. As of September 2019, the Carteira de Trabalho e Previdência Social (CTPS) is a digital document and you no longer need to submit it to access the interiorization.
It is important to remember that it is NOT necessary to change your documents to access the interiorization modalities. Individuals with the asylum application protocol or temporary residence documents grant the same rights, both in relation to access to work, health and education and to the modalities of interiorization.
What are each of the internalization modalities and how to register?
1. Interiorization shelter-to-shelter
This modality is aimed for Venezuelans who are in Roraima and who need shelter in the city of destination. Shelter-to-shelter interiorization will allow you to move to a city outside the State of Roraima, and reach a safe space (shelter), where you can stay up to 3 months. The priority population for this modality are those sheltered in the Rondon 2 shelter of the city of Boa Vista. Once you are in any of Roraima’s shelters, you must inform the coordination that you want to be interiorized. Upon registration, you enter a waiting list to be transferred to Rondon 2 once there is space. Transfers are made according to the time spent in Brazil (date of asylum request or temporary residence protocol). For the trip to the shelters outside of Roraima, the same applies: they are carried out in accordance with the profiles of each shelter and with the residence time in Brazil.
2. Interiorization by family reunification
This modality is strictly for those people who have relatives outside of Roraima and Amazonas, who they must prove parentage, as well as the financial and social possibilities of receiving them. This type of interiorization supports the reunification of families that were separated. In Roraima and Amazonas, people living in shelters can be registered, as well as people living outside them. To search for this modality in Roraima, you must register at the PITRIG of Pacaraima or Boa Vista, or at the Reference Center at the Federal University of Roraima. To seek for this modality in Manaus, you must register at the PITRIG of Manaus.
3. Internalization by Social Reunification
Social reunification is very similar to family reunification, the only difference is that it is not necessary for you to have family members in the city of destination, but a friend or someone you trust and is available to receive you. This means that you need to have a host address, but at the same time the guarantee that you will be in a safe place. For this, the person who is going to host you must present proof of a monthly income and the absence of a criminal record.
It is important to understand that in this modality your livelihood and other needs must be provided by the person who will be hosting you. People living in Roraima and Amazonas in shelters, as well as outside of them may register. To seek for this modality in Roraima, you must register at the PITRIG of Pacaraima or Boa Vista or at the Reference Center of the Federal University of Roraima. To seek for this modality in Amazonas, you must register with the PITRIG of Manaus.
4. Interiorization by work
This modality aims to interiorize Venezuelans who are living in the State of Roraima through the hiring of the individual by a company. The quotas of the companies for hiring are managed by the “interiorization cell” (federal government), which identifies the vacancies, supports the selection process of the workers and supports them with transportation for arrival to the place of employment. UNHCR may provide support in specific cases of vulnerability for the first month in the destination city. People living in shelters may be registered, as well as people living outside them. To seek for this modality, you must register with the PITRIG of Pacaraima or Boa Vista.
Once the trip is confirmed, you will be notified of the process and the date on which you must go through a medical check-up, documentation verification and update of your registration. Before the trip you will also have access to a information session about the destination city.