Brazil’s humanitarian visa for Haitians is a temporary visa (VITEM III) issued only by the Brazilian Embassy in Port-au-Prince, available to Haitian nationals and stateless persons living in Haiti. You apply online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal, submit your documents in person at the Brazil Visa Application Center in Port-au-Prince, travel to Brazil within the visa’s 180-day window, and then register with the Federal Police within 90 days of arrival to convert the visa into legal residence.
The program is governed by Portaria Interministerial MJSP/MRE Nº 37/2023.1Diário Oficial da União. Portaria Interministerial MJSP/MRE No 37, de 30 de Marco de 2023 Because the rules have shifted more than once since 2023, confirm the current status with the Brazilian Embassy in Port-au-Prince or the IOM’s visa center before you start.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility is limited to Haitian nationals and stateless persons residing in Haiti who are affected by large-scale disaster, environmental crisis, or institutional instability. The visa can only be issued at the Brazilian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.2Ministério das Relações Exteriores. Types of Visa
Unlike most Brazilian temporary visas, this one does not require a job offer, professional qualifications, or proof of significant financial resources. You do need to show your Haitian nationality or habitual residence in Haiti.
In December 2024, Brazil tied humanitarian visa issuance to support from a community sponsor inside Brazil. The original Portaria set the program to run through December 31, 2025. If you are applying in 2026, verify with the embassy or the BVAC whether the visa is still being issued and what the sponsorship requirements currently look like.
Documents You Need
Portaria 37/2023 sets a short list:
- A valid passport. The Portaria requires only that the travel document be valid; there is no six-month rule specific to this visa category.3Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública. Portaria Interministerial MJSP/MRE No 37, de 30 de Marco de 2023
- The completed online visa request form submitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs system.
- Proof of transport into Brazil, such as a flight itinerary or booking confirmation.
- A criminal records certificate from Haiti. If you cannot obtain one, you may submit a sworn declaration stating you have no criminal record in any country.3Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública. Portaria Interministerial MJSP/MRE No 37, de 30 de Marco de 2023
The Portaria also allows the consular authority to grant the visa on an exceptional basis, with justification, when an applicant cannot produce any of the listed documents.3Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública. Portaria Interministerial MJSP/MRE No 37, de 30 de Marco de 2023 That flexibility matters given the state of institutional services in Haiti.
Filing the Application Online
Start on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular services portal. The electronic form generates a document called the Recibo de Entrega de Requerimento (RER), and this receipt is part of the physical dossier you present in person.4Ministério das Relações Exteriores. Visitor Visa (VIVIS)
Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport, along with your date of birth, parents’ names, and passport details. Upload digital copies of your photograph, your signature, and the biographical page of your passport. Files that do not meet the format and size requirements are a common cause of delays or rejection. When you finish, print the summary page the system generates. You will need it at your in-person appointment.
Booking and Attending the BVAC Appointment
In-person intake happens at the Brazil Visa Application Center (BVAC) in Port-au-Prince, run through a partnership between the Brazilian government and the International Organization for Migration.5International Organization for Migration. Brazil Visa Application Centre Schedule through the IOM’s online system or by contacting the center by email.6International Organization for Migration. BVAC
Bring your passport, the printed RER summary, your criminal records certificate or sworn declaration, and proof of your travel arrangements. Staff cross-check what you submit against the entries in the online system.
The UNHCR states that the humanitarian visa and registration in Brazil are free.7UNHCR Brazil. Information for the Haitian Population The BVAC has historically charged a separate administrative service fee (around $60 USD) covering IOM’s operational costs rather than the visa itself. Confirm the current amount when you book.
After submission, the Brazilian Embassy reviews the file and notifies you by email or phone once a decision is made. Processing times are not formally published and depend on application volume and security review. Once approved, the visa sticker in your passport authorizes a single entry within a 180-day window.
What the Visa Lets You Do (and What It Does Not)
The humanitarian visa is valid for 180 days and permits one entry into Brazil. It is not, on its own, a residence permit. Once you arrive, you have up to 90 days to report to the Federal Police, where you either request asylum or apply for a temporary residence permit on humanitarian grounds.7UNHCR Brazil. Information for the Haitian Population
Treat the 90-day window as a hard deadline. Missing it leads to fines, and continued failure to register can put your legal status at risk.
Registering with the Federal Police After Arrival
Registration with the Polícia Federal is the step that turns the visa into legal residence. It produces the National Migration Registry Card (CRNM). Bring your passport with the humanitarian visa sticker and proof of your address in Brazil. The Federal Police collect fingerprints and a photograph to finalize your immigration record.8Polícia Federal. Frequently Asked Questions
At that same appointment, you choose between requesting asylum and applying for the humanitarian residence permit. Which route is right for you depends on your situation; both are available under this visa.
Getting a CPF, Work Permit, Healthcare, and School Enrollment
Once your CRNM is issued, several practical documents follow.
The Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF) is Brazil’s individual taxpayer number, needed for banking, leases, services, and formal work. If you are already in Brazil, apply through the Federal Revenue (Receita Federal) website. From abroad, you can request it through a Brazilian consular office at no charge; bring your passport and, if possible, a birth certificate listing your parents’ names, since that is the only document that lets parental information be added to the registry.9Ministério das Relações Exteriores. CPF for Foreigners The number is permanent.
The digital work permit (Carteira de Trabalho e Previdência Social, CTPS) is generated automatically once your CPF and CRNM are in place. Access it through the gov.br portal or the Carteira de Trabalho Digital app. To start a job, you give your CPF number to your employer, who records the hire through Brazil’s eSocial system.
Public healthcare through the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) is free and open to humanitarian visa holders. Register at a local health unit (Unidade Básica de Saúde) with your CRNM or asylum protocol and your CPF, and you will receive a SUS card.10UNHCR Brazil. Health
Public schools cannot refuse enrollment to migrant, refugee, or stateless children because of missing documents. Under Resolution CNE/CEB Nº 1 of 2020, that right is protected regardless of paperwork gaps. If a school refuses on documentary grounds, the refusal contradicts federal policy.
Family Reunification as a Separate Track
If you have a Haitian family member already in Brazil, a different visa exists. In August 2025, Brazil issued updated rules for family reunification visas for Haitians and stateless persons with family ties in Brazil, revised again in December 2025 and extended through June 30, 2026.7UNHCR Brazil. Information for the Haitian Population
The process is entirely online, with no in-person consular visit. The family member in Haiti submits the application, including a digital copy of their passport page, a photograph, and, for children, parental authorization. There are no fees or fines, and validity is confirmed by a QR code rather than a passport sticker.7UNHCR Brazil. Information for the Haitian Population
One boundary matters: this pathway is currently limited to people who previously applied for a residence permit under the earlier family reunification framework (Portaria Interministerial MJSP/MRE Nº 38/2023) but had not yet obtained a visa. It is not open to new applicants without a prior pending request. Because these rules have changed multiple times, check the UNHCR Brazil page or the Brazilian Embassy for the current eligibility details before assuming this route is available to you.