The Ministry of Justice and Public Security announced that transit passengers arriving in Brazil without a visa and whose final destination is another country will be required to continue their journey or return to their place of origin.
Passengers without a visa to enter Brazil who remain in the international transit area of Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo, or other airports with international connections, will be denied entry, according to a statement from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security sent to Agência Brasil.
According to the ministry, Brazilian legislation does not require a visa for connecting or layover passengers, as long as they remain in the international transit area.
“The intention of this legislation is to streamline the process for passengers during layovers or connections at airports, reducing bureaucratic procedures and speeding up the transfer and/or stop process for passengers between international routes,” the statement says.
The ministry clarified that passengers who are denied entry will not be deported, as Brazil is not their final destination, but merely a transit country. “As passengers, when purchasing their tickets, indicate that their intention is only to transit through Brazil, deportation measures do not apply. Instead, they will be directed to continue their journey to the final destination,” the statement explained.
The measure will not affect passengers from visa-exempt countries entering Brazil. It will only apply to those arriving from countries that require a visa and do not have Brazil as their final destination.
Growing Number of Immigrants
The Federal Police implemented the measure after identifying that immigrants without proper documentation are being exploited by criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
Investigations revealed that travelers often buy tickets to South American countries, but upon arriving in Brazil for a layover, they apply for asylum, abandon their plans to reach their final destination, or return to their countries of origin, instead choosing to remain illegally in restricted areas of airports. Most of these travelers are from Asian countries and aim to reach the United States or Canada.
“The Federal Police discovered that criminal organizations are advising travelers in this situation to apply for asylum as a way to circumvent the visa requirement to enter Brazil,” stated the Ministry of Justice.
According to the government, the numbers reveal “the misuse of the asylum process with the sole purpose of following irregular migration routes. In other words, an irregular migration route has established itself in Brazil, characterized by strong involvement of actors dedicated to smuggling migrants and human trafficking, with clear evidence of fraudulent use of the asylum system.”
Over the past decade, from 2013 to 2023, the number of asylum requests at Guarulhos International Airport increased 61 times, from 69 to 4,239. From January to August 21 of this year, 6,329 requests were submitted, but most did not seek migratory registration (a document required for asylum applicants). Only 117 people expressed interest in registration between 2023 and June 2024.
According to representatives of the Federal Public Ministry, there are currently about 480 foreigners in this situation at Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo.
Source: Agência Brasil