Protection and Assistance to Afghan Refugees in Brazil (July 2024)

BETWEEN JAN/2022 - JUN/2024
11,601 entered Brazil

AS OF JUL/2024
268 active asylum claims

AS OF JUL/2024
1,196 recognized refugees

Since 2 December 2020, Brazil has recognized the situation of serious and widespread violation of human rights in Afghanistan, allowing nationals of that country to have a facilitated procedure for recognition of refugee status.

In September 2021, Interministerial Ordinance No. 24 guaranteed the safe entry of Afghan nationals into Brazil through the humanitarian visa program that has since allowed the authorization of 13,133 visas, of which 11,441 have already been issued. In September 2023, the Brazilian government published Interministerial Ordinance No. 42, which brings significant changes to the reception policy for Afghan people, having linked the issuance of humanitarian visas to the sheltering capacity of civil society organizations that now will have to sign a cooperation agreement with the federal government. The public notice establishing procedures for the accreditation of these organizations is being developed. UNHCR continues to provide technical support to the government authorities for structuring the new program.