1 year after issuance for children up to the age of 1; 2 years for children at the age of 2; 3 years for children at the age of 3; 4 years for children at the age of 4; 5 years for applicants aged 5 to 18 , and 10 years for all other applicants (aged 18 and above)
A new model was officially introduced in July 2015 that complies with both Mercosul and ICAO standards, and bring a new biometric cryptography method, and replaces the last model, from 2010. The new passport is valid for 10 years.
As a general rule, Brazilian passports are valid for ten years from the date of issue.[2] They cannot be renewed: a new passport must be obtained when the previous one has expired or a minimum validity period is required by the country to be visited. If a passport is lost, the replacement will be valid only for 5 or 4 years from the date of issuance. If lost and replaced again the validity of the same is 2 years.
Brazilian passports can be ordered by mail only if is a renewal. The first issuance of a passport must be done in person at the Brazilian consulate that has jurisdiction over the person's residence in a foreign country. The instructions say that whether applying for a "new" passport or a "renewal", the same application is used.[3]
Prior to July 2015, the Federal Police Department issued passports valid for five years, but now passports are only issued with five years of validity if it is a replacement for a lost passport.[2] It was extended from five to ten years.
History
The term "passport" was first inserted into the Old RepublicConstitution of Brazil in 1891, which defined that anyone of any nationality could enter and leave the country during peacetime.[5] However, there are records of travel documents being checked at Brazilian ports of entry from as early as 1530, and during the 19th century wave of immigration to Brazil, passports from overseas were checked as well.[6]
The "green" (old) and "blue" (new) models
The newest biometric version of the Brazilian passport was introduced in April 2019, which restored the Brazilian coat of arms to the front cover.[7]
The second biometric version of the Brazilian passport was introduced in July 2015, which for the first time replaced the Brazilian coat of arms with a representation of the constellation of the southern cross on the front cover.[8] The validity was extended from five to ten years.[8]
The first biometric version of the Brazilian passport was introduced in November 2010.[9]
The last machine-readable version of the Brazilian passport, introduced in December 2006, follows the standard established by the Mercosul countries concerning cover color (dark blue for common passports) and the printing of the name Mercosul (Portuguese) or Mercosur (Spanish) on the upper portion of the cover, with the country name below it.[10] The new passport model was first issued to Brazilian citizens for travel outside the country in 2007 and by May 2010 was the sole model being issued.[11][12]
The previous, "old" model has a dark-green cover and is not machine-readable. It does not have the name Mercosul printed on its cover, either. The even older model (also green) that was used until the 1970s, following that time's diplomatic tradition, had the inside pages printed only in Portuguese and French; the more recent "green" model has text in Portuguese, French and English. The latest, "blue" model is in four languages: Portuguese, French, English and Spanish, but the page with the holder's identification data is in Portuguese and English only, and the cover only in Portuguese (the same goes to the new "green" cover).
In January 2019, president Jair Bolsonaro ordered the return of the coat of arms on the passport cover.[14]
The "blue" passport's features
The current Brazilian passport is machine-readable, complying with the ICAO Document 9303 standard and biometric. When the passport is first issued, the holder's fingerprints, signature and photograph are digitally acquired and stored in a database, but only the holder's digital picture is coded in the physical passport, in a two-dimensional barcode. The latter, as well as the holder's personal identification data and his or her picture are directly laser-printed on the passport; only the holder's signature is handwritten in the traditional way. (Since the old "green" model was designed in the 1970s, before computer technology became widely available, the holder's data are typewritten or even handwritten on it.) At 8.5x12.5cm (3.35x5.31inches), the new passport model is 1cm (0.39inch) shorter in height than its predecessor.
Passports issued before November 2010 do not contain an RFID chip, but do contain about 20 advanced security features,[15] including a security band embedded within the paper pulp, sewing threads and watermarks with a red fluorescence under ultraviolet light, latent images, optically-variable ink, laser perforations and a holographic plastic film protecting the holder's data page.[16]
In November 2010, the Brazilian passport began being issued with an RFID chip.[17][18][19]
In June 2022, the government announced the passport would have new design and security features. The new passport was intended to be issued on the day of Bicentennial Independence Day in September that year, but it was postponed.[20] It began being issued on October 3, 2023.[21][22]
Identification page
It has a data page with a machine-readable zone and a digital photograph of the passport holder. All the information is written in Portuguese and English.
Photograph (5x7 cm, white background, full face in view)
The bearer's signature is placed on the third page.
As of November 2014, passports include the holder's legal guardians/parents' name and minor's travel consent on the data page.[23] Until then, minors required notarized permission to leave Brazil.[24][25]
Before the 2023 version, the Personal number field was in blank by default.[26] However, as of October 2023, this field includes the holder's CPF number.[22]
Passport message
The cover of the second biometric type of Brazilian passport (issued 2015–2019) represented the constellation of the southern cross.
Passports of many countries contain a message, nominally from the official or office in charge of passport issuance (e.g., Secretary of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs), addressed to authorities of other countries. The message identifies the bearer as a citizen of the issuing country, requests free passage through the other country, and requests further that, when necessary, aid and protection be afforded as per international laws.
In Brazilian passports, there is no highlight to the message whatsoever, nor is it referred to as a message from Brazilian authorities. It is printed on the back of the front cover, as well as three other information blocks. It is in Portuguese, French, English and Spanish. The message is:
Visa requirements for Brazilian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other States placed on citizens of Brazil. As of January 2024, Brazilian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 173 countries and territories, ranking the Brazilian passport 18th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley visa restrictions index.[28]
Issuing process
Prior to 2006, passport applications were made by filling out a form by hand which one could download from the Federal Police's website and the applicant must show up at the issuing post with the required documents.[13][29] As of 2006, passport applications are now made exclusively through the Internet, on the Federal Police Department's Web site.[11][30] One fills the necessary information in an on-line form and must print the application form and the bank document for paying the required fee. If the new-model passport is going to be issued (the site will inform if it is available at the chosen city and post), an appointment must be previously scheduled; this is also done on-line.
At the scheduled time (or at any time during the passport issuing post's working hours, for the old model), the applicant goes to the chosen Federal Police post with the required documents (no photograph needed for the new model, since the photo is taken digitally on the spot) and the passport will be ready at most six working days later (usually less). There is no fast-track system under ordinary circumstances.
The applicant's physical presence at the post is required for both applying for and picking up the passport, even if the old-model version will be issued. Special cases where the applicant is unable to go in person for relevant reasons (such as health issues) must be arranged with the authorities on a case-by-case basis.
As of July 2015, the passport issuing fee is R$257.00. Passports issued from May 2010 up to June 2015, the issuing fee was R$156.07 (BRL)[11] and R$89.71 for the oldest model (pre 2010).[31][10] The fee can be paid at any Brazilian bank, including Internet and home banking, with a document that is issued during the on-line application process and can be printed for payment. The fee is doubled if there is a previously issued passport and it is not produced when applying for a new one, but in practice this is rarely enforced.
Normally required documents for adult persons are listed below.[32][33] Actual requirements are subject to change and there are special cases. Applicants should always check the Federal Police Web site for the latest information. Special requirements apply for minors (under 18 years of age).[25]
For all applicants:
federative unit-issued ID card or other officially recognised form of identification;
birth certificate;
Federal Revenue Secretariat (income tax) registration certificate (known as "CPF", will be waived if the number already appears on the ID document, which is common);
receipt of payment of the passport fee;
application form printed from the on-line page.
If applicable:
voter registration certificate, with proof of having voted in the latest elections or legally justified the absence (voting is compulsory in Brazil for people between the ages of 18 and 65)
Brazilians within Mercosul have unlimited access to any of the full members (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) and associated members (Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador) with the right to residence and work, with no requirement other than nationality. Citizens of these nine countries (including Brazil) may apply for the grant of "temporary residence" for up to two years in another country of the bloc.[34] Before the expiration of the term of "temporary residence", they may apply for their transformation into permanent residence.[35][36]
Special passports
Other types of Brazilian passports are issued with different colors,[37][38] but all incorporate the new design and security features:
Red: diplomatic passport;
Green: official passport (for officers on duty for the Brazilian government, but without diplomatic immunity);
Brown:laissez-passer for foreigners to travel to Brazil under special circumstances;
Light blue: passport for emergency repatriation of Brazilians.
Fraudulent use
Legitimate blank Brazilian passports from the Embassy of Brazil in Prague were used to create fraudulent identification documents for the leaders of North Korea, including Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un in the 1990s.[39]
Old (dark green) version of the Brazilian passport, in use since the late 1970s.
Sample identification page of old-model ("green") Brazilian passport. This model's original design in the 1970s predated widespread computer technology, so data are either typewritten or stamped, there is no machine-readable code, and an ordinary photograph is glued to the page. A plain adhesive plastic sheet protects the page.
Even older model, issued until the 1970s.
Non-biometric passport, issued from December 2006 until 2010.
First biometric model Brazilian passport, issued from 2010 until 2015.
Second biometric model Brazilian passport, issued from 2015 until 2019
Data page of the 2015 version
Third biometric model Brazilian passport, issued from 2019 until September 2023
Visa stamps on a Brazilian passport.
Brazilian immigration exit stamp.
Brazilian immigration entry stamp.
Special Brazilian 2016 Olympics and Paralympics Stamp.
A biometric passport is a traditional passport that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip, which contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the passport holder. It uses contactless smart card technology, including a microprocessor chip and antenna embedded in the front or back cover, or centre page, of the passport. The passport's critical information is printed on the data page of the passport, repeated on the machine readable lines and stored in the chip. Public key infrastructure (PKI) is used to authenticate the data stored electronically in the passport chip, supposedly making it expensive and difficult to forge when all security mechanisms are fully and correctly implemented.
Carteira de identidade Nacional(In portuguese), is the official national identity document in Brazil. It is often informally called carteira de identidade, "RG" or simply identidade in Portuguese. The card contains the name of the bearer, filiation, place of birth, date of birth, signature and thumbprint of the bearer. Other national documents can legally be used as an identity card, such as a federative unit-issued driver's license, passport or, for minors, a birth certificate. Each card has a unique RG number. As of 11 January 2023, the CPF number will be used as the RG number on new identity cards.
The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of Chinapassport is a passport issued to Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau.
A Portuguese passport is an identity document issued to citizens of Portugal for the purpose of international travel. The passport, along with the Citizen Card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland. Every Portuguese citizen is also a citizen of the European Union.
Argentine passport are issued to citizens of Argentina by the National Registry for People (ReNaPer). They were issued exclusively by the Argentine Federal Police up to 2011. Their primary use is to facilitate international travel.
Chilean passport is an identity document issued to citizens of Chile to facilitate international travel. Chilean passports are valid for worldwide travel and facilitate the access to consular services whilst abroad. They are issued by the Registro Civil e Identificación.
The European Union itself does not issue ordinary passports, but ordinary passport booklets issued by its 27 member states share a common format. This common format features a colored cover emblazoned—in the official language(s) of the issuing country —with the title "European Union", followed by the name(s) of the member state, the heraldic "Arms" of the State concerned, the word "PASSPORT", together with the biometric passport symbol at the bottom center of the front cover.
The Albanian passport is a travel document issued by the Ministry of Interior to Albanian citizens to enable them to travel abroad. They are also used as proof of identity within the country, along with the Albanian ID card.
The Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros, known since 2018 as Registro Nacional Migratório due to the New Immigration Law enacted on May 24th, 2017 by Brazilian former ex-president Michel Temer, is, next to the Registro Diplomático, the main identification registry provided by Brazil to foreign citizens in Brazilian territory. The Cédula de Identidade de Estrangeiro, known since 2018 as Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório was instituted as its result by Brazilian former ex-president Getúlio Vargas on May 4th, 1938 through the Decree-Law No. 406. The New Immigration Law lists several cases in which foreign citizens in Brazilian territory can apply for their Migratory National Registry by faculty or by obligation. Citizens with low income, such as applicants for the Provisional Document of Migratory National Registry, may apply for its fee exemption.
The passport of Kosovo is a travel document that is issued by the Interior Ministry of Kosovo to the citizens of Kosovo to enable them to travel abroad. The passports are also used as proof of identity within the country, along with the national identity card.
Visitors to Brazil must obtain a visa from one of the Brazilian diplomatic missions unless they are nationals of one of the visa-exempt countries or have the option to obtain an electronic visa. For stays longer than 90 days or for employment in Brazil, all foreign nationals must have a visa or residency authorization.
Visa requirements for Argentine citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Argentina.
Visa requirements for Bolivian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Bolivia.
Visa requirements for Brazilian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Brazil.
Transgender rights in Brazil include the right to change one's legal name and sex without the need of surgery or professional evaluation, and the right to sex reassignment surgery provided by Brazil's public health service, the Sistema Único de Saúde.
Visa requirements for Paraguayan citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed by the authorities of foreign states on citizens of Paraguay.
The Portuguese identity card, is an identity document issued by the Government of Portugal to its citizens. The card replaces several previous documents, including the Bilhete de Identidade, Social Security card, National Health Service card, Taxpayer card and voter registration card, in one secure card. The Citizen Card was first issued in the Azores in mid-2006. However, as of 2017 BIs continued to be issued in some cases.
Visitors to Guinea-Bissau must obtain a visa, either on arrival or in advance at one of the Guinea-Bissau diplomatic missions, unless they are nationals of a visa-exempt country.
Citizenship of the Mercosur is granted to eligible citizens of the Southern Common Market member states. It was approved in 2010 through the Citizenship Statute and should be fully implemented by the member countries in 2021, when the program will be transformed in an international treaty incorporated into the national legal system of the countries, under the concept of "Mercosur Citizen".
↑ "DECRETO Nº 5.978, DE 4 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2006". Diário Oficial da União (in Brazilian Portuguese) (published December 5, 2006): 2. December 4, 2006 – via Portal da Câmara de Deputados.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
