Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.
Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.
Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.
Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.
This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.
Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.
This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.
Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.
This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.
Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.
This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.
Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.
This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Federative Republic of Brazil (hereinafter referred to as Brazil) governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.
Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.
The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Impact. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- National legislation provides access for immigrants to education, health and social assistance services, regardless of their nationality and migration status.
- The Migration Law and its Regulatory Decree (both approved in 2017) created new legal alternatives for migratory regularization and established the conditions for granting visas and residence permits.
- Ordinance No. 87 (2020) of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security regulates the right to an indefinite residence permit for victims of human trafficking or slave labour.
- The Federal Government has developed informative documents to guide social workers and other public servants in the provision of social assistance services to immigrants.
Areas with potential for further development
- The establishment of regular trainings for federal public servants and managers in international migration is an area for further development.
- The inclusion of migrants in the National Policy for the Promotion of Racial Equality, as well as ensuring their representation in the National Council for the Promotion of Racial Equality, are areas with potential for further development.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for migration policy in relation to Brazilians abroad, humanitarian visas and the fight against international human trafficking.
- The National Immigration Council formulates the national immigration policy, coordinates and guides labour immigration activities, elaborates studies related to labour immigration, and recommends the conditions to attract qualified immigrant labour.
- Brazil has several sources for collecting, systematizing and disseminating migration-related data.
Areas with potential for further development
- The incorporation of the human mobility dimension into the National Regional Development Policy (2019) is an area with potential for development by adding targeted actions to integrate migrants.
- Taking the lessons learned from Operação Acolhida (for Venezuelan migrants) in order to establish comprehensive public policies for the integration of all migrants is an area for further development.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- In 2021, Brazil signed the Agreement on Mobility between the Member States of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries to facilitate the granting of visas and residence permits, as well as the movement of people, within the member countries.
- The Open South America Portal was launched by the South American Conference on Migration, with relevant information on health measures and human mobility in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 12 countries, including Brazil.
- Since 2018 Brazil has participated in the Quito Process, a series of regional meetings to coordinate the member countries’ response to the Venezuelan migration crisis.
Areas with potential for further development
- The establishment of regular exchange spaces between governmental and non-governmental organizations from different regions of the country is an area with potential for further development.
- There is limited dialogue of the Government with Brazilian communities abroad, which could be further enhanced to expand the monitoring and evaluation of diaspora policies.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The National Immigration Council has a specialized chamber to study and propose measures to attract skilled labour in strategic areas for national development.
- Brazil has formalized criteria for the recognition of qualifications from foreign institutions.
- The process of degree recognition is facilitated for immigrants or Brazilians who carried out their training in the Specialized Migratory Forum of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) member countries, through the common accreditation framework since 2018.
- Brazil has a well-structured process for sending and receiving remittances and facilitates this procedure as per the recommendations of the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-border Payments (2020).
- Brazil releases periodic reports and data on the formal labour market from administrative sources and the International Migration Observatory (OBMigra) includes a discussion of the immigrant labour force in its annual reports.
Areas with potential for further development
- Facilitating the socioeconomic integration of immigrant women and their families is an area with potential for further development.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Since its establishment in 2018, the Government’s Operação Acolhida carries out the work of reception, identification, and welcoming of Venezuelan migrants and refugees arriving in Brazil.
- Operação Acolhida is implemented on an interministerial basis, with the Ministries of Justice and Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Education, Citizenship, Economy, Health, Defence, and Women, Family and Human Rights.
- The Government of Brazil has established/facilitated pathways for migratory regularization even in or due to crisis times.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Police extended the deadline for the migratory regularization of immigrants in the country, who have expired identification documents and/or all necessary documentation to apply for a residence permit, and who could not get an appointment at the Federal Police.
Areas with potential for further development
- Developing strategies to address migration linked to environmental degradation and the adverse effects of climate change is an area with potential for improvement.
- There are no protocols of care for at-risk migrant populations with specific needs, such as children, women, indigenous people, LGBTQI+ people, the elderly, people with disabilities, and victims of violence in the cases of disaster or crisis.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Federal Government offers in person consular assistance in hundreds of cities around the world and keeps public information updated on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MRE) official website, with the contact details of Brazilian consular offices, including for emergency situations.
- The MRE has guidelines on Brazilians’ rights to access public services outside the country, including the right to vote for the President of the Republic or access to pension payments.
- Brazil has initiatives to promote the reintegration of its nationals who reside abroad.
- Since 2003, Brazil has had a National Commission for the Eradication of Slave Labour and, from 2007, State commissions, in addition to some municipal initiatives.
- Brazil has a National Missing Persons Search Policy (2019) and established in 2021 the Managing Committee of the National Missing Persons Search Policy and the National Registry of Missing Persons.
Areas with potential for further development
- Strengthening relations with other countries for the prevention of and confronting organized crime networks of modern slavery and human trafficking is an area for further development.
2022 July
