Brazil: immigration

How many people apply for asylum in Brazil?

6,944 people applied for refugee status in Brazil in August 2026, according to OBMigra's monthly tables for August 2026. Cubans made 4,292 of the applications and Venezuelans 1,060. At the end of August, 161,268 applications were awaiting a decision.

OBMigra compiles the figures from the National Committee for Refugees (CONARE) and the Federal Police for the Ministry of Justice and publishes them in its monthly reports. Monthly totals vary, so comparing the same month across years gives a better guide: in August 2025 there were 6,440 applications.

Official sources: OBMigra: monthly tables, August 2026 (xlsx) · OBMigra: 2026 monthly reports

How many refugees has Brazil recognised?

The National Committee for Refugees (CONARE) has recognised 62,500 refugees, 49,000 of them Venezuelans, according to the figures shown on the Ministry of Justice's refuge page when checked on 14 October 2026.

The page gives no reference date for the totals. OBMigra's monthly tables show 3,099 grants of refugee status in August 2026 alone, against 2,165 decisions of all kinds in August 2025, so the total changes from month to month. Decisions are taken by CONARE, a committee chaired by the Ministry of Justice.

Official sources: Ministry of Justice: refuge · OBMigra: monthly tables, August 2026 (xlsx)

How many immigrants live in Brazil?

2,080,204 migrants held an active registration with the Federal Police in August 2026, according to OBMigra's monthly tables from the national migration register (SISMIGRA). 1,494,789 were classed as residents, 452,704 as temporary and 12,474 as border residents.

The register counts foreigners who have registered and whose registration is active, so it does not include people in an irregular situation or asylum seekers who have not yet registered. In August 2026 alone, 25,274 new registrations were made. IBGE's census gives a separate count of foreign-born residents.

Official sources: OBMigra: monthly tables, August 2026 (xlsx)

How many people apply for Brazilian citizenship?

702 naturalisation applications were made in Brazil in August 2026, 565 of them for ordinary naturalisation, according to OBMigra's monthly tables from the Ministry of Justice's migration policy department. There were 1,422 applications in August 2025.

The same table shows 32 applications for extraordinary naturalisation and 94 for provisional naturalisation, the route for people who arrived as children, in August 2026. Monthly counts vary, and applications are not the same as grants: each request is assessed by the Ministry of Justice, which decides whether the legal requirements are met.

Official sources: OBMigra: monthly tables, August 2026 (xlsx)

How many visas does Brazil issue?

Brazil's consular posts issued 48,676 visas in August 2026, according to OBMigra's monthly tables based on Ministry of Foreign Affairs data. Posts in the United States issued 33,268 of them. In August 2025 the total was 52,641.

OBMigra's August report says most visas were for tourism and that few were issued for humanitarian reception or family reunion. Visa counts cover only travellers who need a visa, so they are not a count of visitors; border movements are reported separately in the same tables.

Official sources: OBMigra: monthly tables, August 2026 (xlsx)

What share of Brazil's population are immigrants?

According to the UN Population Division, the share of people born abroad in Brazil was 0.7% in 2024. That compares with 0.3% in 2015. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 4.8%, and Brazil placed 27th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 161st of 193.

Are more people leaving Brazil than arriving?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in Brazil at -217,283 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at -78,437; its low point was 2010, at -261,539. Latin America & Caribbean median: -967; Brazil is 33rd highest of 33. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 183rd highest.

How many refugees are in Brazil?

UNHCR puts the number of refugees in the country in Brazil at 278,966 in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 1,306; Brazil is 1st highest of 28. World rank, highest first: 30th of 169.

How many refugees come from Brazil?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 6,306. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 710, and Brazil placed 11th highest of 33. Of 189 countries with 2025 data, 72nd highest.

How much money do migrants send home to Brazil?

The World Bank puts personal remittances received in Brazil at 0.2% of GDP in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 0.3% of GDP; its low point was 2014, at 0.1% of GDP. It is 24th highest of 27 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 3.3% of GDP. Of 127 countries with 2025 data, 105th highest.