Venezuelans in Brazil: legalization, work and social security

Due to the economic and political crisis in Venezuela, many Venezuelans have migrated from the country to Brazil. It’s estimated that around 600 Venezuelans enter Brazilian territory daily.

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Venezuelan Migration in Brazil

Since late 2010, there has been an intense flow of Venezuelans entering Brazilian territory — primarily at the border, in the city of Roraima. The cause of this mass migration from Venezuela is the economic and political problems the state has been facing for some time.

The Brazilian government estimates that the country receives around 500 to 600 Venezuelan migrants per day. This significant number places Brazil among the 10 countries with the most Venezuelans in the world due to refugees. In 2017 alone, Venezuelans accounted for more than half of the number of asylum applications in the country.

Venezuelans in Brazil: Refugees or Migrants?

A large portion of the Venezuelan population crossing the Roraima border in search of new opportunities does so as refugees. Thus, when they enter Brazilian territory, they apply for asylum in Brazil and from that moment on, enjoy refugee benefits.

Among this population, many have a higher level of education than the average for the local population of Roraima — which can bring benefits to Brazil in terms of labor. However, one of the obstacles is the validation of diplomas and their integration into Brazilian society.

Despite this large number of asylum applications from Venezuelans, not all who cross into Brazil are actually refugees. According to official data from the Brazilian Government, there are more than 264,000 Venezuelan immigrants who have applied for immigration regularization in Brazil — whether for work, family reunification, or other types of residence permits.

The new Migration Law has brought significant flexibility for those seeking legal status in Brazil. There are many possibilities for those who want to live in Brazil, such as: work, study, marriage or children, in addition to dozens of other legalization options.

Humanitarian Visa for Venezuelans

To assist Venezuelan refugees in entering Brazil, the Brazilian Government authorized the issuance of humanitarian visas in 2017.

This guarantees Venezuelans a stay of up to two years in Brazil, with regular resident rights. Furthermore, another difference Brazil has introduced for applying for humanitarian visas for Venezuelans is that the process can be completed in Brazil and the required documentation is shorter — compared to humanitarian visas for Haitians and Syrians.

Job Opportunities for Venezuelans in Brazil

Due to massive immigration at the border, cities cannot accommodate such a large workforce, and immigrants cannot even move within Brazil due to a lack of resources. Therefore, the government, together with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), created the Voluntary Relocation Program.

Since 2018, the government has been relocating Venezuelans from the border areas of northern Brazil to cities that offer better integration opportunities, such as São Paulo and Brasília. This program helps immigrants integrate into society by providing shelter and vocational training.

This makes entering the Brazilian job market easier, as UNHCR has local partners to offer job offers. Furthermore, UNHCR launched a website to facilitate the hiring of Venezuelans in Brazil, aiming to encourage Brazilian companies to hire immigrants.

What about social security?

Brazil and Venezuela do not have a bilateral agreement on social security. Therefore, Venezuelan refugees and immigrants start their social security life from scratch when they enter the Brazilian labor market.

Since there is no agreement, it is not possible to add together the years worked in both countries. Therefore, when a refugee or immigrant begins working legally in Brazil, they have the same rights as a Brazilian citizen and must comply with Brazilian social security rules.

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