Brazil

The Brazilian Government commits to support a National Network of Welcoming Cities (RNCA in Portuguese), a collaborative and voluntary space for Brazilian municipalities and the national government to debate and discuss proposals on decentralized, democratic and participatory governance that supports decision-making in the field of human mobility, including forced displacement and statelessness. 

Concretely, the RNCA aims to: 

São Leopoldo commits to implement "Teaching Portuguese as a Host Language” (PLAc, in Portuguese), a course designed for migrants and refugees to facilitate their knowledge of the Portuguese language and foster an understanding of the Brazilian culture.

São Paulo commits to expand services for migrants and refugees by opening a new Center for Reference and Assistance to Immigrants (CRAI) in eastern São Paulo.

Local governments successfully piloted a Hometown Associations model with more than 160 registered associations that systematically engage the diaspora in local development projects and initiatives.

In order to guarantee humanitarian assistance to Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Roraima, Venezuela's main gateway to Brazil, the federal government created Operation Welcome in 2018.

A large humanitarian task force executed and coordinated by the federal government with the support of federal entities, UN agencies, international organisations, civil society organisations and private entities, totalling more than 100 partners, the Operation offers emergency assistance to Venezuelan refugees and migrants entering Brazil via the border with Roraima.

the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) has officially signed a mobility agreement that will permit the granting of visas and residence permits as well as the movement of its citizens within the Communityís member countries.
The Agreement aims at facilitating the entry and stay of citizens from a CPLP Member State in the territory of another Member State through the following immigration titles: (i) CPLP short-term visa; (ii) CPLP temporary stay visa; (iii) CPLP residence visa; and (iv) CPLP residence permit.

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, Banking on Women helps financial institutions offer women entrepreneurs financial and non-financial services such as advisory support. Through Banking on Women, IFC has supported female entrepreneurs with direct investments, mobilized investments, and advice through banks in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Mexico.

In the City of São Paulo, the "Municipal Council of Immigrants" allows immigrant residents to participate in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the city's policies. 

The Municipal Council of Immigrants was created by Municipal Law 16.478/2016. Its members are of 22 different nationalities and were officially invested in last August to serve the 2018-2020 term. The Council is linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Human Rights and Citizenship.

São Paulo developed a Referral and Assistance Centre for Immigrants, a specialized public service that provides, among other services, guidance on the regularization of documental status, legal counseling, social assistance, as well as referral to Portuguese classes in public schools, job intermediation services, and short-term shelter. 

The Brazil Visa Application Centre (BVAC) is a centre in Port-au-Prince exclusively dedicated to Haitian citizens applying for special humanitarian permanent visas (VIPER), which aims to ensure a safe, dignified and legal migration channel to Brazil.

The BVAC centre was created in 2015 as a mean to increase the processing of humanitarian permanent visas in response to the concern of the growing number of people travelling to Brazil irregularly.