Proinde UK P&I Club reports that under Brazilian immigration regulations, a seafarer’s identity document is accepted as a stand-alone travel document with the same standing as a passport, laissez-passer and other forms of personal identification.
Accordingly, a new regulatory amendment by the National Immigration Council, which came into force in October 2020, the Federal Police adopted a rigorous approach to seafarers’ documents. They reiterated that to enter, transit or leave Brazil foreign seafarers working as crewmembers aboard cargo vessels, cruise ships or platforms in Brazilian jurisdictional waters will need:
#1 When holding a valid C185 SID:
- temporary work visa type for stays exceeding 180 days aboard foreign ships or platforms
- VITEM V visa for working onboard Brazilian-flagged ships or platforms, regardless of the term of employment.
#2 When not holding a valid C185 SID:
- Visitor business Visa (VIVIS) for stays up to 90 days per migratory year, non extendable
- VITEM V visa for working onboard Brazilian-flagged ships or platforms, regardless of the term of employment.
- VITEM V visa for stays exceeding 180 days aboard cargo vessels or cruise ships
- VITEM V visa for stays exceeding 180 days per year on platforms or aboard vessels other than cargo and cruise ships.
Keep in mind that no visa will be required from:
- crew members and other foreign shipboard professionals whose nationality exempts them from VIVIS visa, for stays of up to 90 days per migratory year, when producing a passport valid for the duration of the stay
- crewmembers holding a valid C185 SID, for a maximum stay of 180 days per migratory year, provided they enter the country on a vessel or demonstrate that the purpose of the entry is to embark on a platform, a cargo vessel on an ocean going voyage or a cruise ship sailing along the coast.
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