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In accordance with Law 13455/24 May 2017; Decree 9199/20 November 2017; Interministerial Regulation Nº3 from 27 February 2018; Normative Instruction nº 154-DG/PF, 31 January 2020; Normative Instruction Nº198-DG/PF, 16 June 2021; Regulation MTE Nº 1964 11 December 2-13; Normative Resolution CNIg nº 06 – 01 December 2017; and Resolution CNIg MJSP Nº 42 – 23 Juny 2020; We hereby present instructions to Owners, and specially to Crew members on their way to Brazil, planning to board vessels for crew change purposes.

Please follow the below procedure:

  • 1) Upon leaving the airplane, please contact the Air Company employee nearby to receive the immigration letter with your name(s) on it, which should be delivered to the Airport Immigration officers.
  • 2) Upon arrival at Immigration with the letter received from the Air Company, you need to present your SID AND PASSPORT and should inform you’re a crew member, going to embark in a vessel.
  • 3) For crew which nationality is in ILO C185, and holding SID, they must get authorized to enter Brazil via code 130/11.
  • 4) For crew which nationality is in ILO C185 but are NOT holding SID, and their nationality is not exempt of VISA (e.g. INDIA) – they must require VIVIS VISA to the Brazilian Consulates in their own country of Origin, before coming. They should ask for code 201/03 upon arrival at Airport Immigration
  • 5) Crew which nationality is NOT in ILO C185 but their nationality is EXEMPT OF VISA, should request code 118/03 in their passport to the immigration officer in the airport.
  • 6) Crew which nationality are NOT in ILO C185 and which do NOT have VISA EXEMPTION, should present the passport with VIVIS VISA requested in their country of origin, and ask for code 201/03 upon arrival at Airport Immigration.
  • 7) After immigration procedures and collecting luggage, crew must follow to the external area of the disembarking sector, where our local service provider will be waiting the crew with a plaque where the vessel’s name will be written, where the crew will either follow to Santos or Sao Sebastiao port, or walk the crew to the checkin for his next flight.
  • 8) The crew needs to handle the immigration letter, duly stamped by the immigration officer, and the SID, so the driver can take a picture of those and forward to the Waypoint Agent.

FAQ regarding the new Immigration rules for Brazil

Please note below a compilation of all usual doubts from our customers regarding the new Immigration rules for Brazil, valid from 1st May 2023:

  • As of 05/01/2023 the Brazilian Immigration Law (Law 13.445 of May 2017) is back in full operation.

Because it is an immigration law that regulates access to the country’s borders and not just embarking or disembarking; vessels with seafarers on board with non-compliant documentation, the legal entity responsible for the vessel will be fined.

THE SID “SEAFARER’S IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT” will become the official immigratory document in Brazilian territory for maritime crew members.

THE “SEAMAN’S BOOK” will no longer be considered a valid immigration document for seafarers.

THE “PASSPORT” becomes a valid immigratory document in the absence of SID.

Attention: In order for a seafarer to have the SID it is necessary that his/her home country is signatory of the ILO C185.

  • Seafarers born in countries not signatory to ILO C185
  • Seafarers signatory to ILO C185 who may be without the SID
    • The 2 cases above must meet the requirements of the General Framework of VISA REGIME for the Entry of Foreigners in Brazil with their passports:
      • REQUIRING A VISIT VISA (VIVIS) or
      • Exemption from the VISIT VISA (VIVIS), according to the period of stay contained in the GRVF (Please note below table)

In addition, one should be aware of the bilateral transportation agreements in effect with Brazil and their Exemptions: ALGERIA, BULGARIA, CHINA, FRANCE, POLAND, PORTUGAL, RUSSIA AND VIETNAM.

  • Algeria: Signatory to ILO 108, Non-signatory ILO 185, VISA REQUIRED
  • Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal: Non-signatory ILO 185, Signatory ILO 108, VISA WAIVER UP TO 90 DAYS
  • China*, Vietnam: Non-signatory to ILO 108/185, VISA REQUIRED
  • Germany: Non-signatory to ILO 108/185, VISA WAIVER UP TO 90 DAYS
  • France, Russia: Signatory to ILO 185, VISA WAIVER UP TO 90 DAYS

*The specific trade agreement between Brazil and China renders crew unable to be changed if not holding VIVIS VISA, but crew are not fined.

COUNTRY IS IN ILOC185, CREW NOT HOLDING SID, COUNTRY IS VISA-EXEMPT.

1) Upon leaving the airplane, please contact the Air Company employee nearby to receive the immigration letter with your name(s) on it, which should be delivered to the Airport Immigration officers.

2) Upon arrival at Immigration with the letter received from the Air Company, you need to present your SID AND PASSPORT and should inform you’re a crew member, going to embark in a vessel.

3) For crew which nationality is in ILO C185, and holding SID, they must get authorized to enter Brazil via code 130/11.

4)Crew which nationality is in ILO C185 and are NOT holding SID but their nationality is EXEMPT OF VISA, should request code 118/03 in their passport to the immigration officer in the airport.

5) For crew which nationality is in ILO C185 but are NOT holding SID, and their nationality is not exempt of VISA (e.g. INDIA) – they must require VIVIS VISA to the Brazilian Consulates in their own country of Origin, before coming.

6) Crew which nationality is NOT in ILO C185 but their nationality is EXEMPT OF VISA, should request code 118/03 in their passport to the immigration officer in the airport.

7) Crew which nationality are NOT in ILO C185 and which do NOT have VISA EXEMPTION, should present the passport with VIVIS VISA requested in their country of origin, and ask for code 201/03 upon arrival at Airport Immigration.

8) After immigration procedures and collecting luggage, crew must follow to the external area of the disembarking sector, where our local service provider will be waiting the crew with a plaque where the vessel’s name will be written, where the crew will either follow to Santos or Sao Sebastiao port, or walk the crew to the checkin for his next flight.

9) The crew needs to handle the immigration letter, duly stamped by the immigration officer, and the SID, so the driver can take a picture of those and forward to the Waypoint Agent.

Questions & Answers

1. Is this requirement for ILO 185 compliant SID only for sign on/off and transit?

    • No. This is a border immigration issue and not just for embarking/disembarking/repatriation matters. If seafarers come onboard the vessel with their documentation in disagreement, the person legally responsible for the vessel will be fined, according to laws in force.

2. Is this also applicable for crew arriving by sea, staying onboard and departing by sea?

    • Yes. This is a border immigration issue and not just for embarking / disembarking / repatriation matters. If seafarers come onboard the vessel with their documentation in disagreement, the person legally responsible for the vessel will be fined, according to laws in force.

3. Those that remain onboard will be exempted from this requirement? If applicable, is there any fine or penalty for the company or crew? If yes, how much will the fine be?

  • No exemptions, Fine usually 1000,00 BRL per crew member in the port of Santos. However, immigration officers have prerogative to fine from 1000,00 BRL to up to 1.000.000,00 BRL as per vigent law.

4. Which countries do not need VISA to arrive in Brazil?

  • Please note below tables. The VISA EXEMPTION rule overrules the SID rule for non-signatory countries – if a Greek crew, for example, is coming to embark, in theory, he’d be able to proceed only with passport, as he’s exempt of VIVIS VISA for 90 days. However he would not be classified as code 130 in the immigration, but code 118 instead. Therefore we’ll now have several nationalities which will require an OKTB with VISA 118 and the ILO C185 nationalities will remain with visa code 130 on arrival. The countries marked below as “VISA REQUIRED” have no other option but VIVIS visa. If a crew from C185 country arrives and is NOT in possession of SID, and his country is in the “visa required” list, he will need VIVIS VISA as well.  Ghanainan crew, for example, will always need VIVIS VISA, as well as Egypt, Cameroon, and similar countries. Indian crew would need SID upon arrival; if not bearing SID then VIVIS VISA is needed. IF IN DOUBT, PLEASE ASK US WHEN REQUESTING CREW CHANGE INFORMATION AND WE’LL REVERT WITH UPDATED INFORMATION.

SIGNATORY TO ILO C185 – ABLE TO USE “SID” + PASSPORT

SIGNATORY TO ILO C185
ABLE TO USE “SID” + PASSPORT
VISA WAIVER
30 DAYS
VISA WAIVER
90 DAYS
VISA
REQUIRED
KAZAKHSTANALBANIAAZERBAIJAN
INDONESIAANTIGUA & BARBUDABANGLADESH
BAHAMASD.R. CONGO
BOSNIAYEMEN
SOUTH KOREAINDIA
CROATIAIRAQ
SPAINJORDAN
PHILIPPINESKIRIBATI
FRANCEMADAGASCAR
GEORGIAMALDIVES
HUNGARYMARSHALL ISL.
LUXEMBOURGMYANMAR
MOLDOVANIGERIA
MONTENEGROPAKISTAN
RUSSIAKENYA
TUNISIASRI LANKA
TANZANIA
TURKMENISTAN
VANUATU

SIGNATORY C108, NON-SIGNATORY C185 – NEED “VIVIS” VISA + PASSPORT

SIGNATORY C108, NON-SIGNATORY C185
NEED “VIVIS” VISA + PASSPORT
VISA WAIVER
90 DAYS
VISA
REQUIRED
BARBADOSANGOLA
BELIZEALGERIA
BULGARIACUBA
CANADADJIBOUTI
DENMARKGHANA
DOMINICAGUINEA-BISSAU
SLOVENIAIRAN
ESTONIALIBERIA
FIJI ISL.MAURITIUS
FINLANDKYRGYSZSTAN
GRENADESOLOMON ISL.
GREECEST LUCIA
GUATEMALATAJIKISTAN
GUYANA
HONDURAS
IRELAND
ICELAND
ITALY
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
MALTA
MOROCCO
MEXICO
NORWAY
PANAMA
POLAND
PORTUGAL
UNITED KINGDOM
CZECH REP.
ROMANIA
ST VINCENT & GRENADINES
SWEDEN
TURKEY
UKRAINE
URUGUAY

NON SIGNATORY TO ILO C108 & C185 – NEED “VIVIS” VISA + PASSPORT

NON SIGNATORY TO ILO C108 & C185
NEED “VIVIS” VISA + PASSPORT
VISA
REQUIRED
VISA WAIVER
30 DAYS
VISA WAIVER
60 DAYS
VISA WAIVER
90 DAYS
NO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL, VISA FOR 90 DAYSNON-DIPL. WITH BRAZIL, VISA "LAISSEZ-PASSER" 90 DAYSNON-DIPL. WITH BRAZIL, VISA "LAISSEZ-PASSER" 90 DAYS, MAX 180 DAYS PER YEAR
AFGHANISTANSINGAPOREDOMINICAN REPUBLIC
SOUTH AFRICAKOSOVOSAHRAWI ARAB DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (SADR)TAIWAN
SAUDI ARABIAVENEZUELAGERMANY
BAHRAINANDORRA
BENINARGENTINA
BRUNEIARMENIA
BURKINA FASOAUSTRALIA
BURUNDIAUSTRIA
BHUTANBELARUS
CAPE VERDEBELGIUM
CAMBODIABOLIVIA
CAMEROONBOTSWANA
CHADQATAR
CHINACHILE
COMOROSCYPRUS
D.R. CONGOCOLOMBIA
COOK ISL.COSTA RICA
NORTH KOREAEL SALVADOR
IVORY COASTARAB EMIRATES
EGYPTECUADOR
ERITREASLOVAKIA
ETHIOPIAUNITED STATES
GABONHONG KONG
GAMBIAISRAEL
GUINEAJAMAICA
EQUAT. GUINEAJAPAN
HAITILIECHTENSTEIN
KUWAITMACAO
LAOSMACEDONIA
LESOTHOMALAYSIA
LEBANINMONACO
LIBYAMONGOLIA
MALAWINAMIBIA
MALINICARAGUA
MARIANAS ISL.NEW ZEALAND
MAURITANIAMALTA
MICRONESIANETHERLANDS
MOZAMBIQUEPARAGUAY
NAURUPERU
NEPALSAN MARINO
NIGERSAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
OMANSEYCHELLES
PALAUSERBIA
PALESTINESWITZERLAND
PAPUA NEW GUINEASURINAME
CENTRAL AFR. REP.THIALAND
RWANDATRINIDAD & TOBAGO
WESTERN SAMOAVATICAN
ST TOME & PRINCIPE
SENEGAL
SIERRA LEONE
SYRIA
SOMALIA
SWAZILAD
SUDAN
SOUTH SUDAN
EAST TIMOR
TOGO
TONGA
TUVALU
UGANDA
UZBEKISTAN
VIETNAM
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE

5. If Brazilian VISA required for crew sign on and sign off, what kind of VISA will the onsigners need to apply AT THEIR HOME COUNTRY?

VIVIS Visa. (Visit Visa)

6. In case any crew will need a visa to sign off, can you assist to apply offsigners VISA when they disembark?

It is NOT POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A VISA ON BRAZILIAN SOIL. Only in EXTRAORDINARY CASES for humanitarian reasons, through consultation with the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which might take quite a while to revert their decision.

7. Do these new rules mean all crew arriving in Brazil by sea must hold ILO C185 SID or be fined?

Until further notice, yes.

8. Is there any way to avoid fines to our crew who are not in possession of ILO C185 SID yet?

At first, no.

We remain at your full disposal for further questions.

Please DO REVERT TO US with your doubts, so we can check with immigration in due time and revert, allowing everyone to be ready for this change before it begins

[email protected]

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