Residence permit for parents of a Brazilian child: how to apply to the Polícia Federal

A parent of a Brazilian child may apply for a residence permit on the ground of family reunification. It is filed online and at the Polícia Federal (PF); according to gov.br as of October 3, 2026, the fees are R$ 168.13 and R$ 204.77, and the timeline guideline is up to 180 days. Until the CRNM card (the migrant card) is issued, the applicant’s rights are confirmed by the protocol.

On what basis, and who is it for?

The residence permit is called autorização de residência. After registration at the PF the applicant receives an RNM number (Registro Nacional Migratório, the migrant registration number), and the card itself is called the CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório); they used to be called the RNE and CIE.

The migration law names family reunification as one of the grounds for issuing a permit (Lei 13.445/2017, art. 30, I, “i”), and the regulation expressly lists those who have a Brazilian child (Decreto 9.199/2017, art. 153, III; Portaria Interministerial 12/2018, art. 6, IV).

A foreigner who is in Brazil as a visitor may also apply (art. 5 of the same Portaria). If you have been fined under Decreto 9.199, for example for days of stay beyond the permitted period, review begins after the fines are paid (art. 8; Decreto, art. 307, II).

The permit gives the right to work on an equal footing with Brazilians (Decreto 9.199, art. 153, § 10). The parents’ rights, naturalization and trips abroad: the page “Citizenship and residency”.

Which documents are needed?

The Ministry of Justice gives this list for family reunification with a Brazilian (Ministry of Justice page, updated July 23, 2026):

• a travel document (passport) or another identity document;
• two 3×4 photographs;
• a birth or marriage certificate (or a consular certificate), if the passport has no information about the parents;
• proof of payment of the two fees and the completed application form;
• police clearance certificates, or equivalent documents from judicial authorities, for the places of residence over the last five years;
• a declaration made under legal responsibility of no criminal record in any country over the last five years;
• the child’s birth certificate proving the relationship, and the child’s document (for an infant, the same certificate);
• a declaration made under legal responsibility that the child lives in Brazil.

Documents issued abroad (a police clearance from Russia, a marriage certificate) are generally accepted by the PF apostilled and with a translation by a sworn translator made in Brazil (PF FAQ); exceptions are listed for certain countries, and Russia is not among them. Check the current list on the Ministry of Justice page before booking.

How does the process work?

1. The form and the fees. In the gov.br service you fill in the form for the right category and generate payment slips (GRU): R$ 168.13 for processing and R$ 204.77 for the CRNM card.
2. The PF appointment. Appointments are handled by the PF unit for your place of residence; according to gov.br, the wait is up to 30 minutes and the appointment itself averages 30 minutes. For registration, pregnant and breastfeeding women and people with a child in their arms may go to the unit closest to home (Decreto 9.199, art. 67, § 1). Which documents are needed as originals, ask the PF before the appointment.
3. The protocol. It confirms rights under the migration law for up to 180 days and is extended by the PF at no charge (Decreto 9.199, art. 63, § 1). During this time healthcare, education, work and a bank account, among other things, remain available. The law also establishes the right to leave Brazil and return while the application is being reviewed (art. 4, XV).
4. The card. When the CRNM is ready, the system tells you, and you collect it at the PF. The time is approximate: the PF may request additional information and documents. Watch for notifications of the decision: registration (entering your data, including biometrics, into the PF system, art. 62) must be requested within 30 days of the publication of the decision on the permit, otherwise a fine is provided for each day of delay (Decreto 9.199, art. 66 and art. 307, IV).

What does “for an indefinite period” mean?

In everyday speech a permit for an indefinite period (prazo indeterminado) is called “permanent”. The period for naturalization depends on it: it is counted precisely from residence for an indefinite period (Decreto 9.199, art. 221).

The card states the residence period (art. 73), and the CRNM for residence of indefinite period is valid for nine years (art. 74). The term a particular applicant receives is determined by the PF at registration.

For naturalization the Ministry of Justice relies on residence for an indefinite period registered by the PF, and reminds you that the date on the card does not always match the actual residence period, so check the record in SISMIGRA (Ministry of Justice).

What Russian citizens should consider

If you are a Russian citizen, receiving a Brazilian residence permit may oblige you to file a notification with the Russian authorities. The period for notification is 60 calendar days from the date of receiving the document (art. 11, part 6 of Law No. 138-FZ).

What we don’t guarantee

• that the application will be approved and the decision will arrive by a particular date: the PF decides, and the 180-day period is a guideline, not a promise;
• that you will not be asked for additional documents or an interview (Portaria Interministerial 12/2018, art. 10);
• that the fees and the document list will not change: the data are given as of October 3, 2026.

When you need a lawyer

Consult a Brazilian lawyer if the application has been rejected or closed (arquivado), if there is a criminal record, previous overstays or unpaid fines, if you plan to leave Brazil for a long time (a permit may be lost after an absence of more than two years without explanation, Decreto 9.199, art. 135, III) or if the data in documents do not match.

If you would like to talk through your situation, you can write to Katerina.