BRAZIL - Registration Process in São Paulo Returns to Normal; Regional Department of Labor and Employment on Strike in São Paulo; and Changes to Driver’s License Policies
- Brazil
- 04/22/2010
Registration Process in São Paulo Returns to Normal
As previously reported in BAL’s March 5, 2010 client alert (please click here), the Federal Police had indicated that any applicant for a National Registry of Foreigners Card (RNE) first needed to apply for an individual password and obtain a registration appointment. Under these guidelines, the RNE registration process was averaging 60 days to complete. However, as of April 9, 2010, all registration processes in São Paulo have returned to same-day scheduling and processing. It is no longer necessary to request an individual password to schedule the registration, although foreign citizens who already hold passwords will still register on their scheduled appointment dates. In addition, the Federal Police in São Paulo will now allow third-party providers to schedule registration appointments.
Regional Department of Labor and Employment on Strike
As of April 12, 2010, employees of the Regional Department of Labor and Employment (SRTE) in São Paulo have declared an indefinite labor strike and have ceased operations in São Paulo. Therefore, applications to issue or extend Work Books (CTPS) will not be processed there until the labor strike has been lifted. However, since SRTE departments in other Brazilian cities remain operational, Work Book applications may be processed through those offices when necessary. (Foreign nationals must apply for Work Books after entering Brazil with work visas. The document is an indispensible requirement for placing a foreign worker on a local Brazilian payroll.)
Changes to Driver’s License Policies for Foreign Nationals in Brazil
The National Traffic Council (CONTRAN) has implemented new policies for all foreign national drivers in Brazil.
1. Any foreign citizen with any type of visa may drive in Brazil for a maximum of 180 days, starting as of the date of entry to Brazil, with a valid driver’s license from his or her country of origin. Foreign citizens must have the original passport used to enter Brazil in order to prove the authorized period of stay and to calculate the permitted foreign license driving period.
2. A foreign national remaining more than 180 days in Brazil must apply for a local Brazilian driver’s license, known as a CNH. CONTRAN will no longer issue or renew Temporary Authorizations to drive. Once the Temporary Authorization expires, aforeign national must apply for a CNH in order to drive legally in Brazil.
3. The validity of a temporary visa holder’s CNH will be linked to the actual validity of the individual’s RNE card.
BAL Comment
We anticipate that registration processes in São Paulo will fully normalize by the end of the month and that assignees will no longer experience the sixty-day delays under the password system. However, there will still be processing delays in São Paulo for Work Book documents due to the strike by the SRTE employees. With respect to driver’s licenses for foreign nationals remaining longer than 180 days in Brazil, companies should remind employees of the requirement to obtain a CNH due to the recent changes that have been implemented by CONTRAN.
