Would appreciate any input on this situation.

A friend of mine (originally Brazilian) has Swiss and Brazilian passports. Has been here in Brazil for a couple of years having entered on Brazilian passport. Now off to Europe for a few weeks but the Brazilian passport has expired so will have to travel on the Swiss one - which clearly doesn't have an entry stamp. Will there be trouble at GRU, assuming that the expired Brazilian passport, RG etc are also available at passport check ?

Many thanks in advance.

I was concerned at entering BR without an exit stamp in my UK passport from my previous trip. An unpleasant interrogation and the threat of a large fine had resulted from a similar situation in the US. But there were no questions at GRU.

In your case, I don't believe anyone here is qualified to give a definitive answer, unless we have a lurker from the BR border agency. I suppose a useful option could be to renew the BR passport. Always handy to have two...

You might find out locally if BR citizens with dual-nationality are permitted to use non-BR documentation to enter/leave Brasil. I believe that is a big no-no for some states.

Last year BR tightened up its passport and border security in order to maintain a visa-free environment with some countries, including UK and EU. That might mean it's better to play things by the rules.

I would prepare for some questioning at immigration in GRU, so get there with time to spare.Bring both RG and CPF and the expired passport. If there are no restrictions on the persons right to travel from the Brazilian side, it should go through.
Now, the problem comes when the person returns to Brazil and enters on a foreign passport. If he just arrives and forgets all about it, we will have an visa overstay situation on the foreign passport.
My suggestion would be to apply for a Brazilian new passport on an emergency basis (last minute business meeting abroad is always a good reason, if you can get a letter from a company). Passports can be issued in 24 hours at the airports on this basis.
As mentioned above, the Federal Police has a very good data base nowadays and they will be able to see this irregularity on their computers.

Many thanks for the responses. I too would go for the emergency new passport solution but there appear to be some problems with that, probably financial/time off related so the friend concerned is going to wing it .
Thanks again

I, too, suggest finding some kind of "jeitinho" and get a new passport. If he tried to leave with the Swiss document, he would need to return the entry card - which he doesn't have - to the Policia Federal. That means trouble.

Your friend is definitely Brazilian

Do come back and let us know how it all went......if anything, you heard it here on FT first

Will do

I can't think of any country which does not require their citizens to leave and enter on their national passport. Once outside they can use a second or third passport to enter and exit other countries, though you do have to enter and exit each country with the same one.
Brazilian and Swiss is quite a split personality combination!

so, my son who is a US citizen (by birth) and also a Brasilian passport holder by virtue of his mother being born in Brasil, will need a valid and current Brasilian passport to leave (Rio) in September to return to the US for good? He has one, but I think it has expired, as we got it in 2007, when he was 4 1/2 years old. His US passport is valid and current. I don't know if they stamped his Brasilian passport for entry back then (2007), we were in separate lines, as he was with his mother.

So, it is mandatory for him to have current Brasilian passport to leave Brasil? His mother is also coming too, so there's no issue of a child travelling with just one parent.

You're getting some bad advice here. Brazilian regulations were changed about a year ago. Brazilians can now enter and leave on foreign passports. You only need to provide your RG (National identity Card, for the information of those who aren't Brazilian) together with your foreign passport. No hassle at all, and they don't need to show an entry stamp since Brazilian documents are often not stamped anyway.

While the above information was formally announced by PF actual practice can vary, especially at GRU. I strongly advise seeking clarification with Policia Federal at you planned airport of departure. They are usually very helpful. The also can arrange emergency Brazilian Passport replacement, which took only one day recently for my brother-in-law.

Hi, jbcarioca. Interesting news. Can you by any chance refer to the "portaria" or "IN" or whatever that made that change?

I know it is true that you can leave on your RG alone (no passport needed) if you are going to certain other South American countries? I did not know that you could do this for countries outside SA?

Believe it or not, I got an e mail response on a Sunday night from the Brasilian Consulate -

"IF your son was already registered as a Brazilian citizen (even if being
also a US citizen) and has already been issued a Brazilian passport in the
past he can only enter and/or leave Brazil holding a Brazilian passport.
IMPORTANT: minor children can only leave Brazil IF traveling with both
parents together, otherwise the absent parent ought to provide a written
and notarized overseas departure permit attached to the Brazilian passport
of the minor child leaving Brazil."

I have been looking for it and cannot find it now. It was posted at immigration booths at GIG a year or so ago and since then a couple dual citizen friends have used their foreign passports and RG to enter and leave when going to Europe.

To avoid misleading anybody, I have doubts that this is a normal policy because the PF website on passports explicitly stated that Brazilian Passports are required for Brazilians going outside Mercosur. So, in an effort to correct my own possible errors:

The following link is for issuance of Brazilian passports. this works well; we did a replacement for my spouse in 24 hours when we forgot her expiration date had passed. This is probably the best solution for the young man:
http://www.dpf.gov.br/servicos/passa...-de-emergencia

For good measure, the following link is for travelling with minor children:

http://www.dpf.gov.br/servicos/viage...nores.pdf/view


While writing this i received a return call from an acquaintance with PF at GIG who told me that the no-Brazilian passport required for dual citizens was done at GIG but might not work elsewhere and that it was far better to avoid the question and carry both passports.

Thus, I apologize for confusion I caused. As usual, an exception, even if permitted, is not usually a smart idea here in Brazil.

I'm happy to report my wife checked my son's Brasilian Passport and it is valid to 2012. We did get it in person at the Consulate in Boston, and if we had not gotten it in person, I guess the validity would have been three years.

I hadn't really given my son's Brasilian Passport much thought until I read this thread, so it goes to show how useful this site can be, whether we post or not.

I have seen some people turned away at GIG because their documents weren't in proper order and it was not negotiable either... so (myself included) always check your documents as soon as you can, avoid last minute hassles, fortunately for me, we're OK

That's exactly right. It has always been like that. The departure permit must contain the information listed on the following resolution: http://www.cnj.jus.br/index.php?opti...382&Itemid=512