One of the most common questions future expats ask before moving to South America is: "What are the real approval statistics, and how high is the risk of having a residency application denied?"
In this article, we break down the official statistical data for residency application approvals in Brazil over the last three months (May to August 2026). This data is provided by the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) and compiled by the state observatory OBMigra (Observatório das Migrações Internacionais). We will examine where Russian citizens stand on this list and explain why approval rates remain exceptionally high.
Official Numbers: Who Leads in Approvals?
According to the latest export from the official foreign registration system SisMigra, a total of 1,721 positive decisions on temporary and permanent residency applications (including children) were issued over the last three months.
The distribution by key countries of birth is as follows:
| Rank | Country of Birth | Approvals | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haiti | 410 | 24% |
| 2 | Venezuela | 221 | 13% |
| 3 | Angola | 159 | 9% |
| 4 | Cuba | 140 | 8% |
| 5 | Russia | 56 | 3% |
| 6 | Colombia | 53 | 3% |
| 7 | Bolivia | 50 | 3% |
| — | Other countries | 632 | 37% |
| Total | All Countries | 1,721 | 100% |
The bulk of approvals go to Caribbean and Latin American nations (Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba) due to active humanitarian programs. However, Russia has firmly secured the 5th place overall, outperforming even some neighboring Latin American countries.
Visualizing the Approval Distribution by Country
For a clearer picture, we have prepared an infographic based on the official DataMigra dashboard:
What is the Actual Approval Rate and Why is it So High?
The most critical practical question is: how many of those who submit residency applications actually get approved?
Official Brazilian authorities (Polícia Federal and OBMigra) publish data exclusively on approved cases (deferimentos) and do not release public monthly rejection (indeferimentos) statistics for each nationality. However, based on immigration legal practice and expat community data, the approval rate for Russian citizens who submit documents to the Federal Police is estimated at 98% to 99%.
📍 What Expat Communities Say About Approval Chances:
"Rejections in Brazil are virtually non-existent if your documents are genuine and you have a clean record. If an officer finds an issue with a document, they won't reject your application; they will issue an Exigência (requirement notice to provide a missing document or new translation). As long as you upload what is requested in time, approval is guaranteed." — From discussions in the HelpinFloripa community
This exceptionally high success rate is driven by four structural features of the Brazilian legal system:
The Principle of Direito Subjetivo (Objective Legal Duty):
Unlike in Schengen countries or the US, where visa officers hold subjective discretion to reject cases (e.g., "insufficient ties to home country"), Brazil’s Migration Law (Lei nº 13.445/2017) creates an objective entitlement. If an applicant meets all statutory requirements (submitting apostilled criminal checks, translations, proof of income/grounds) and pays the fees, the officer is legally obligated to approve the case. There is no legal room for arbitrary rejection.The Exigência System (Request for Information):
If there is a mistake in your documents (a minor translation error, a missing stamp, or an expired certificate), the Federal Police do not reject the application. Instead, the application status is set to Exigência. The applicant is given an official window (usually 10 to 30 days, extendable) to upload or hand in the corrected documents.Extremely Rare Grounds for Rejection (Indeferimento):
A final rejection is issued only under extraordinary circumstances:- The applicant completely ignored an Exigência notice and failed to respond in time.
- Falsified documents were detected.
- The applicant has active international criminal records (Interpol red notices).
In-Person Document Screening:
Federal Police officers check document completeness during the initial in-person appointment. If a vital document is missing entirely, the application is simply not accepted into processing until fixed, protecting applicants from formal negative records.
In short, if you prepare your documents according to the official checklist and respond to any Exigência request promptly, your chances of approval are practically 100%.
What Do These Numbers Mean for Russian Citizens?
Having 56 approved cases in three months (averaging about 18–19 approvals per month, including children) confirms that Brazilian immigration authorities continue to actively approve applications from Russian citizens.
At the time of this publication, all of these cases are in a successful state. Applicants are either waiting in line to receive their physical CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório) cards or their files are in the final issuance stage (despacho).
If you are planning a relocation to the Island of Magic (Florianópolis) or any other region in Brazil, here are the main pathways driving these numbers:
- Digital Nomad Visa: The best option for IT professionals with a remote income of at least $1,500 per month. Read more in our Brazil digital nomad visa guide.
- Residency by Birth of a Child: Brazil grants unconditional citizenship by birth (jus soli), and parents and siblings receive the right to permanent residency with a fast-track route to citizenship.
- Language Schools and Education: Student residency for the duration of studies. A great way to legalize for a year and learn the language, as discussed in our Florianópolis language schools guide.
How to Start Your Relocation and Legalization Process
The moving process consists of several essential steps that are best planned in advance:
- Obtaining a CPF: This is your individual taxpayer registry number in Brazil, essential for renting a home, buying a SIM card, or opening a bank account. You can get it online in a few days — check out our step-by-step CPF guide.
- Renting a Place: On the Island of Magic, neighborhoods like Campeche or Lagoa da Conceição are highly popular. Long-term rentals have specific local requirements — we analyzed them in our renting in Florianópolis without a guarantor guide.
- Opening a Bank Account: Once you have a CPF and enter the country, you can open a local bank account (e.g., with Itaú). We have a detailed guide on opening bank accounts for foreigners in Brazil.
- Tax Considerations: Keep in mind that after 183 days of physical presence in Brazil, you become a tax resident. We recommend reading our tax rules for digital nomads in Brazil guide.
If you are currently staying in the country as a tourist, you can legally extend your tourist stay for another 90 days. Learn how to do this in our tourist visa extension guide.