Brazilian government establishes National Policy on Migration, Refuge and Statelessness, with a focus on human rights, development and decent work

Published in Federal Official Gazette this Tuesday (8), the Decree No. 12.657/2025 officially establishes the National Policy on Migration, Refuge and Statelessness (PNMRA). The text regulates article 120 of the Migration Law and consolidates a new framework for public policies aimed at migrants, refugees and stateless persons in Brazil.

The new policy recognizes the migrant population as an agent of economic and social development, The federal government is therefore seeking to reposition the issue of migration within the agenda of growth and productive inclusion, reinforcing that human mobility contributes to income generation, innovation and the strengthening of local communities. With this, the federal government seeks to reposition the issue of migration within the agenda of growth and productive inclusion.

Another central point is commitment to decent work and equal opportunities. The decree provides for professional qualification actions, combating labor exploitation and encouraging the formal hiring of migrants, on equal terms with national workers. According to the text, the measure should promote local integration and increase access to employment and income programs.

A interculturality and transversality also appear as structuring guidelines for the policy. This means that all areas of government - education, health, social assistance and labor - will have to act in an articulated and sensitive way to the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of migrant populations. The intercultural approach aims to reduce barriers to access and make public services more inclusive.

In the humanitarian field, the decree regulates reception in emergency situations and migratory crises, It also establishes the creation of standardized protocols and flows between federal entities. The measure seeks to guarantee rapid, coordinated responses based on territorial diagnoses that identify local and regional demands.

The policy also reinforces the promoting human rights, with special attention to the most vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, people with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ population and homeless people. The aim is to consolidate a comprehensive protection system that prevents violations and strengthens intercultural coexistence.

With the establishment of the PNMRA, Brazil is making progress in the construction of a evidence-based migration governance, federative cooperation and respect for human dignity. The expectation is that the new regulatory framework will promote more efficient and coordinated public policies, recognizing migration not as a problem, but as a part of the solution for the country's social and economic development.