Many Brazilian immigrants, who have recently arrived in Portugal, are asking consulates and social institutions for help in returning to Brazil. The movement was so telling that it forced the Brazilian Consulate in Lisbon to issue a post on social networks, stating that it did not have the capacity to pay travel costs for hundreds of migrants. Between January and October 2022, about 690 Brazilians requested assistance to leave Europe, while in 2021 there were only 219.
According to Daniel Toledo, attorney working in international law, founder of Toledo e Associados and partner at LeeToledo PLLC, an international law firm with units in Brazil and the United States, when someone leaves their country of origin they must have minimal conditions for a possible return. “These people arrived in Portugal, did not establish the conditions for living in the country and sought help from the Brazilian consulate in searching for a return ticket. Things do not work like this. Anyone with a visa stamped must, compulsorily, present a return ticket to their country of origin.
For a specialist in international law, the financial complications do not oblige the state to pay the cost of someone staying in another country or even returning to Brazil. “I understand that people are going through a difficult time, with a huge difference in wages between social classes and all the events that are going on in Brazil. However, the livelihood policy makes people think that they have rights and should not fulfill their obligations,” he declares.
The lawyer believes that it is not fair that the taxes that Brazilians pay are directed at those who simply did not financially plan a trip. “Any consulate general operates with taxpayers’ money, and that should not be used to repatriate people who have decided to leave Brazil without any preparations,” he lamented.
The statement from the Brazilian Consulate in Portugal also indicates that accommodation and food expenses, as well as the cost of a return ticket to Brazil, are the responsibility of each traveler. “Many people leave Brazil with the clothes on their backs, they arrive in other countries and when they are questioned by the authorities, they simply claim that they have no money for a hotel or any other purchase. This makes the authorities refer the case to the consulates. This means that these people have intending to live illegally elsewhere, and when they get caught, they ask the government to pay them back,” Toledo reveals.
According to the expert, the consulate is there to handle diplomatic matters and help people who have done all the procedures properly. In these cases, the consulate will be present and assist the citizen who needs assistance. But if a person chooses the shortest path, he puts himself in a precarious situation and must leave on his own, ”he concludes.
* Daniel Toledo Attorney in Toledo e Advogados Associados specializes in international law, international business advisor, speaker, and partner at LeeToledo PLLC. For more information visit: http://www.toledoeassociados.com.br. Toledo also has a YouTube channel with over 165k followers https://www.youtube.com/danieltoledoeassociados with tips for those who want to live, work or get involved internationally. He is also an active member of the International Relations Committee of OAB Santos, Professor Emeritus at the University of Oxford – UK and Advisor on Diplomatic Protocols to the US Institute for Diplomacy and Human Rights USIDHR.
Company Profile – Toledo e Advogados Associados specializes in international law, immigration, investments and international business. It has been operating for nearly 20 years with a focus on guiding individuals and businesses in their operations. Each case is analyzed in detail and prepared efficiently by a team of dedicated professionals. To better serve customers, the company has units in São Paulo, Santos, and Houston. The team consists of lawyers, international partners, economists and accountants in Brazil, the United States and Portugal who help achieve the goal of the clients being served. For more information visit: http://www.toledoeassociados.com.br or contact us via email [email protected]
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