Over 150 Haitians Arrive in São Paulo on Family Reunion Flights
Approximately 170 Haitian nationals arrived at São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport on Wednesday, November 15th, via a chartered flight that included a stopover in Manaus. This arrival marks the resumption of family reunion visa issuances, allowing relatives of refugees to come to Brazil. The chartered flight was a commercial operation adjusted for specific departure and destination needs, not part of a regular airline schedule. Upon arrival, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) partnered with Caritas Archdiocese of São Paulo to provide an intercultural mediator to facilitate communication and disseminate essential information to the new arrivals. UNHCR also administered a questionnaire to identify the Haitians' primary needs and assisted with the reception and onward transportation for those landing in Manaus and Guarulhos, who were heading to various other cities. This effort involved collaboration with the Association of Haitian Workers in Amazonas (ATHAM) and the Association of Haitians in Brazil (AHB). Jeanne-Marie Hippolite, one of the passengers, traveled to Brazil to reunite with her family in Paraná, whom she had not seen in three years. She expressed relief and happiness at being reunited, highlighting the crucial support provided by those who spoke her language and offered assistance with transportation, making her feel at home immediately. UNHCR teams have been supporting arrivals throughout 2026 at multiple Brazilian airports, including Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, Foz do Iguaçu, Curitiba, Campinas, Guarulhos, Manaus, and Belém. Their support extends to child protection cases, especially for unaccompanied or separated minors, and connecting vulnerable individuals with public services. UNHCR's protection officer, Silvia Sander, noted close cooperation with the Federal Police and Public Defender's Office to address the needs of unaccompanied Haitian children and adolescents. Intercultural mediators, trained and supported by UNHCR, play a vital role in bridging language barriers, with Caritas Archdiocese in São Paulo and the Jesuit Service for Migrants and Refugees in Rio Grande do Sul facilitating their hiring. The resumption of these flights follows regulatory changes, specifically Resolution Normative No. 34 from February 2026, which simplifies the family reunion visa application process by allowing direct submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bypassing prior notification to the National Committee for Refugees (Conare). UNHCR reports that Haiti is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 6.4 million people needing assistance, nearly 6 million on the brink of starvation, and approximately 1.5 million internally displaced due to escalating violence. As of late 2025, over 105,000 Haitians sought international protection in Brazil, making it the second-largest host country for Haitians outside their homeland. By April 2026, Haitian nationals constituted the third-largest group applying for asylum in Brazil.
The arrival of over 150 Haitian nationals in Brazil, facilitated by family reunion visas and supported by international and local organizations, highlights a significant humanitarian response to the escalating crisis in Haiti. The process, streamlined by recent regulatory changes, underscores Brazil's role as a key destination for Haitians seeking refuge and family reunification. The involvement of UNHCR and Caritas demonstrates a coordinated effort to address immediate needs, including language mediation, transportation, and protection for vulnerable individuals, particularly unaccompanied minors. This situation reflects broader global migration patterns driven by severe humanitarian crises, where systemic issues like violence and food insecurity in one nation create significant demand for international protection and support systems in host countries. As Brazil continues to receive a substantial number of asylum seekers, the long-term integration and support infrastructure will be critical factors in managing these flows effectively and ensuring the well-being of migrants and refugees.
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