【Regulation】Brazil - ILO C108 SEAFARER’S IDENTITY DOCUMENT NO LONGER ACCEPTED//Update on 14 Aug. 2023//

Brazilian correspondents Proinde  issued a circular regarding seafarer's identify document. Brazilian immigration authority indicated that after April 2023, only SIDs(Seafarer's Identify Documents, known as seaman's book)  issued under the ILO C185 will be recognized as valid travel documents for seafarers. Because of this announcement, depending on seafarer's country, some of them are required to hold a visa when embarking/disembarking at Brazilian ports. We recommend you to check the detail to your local agent when you arrange crew change in Brazil.

Description

 In 2020, the Federal Police eventually tightened immigration controls on seafarers, requiring ILO C185 SIDs as a condition for allowing short stays of foreign crewmembers. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic later that year, in response to an ILO resolution on maritime labour issues, the immigration authority relaxed the rules and granted successive grace periods for SIDs issued under the repealed convention, the last extension valid until 30 April 2023.

On or after 1 May 2023, seafarer's not holding C185 SID are required to hold visa when he/she embark/disembark or going shore at Brazilian ports. Please note some countries have Brazil's bilateral agreement which allow seafarer landing without visa even they do not hold C185 SID. 

You can check ratifications countries from below link. Philippine, India and Myanmar are listed as ratification country. 
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:11300:0::NO::P11300_INSTRUMENT_ID:312330

Please see circular from below link.
https://proinde.com.br/circulars/ilo-c108-sids-no-longer-accepted-in-brazil/

Update on 18 July 2023

After 1 May 2023, there were cases that ships imposed penalty because of Chinese and Vietnamizes seafarer's not holding C185 SID even they did not go shore nor crew change at Brazil. Please note China and Vietnam do not ratify ILO 185.
We assume the judge may be under each port authority, some ships imposed penalty but other ships are not even the situation looks same.

Update on 14 Aug. 2023

In relation to this matter, a bilateral agreement between Vietnam and Brazil has been signed and will be effective from August 31, 2023. As a result, Vietnamese seafarers will be allowed to use Vietnamese-issued seamen's book and passports as identification, and will not be subject to fines for not possessing a Visa when calling on ports in Brazil.
However, the local inspector's decision may differ. It may be effective to send explanatory materials to the vessel when it calls in Brazil so that the crew can explain the agreement to the inspectors.

A bilateral agreement between China and Brazil had been signed and already in place, please be advised that the applied vessels/seafarers are different from Vietnam's one. 

Please contact us if you need more information about the agreement.