Federal Police
Registering with the Federal Police
Registering with the Policía Federal is a rite of passage you must go through if you plan to reside in Brazil for any length of time. (If you are here on a tourist visa this does not apply to you.) Travelers are given 30 days to register but I recommend taking care of this sooner rather than later. The task involves multiple trips to multiple places and, depending upon the alignment of the stars and the moon, your first adventure to the Federal Police may not be your last.
Where is the Federal Police station located?
You cannot go to any old police station to register yourself. You have to go to the police station in Lapa, an industrial neighborhood in the northwest zone. It is not easily reached by metro but you can get there by CPTM, bus, or taxi.
R. Hugo D’antola, 95 – Lapa
São Paulo - SP, 05038-090, Brazil
What materials do I need to bring?
Check out the relatively clear instructions on this web site.
Some helpful hints
The word for notarized is autenticado. You can get documents autenticado at a cartorio office.
Go to a LAN House if you need to use the internet and/or print (imprimir).
You original visa request is called a pedido de visto. You should have gotten this from the Brazilian consulate when you picked up your visa.
When you arrive at the Policía Federal, you will need to go to the Setor de Estrangeiros.
In addition to bringing your collection of mandatory documents, it’s a good idea to take any other important-looking papers you happen to have, such as a letter from your host institution or employer. Also bring a copy of important addresses and phone numbers. These things might not be necessary but could come in handy if you run into trouble or are unsure what to write on a form.
Middle names seem to be important here. Always spell out your middle name rather than writing an initial.
If you have colleagues or family members who also need to register, try to go at the same time.
If you do not understand Portuguese, go with someone who does.
Bring a book, magazine, or an ipod. Or bring a blank notebook and write your first novel. You will have a lot of time to reflect and ponder the mysteries of the universe.
Dress nicely. I’ve heard rumors that people have been turned away for wearing flip-flops and shorts. (To be honest, most people were dressed pretty casually when I went, but why risk it?)
At the end of this process you will be given a protocolo from the Federal Police. Keep this document forever. Make three photocopies and keep them in separate places. Put one in a tin box and bury it in your backyard.
Boa sorte!
Flip flops are not exactly fashion here in Brazil, they’ve been used mostly by the poor people for decades. So, wearing flip flops is not a sign of fashion here, instead it’s a sign that you’re poor or you don’t care about clothing.
Flip flops are mostly used here to go to the beach or to the pool.
I’ll post this same comment on the clothing section.