Immigration data in Brazil: fragmentation and lack of coordination of databases and its challenges to migration policy

Abstract

This report tackles the diversity of systems that gather data on immigration in Brazil. Based on previous work on the immigration process in the country, we were able to identify which bodies work in each moment of data collection and which systems are fed by these processes. The results of this research point towards the fragmentation and lack of standards of migration processes, systems and databases. The difficulties presented by Brazilian immigration databases were empirically witnessed by researchers gathering data to compare the situation of migration in Brazil to that of OECD countries. This comparison was based on OECD standards, according to the International Migration Outlook 2016. In order to present data about the Brazilian case, we had to check different databases, which shows how hard the process is for researchers and public policy makers to get information prior to the development or their work. Based on previous benchmarking on other countries’ migration policies and databases, we suggest some improvements for Brazil. These suggestions are especially relevant in the recent context. The approval of a new Migration Law in Brazil presents us with an opportunity to improve migration policy, management and databases during the regulation of this legal instrument. In parallel, Brazil’s bid to join the OECD makes it even more important for migration systems to be integrated and standardized in order to include Brazil in the institution’s work and research.