To mark World Refugee Day, a coalition of higher-education institutions led by Estácio and Wyden Universities launched a one-day mutirão (task-force) on 19 June 2026 offering free Portuguese language certification in 27 cities across 16 Brazilian states. The initiative doubles last year’s geographic coverage and is endorsed by the Ministry of Education. Candidates sit an abridged version of the Celpe-Bras exam—the only Portuguese proficiency test officially recognised for naturalisation and professional licensing. Successful applicants receive a certificate within 15 days, streamlining access to formal work and university admission.
VisaHQ can further ease the integration journey by guiding refugees and employers through Brazil’s visa procedures, including humanitarian and work-permit options. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers step-by-step application tools, document checklists and live support, helping newcomers convert language credentials like Celpe-Bras into the right immigration status without delays.
According to organisers, 2,400 slots were filled within 48 hours of registration, with high demand in Manaus, Boa Vista and Porto Alegre where Venezuelan and Haitian communities are concentrated. The mutirão also provided on-site legal counselling, CV-writing workshops and vaccine catch-up clinics run by state health departments. Funding came from corporate donors under Brazil’s new Migrant Integration Tax Incentive, which allows companies to deduct up to 2 % of income tax for approved inclusion projects. For employers, Celpe-Bras certification simplifies onboarding of refugee talent by validating language skills required for work-permit conversions. HR teams should note that the next regular Celpe-Bras session is in October; sponsorship of community test centres may qualify for the same tax credit. Organisers plan to repeat the task-force in February 2027, focusing on interior cities with emerging migrant populations.
VisaHQ can further ease the integration journey by guiding refugees and employers through Brazil’s visa procedures, including humanitarian and work-permit options. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers step-by-step application tools, document checklists and live support, helping newcomers convert language credentials like Celpe-Bras into the right immigration status without delays.
According to organisers, 2,400 slots were filled within 48 hours of registration, with high demand in Manaus, Boa Vista and Porto Alegre where Venezuelan and Haitian communities are concentrated. The mutirão also provided on-site legal counselling, CV-writing workshops and vaccine catch-up clinics run by state health departments. Funding came from corporate donors under Brazil’s new Migrant Integration Tax Incentive, which allows companies to deduct up to 2 % of income tax for approved inclusion projects. For employers, Celpe-Bras certification simplifies onboarding of refugee talent by validating language skills required for work-permit conversions. HR teams should note that the next regular Celpe-Bras session is in October; sponsorship of community test centres may qualify for the same tax credit. Organisers plan to repeat the task-force in February 2027, focusing on interior cities with emerging migrant populations.
