What to do if your naturalization request is denied?

We know that the process of applying for Brazilian naturalization is not always quick or straightforward.

Every day we see decisions on naturalization applications that took years to be resolved and, even when the foreign applicant meets all the legal requirements, the Ministry of Justice still denies the request.If this has happened to you, don’t worry. There are still some options available before you need to file a new application, as we will explain below:

Administrative Appeal

If you access the Naturalizar-se platform or the Official Gazette (Diário Oficial da União) and find that your naturalization request has been denied, you still have the right to file an administrative appeal with the Ministry of Justice within ten (10) days from the date you received notification of the decision or became aware of it through the platform.

To better assert your rights, we always recommend seeking the assistance of a lawyer specialized in international law to help you draft the appeal and improve your chances of having the decision reversed through administrative means.

However, if you prefer, you may draft the appeal yourself.

You will need to write a document in Portuguese, indicating the date on which you became aware of the denial, and include all of your personal details again (full name, residential address, phone number, National Migration Registration number, and your Naturalizar-se process number).

Write a brief explanation of why the decision is incorrect. Additionally, you should demonstrate that the required documents were already submitted, or attach new documents proving that you meet the requirements set forth by the Brazilian Migration Law (Lei nº 13.445/2017).

Judicial Process

If your appeal is also denied, you may file a judicial request to challenge the decision. In this case, only a specialized attorney can properly assess whether you truly meet all legal requirements and advise you on the most appropriate legal action to secure your rights.

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