By Libia López For thousands of refugees and migrants living in Brazil, rebuilding a professional career is one of the biggest challenges ...
By Libia López
For thousands of refugees and migrants living in Brazil, rebuilding a professional career is one of the biggest challenges after displacement. Many arrive with university degrees, years of experience, and professional qualifications, but face major barriers when trying to work legally in their fields. In response to this reality, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR/ACNUR), in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Education (MEC), launched a new guide aimed at supporting the revalidation of foreign diplomas for refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and humanitarian visa holders.
Although the official guide is currently available only in Portuguese, the initiative is considered a major step toward improving access to employment, higher education, and social integration for thousands of Spanish-speaking migrants — especially Venezuelans living in Brazil.
Why diploma revalidation matters
According to ACNUR, diploma recognition is far more than a bureaucratic process. It represents the possibility of restoring dignity, identity, and financial independence for people who were forced to interrupt their careers due to war, persecution, political crises, or humanitarian emergencies.
Without official recognition of their qualifications, doctors cannot practice medicine, engineers cannot work in engineering, and teachers cannot return to classrooms. As a result, many highly qualified professionals end up in informal or low-paying jobs unrelated to their academic backgrounds.
The new guide seeks to change that reality by explaining how migrants and refugees can navigate Brazil’s diploma revalidation system and what alternatives exist for people who no longer possess all their academic documents.
Who can benefit from the guide?
The publication is directed primarily toward:
- Refugees officially recognized in Brazil.
- Asylum seekers.
- People with humanitarian visas.
- Stateless persons.
- Migrants in vulnerable situations.
One of the guide’s most important points is that Brazilian universities may adopt flexible procedures for people who cannot obtain original academic documents due to conflict or displacement.
In some situations, universities may accept:
- Partial documentation.
- Knowledge examinations.
- Academic interviews.
- Alternative forms of proof regarding professional qualifications.
The Carolina Bori Platform
The guide explains that the diploma revalidation process in Brazil generally begins through the Carolina Bori Platform, an official system created by the Ministry of Education.
Through the platform, applicants can:
- Search for accredited universities.
- Verify whether their degree can be revalidated.
- Follow the status of their application.
- Review fees and requirements.
- Understand deadlines and procedures.
Each university establishes its own criteria, documentation requirements, and evaluation procedures, which means applicants must carefully analyze the specific rules of each institution.
Brazilian universities creating opportunities
Several Brazilian universities have implemented humanitarian and inclusion-oriented policies for refugees and migrants.
The Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) has become one of the country’s leading references in diploma revalidation. According to ACNUR, the university revalidated 231 diplomas in 2025 alone for refugees and migrants from different nationalities and professional areas.
Other institutions involved in similar initiatives include:
- Federal Fluminense University (UFF).
- Federal University of ABC (UFABC).
- State University of Amazonas (UEA).
- Universities participating in the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Chair network coordinated by ACNUR.
Many universities also offer:
- Portuguese language classes.
- Psychological support.
- Social assistance.
- Academic mentoring.
- Integration projects for foreign students and professionals.
Stories behind the diplomas
The guide highlights real stories of refugees whose lives changed after diploma recognition.
One of them is Venezuelan pedagogue Yedimar Castellano, who said she brought her original diploma to Brazil because it represented her identity and reminded her of her potential. Her diploma was eventually revalidated in Brazil, allowing her to rebuild her professional future.
Another example is Syrian refugee Anas Abdulrjab, who managed to continue his engineering career after having his degree recognized through programs connected to ACNUR and the Federal Fluminense University.
The first Venezuelan refugee to have a diploma revalidated in the Brazilian Amazon was Zaida Martins, a biologist and education specialist. Her recognition process was supported through a partnership involving ACNUR and local organizations.
Challenges still remain
Despite the progress, many obstacles continue to affect refugees and migrants seeking diploma recognition in Brazil.
Among the most common difficulties are:
- Expensive administrative fees.
- Sworn translation costs.
- Long processing times.
- Bureaucratic procedures.
- Lack of information in Spanish.
- Difficulty obtaining academic records from home countries.
ACNUR recognizes that the process can still be restrictive and complex, but emphasizes that Brazil has advanced considerably in creating more flexible and humanitarian-oriented mechanisms.
Integration beyond paperwork
Experts and humanitarian organizations argue that diploma recognition benefits not only migrants but also Brazilian society itself.
Recognizing foreign qualifications helps fill labor shortages, strengthens economic development, and allows refugees to contribute with international experience, professional expertise, and innovation.
For many refugees, the recognition of a diploma symbolizes something deeper than academic validation: it is the recovery of a life project interrupted by forced displacement.
A guide that opens doors
The new ACNUR guide aims to encourage more universities to adopt inclusive policies and expand access to diploma recognition across Brazil.
For thousands of migrants and refugees trying to start over, revalidating a diploma can mean the difference between surviving and truly rebuilding a future with dignity, stability, and hope.
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