Brazil's Foreign Ministry Cuts Abroad Passport Issuance Amid Budget Shortfall

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) has instructed Brazilian embassies and consulates in Europe and the United States to limit passport production to essential and emergency documents because of a funding shortage. A circular sent on 28 July referenced earlier austerity measures announced in June 2025 and ordered that only critical passports be printed abroad.

The budget constraints have also spurred unrest among the roughly 3,385 locally hired diplomatic auxiliaries working in Brazilian missions overseas. These staff have publicly warned of a possible global strike, citing salaries that have not kept pace for two decades, chronic understaffing, and a freeze on wage increases. The Consulate in Miami was the first to change its process, shifting passport printing to Brazil’s Casa da Moeda and no longer providing the documents during consular visits. The ministry says formal negotiations with the contractors have not been opened and any future salary adjustments depend on available budget, local labor law and market conditions.