Brazil Prosecutor’s Office Investigates Federal Police on Abusive Passport Fee

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Prosecutor’s Office in Santo Ângelo (RS), with approximately 77,000 inhabitants and 351 kilometers away from Porto Alegre, opened a public civil investigation to determine if the Federal Police were making “abusive charges” for issuing passports.

The cost of preparing the documents, including production, personalization, and supply, is R$74, according to a statement by the Brazilian Mint, the public body in charge of the production of passports, to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office.

Meanwhile, the amount currently charged for the concession of passports by the Federal Police is R$257.25.

The Office of the Prosecutor General claims it needs to understand the reasons for the difference, since “it is a type of tax linked to specific state action, which is not permissible, therefore, its use to equip and finance general and essential activities of the State, which are funded by taxes”.

The payment of the fee should be made after the individual is satisfied that he or she holds all the documents and registers on the PF website. After filling out the form, an invoice is generated, which must be paid within one hour.

According to the PF website itself, the amount is R$257.25, but may be higher in some cases.

Defense

In a note, the Federal Police announced that “it only provides the service of passport expedition, according to Decree No. 5978/2006. The public service is paid at the rate set by the Ministry of Justice and Public Safety, in which the Federal Police is included, in Ordinance 927/2015. The fee paid by the passport applicant is paid into the National Treasury account”.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo