Return Assistance

Return Assistance is a financial benefit granted by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) to PEC students to cover expenses related to returning to the country where they originally applied for the program.

Eligibility

Return Assistance may be granted to PEC-G or PEC-PLE students who:

I – have completed their undergraduate degree and have received the Merit Scholarship in any semester;

II – have completed a degree in a priority field defined in the selection call and have received the Incentive Scholarship;

III – have completed their undergraduate degree or Portuguese as a Foreign Language course and can prove financial inability, both personally and from their financial sponsor(s), to return to their home country;

IV – even if they have not completed the course, are in a situation of extreme financial vulnerability, making them unable to continue their studies and maintain regular migratory status in Brazil.

Amount

The amount of Return Assistance varies according to the student’s country of origin. Please refer to the table attached to MRE Ordinance No. 572/2024 for country-specific values.

Accountability Requirements

Students who receive Return Assistance must send a copy of their boarding pass to the Division of Educational Cooperation (DCE) before departure.

The document must be sent to: pecg@itamaraty.gov.br

Important: Students who fail to submit the boarding pass before departure will be required to reimburse the full amount of the assistance.

How to Apply

The Higher Education Institution (HEI) of the PEC-G or PEC-PLE student must submit the request for Return Assistance to the DCE via email: pecg@itamaraty.gov.br

Application Deadline

The request must be submitted:

• Within the student’s legal period of stay in Brazil (i.e., while maintaining regular migratory status); and
• Within 90 days after graduation (for PEC-G students) or completion of the Portuguese language course (for PEC-PLE students).

Required Documents

The student’s Higher Education Institution must submit the following documents to the DCE:

• Completed and signed Return Assistance application form;
• Copy of the identification and validity pages of the passport;
• Copy of a valid National Migration Registration Card (CRNM) or an updated renewal protocol;
• Certificate of course completion (if applicable);
• Report on the student’s socioeconomic situation issued by the responsible department at the HEI (for students unable to afford return travel);
• Any additional documents that may be requested by the DCE.