Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Portuguese Immigration Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes immigration records such as passenger lists. These records were meant to track the arrival, departure, and internal movement of Portuguese immigrants in Brazil. The original records were kept by the Serviços de Polícia Marítima, Aérea e de Fronteiras (Maritime Air and Border Police Services), and are currently housed at the Arquivo Nacional (National Archive) in Rio de Janeiro.

Reading These Records
These records are in Portuguese. For help reading these records see the following:
 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Brazil Language and Languages

What Can This Collection Tell Me?
The following list indicates potential information provided in these records. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all the listed information, as record-keeping practices varied greatly over time.

Immigration Records may include:
 * Complete name, age, and gender of the Immigrant
 * Other physical characteristics (general health, scars, etc.)
 * Date of immigration
 * Date and place of birth
 * Civil status
 * Occupation
 * Names, ages, and genders of children
 * Marital status/spouse’s name

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before beginning a search in these records, it is best to know the full name of the individual in question, as well as an approximate time range for the desired record. When entered into the search engine on the Collection Page, this information provides the quickest, most reliable path to finding the correct person. Of course, other information can be substituted as necessary.

Search By Name By Visiting the Collection Page
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page to return a list of possible matches. Compare the individuals on the list with what is already known to find the correct family or person. This step may require examining multiple individuals before a match is located.

View Images in This Collection By Visiting the Browse Page
If granted the rights to view the digitized records in this collection (see below), the images may be accessed by following this series of links: ⇒ Select Browse through images on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the appropriate Arrival Year ⇒ Select the appropriate Arrival Month and Dayto go to the images Compare the information found on the images with what is already known determine if a particular record relates to the correct person. This process may require examining multiple records before the correct person is located.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see below for assistance in citing this collection. Save or print a copy of the image if possible
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. A common surname often indicated family members, but do not rely too heavily on the surname alone to suggest a relationship. Remember that certain members of the same family might have different surnames, and that multiple individuals with a common surname might not be related

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of family members, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records
 * Check for variants of given names and surnames; simple clerical errors were always possible. In addition, foreign spellings were not always understood by immigration officials, so pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation. Individuals could also be listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name. For women, it was not uncommon to revert to a maiden name after the death of a husband
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches. Alternatively, try expanding the date range
 * Check the records of other ports in Brazil. Information on these other ports can be found on the Brazil Emigration and Immigration page
 * Look at the actual image of the record to verify the information found in the online description, if possible

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Brazil.
 * Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.