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Self-defense

Gun carry permit for self-defense

Porte is the Federal Police's exceptional permit to carry a gun. It requires a registered firearm, proven actual need and a R$ 1.466,68 fee.

Required documents

  • Electronic carry permit application from Sinarm (the Federal Police firearms system), dated and signed
  • Detailed description, in the form, of the facts, activities and circumstances that show the risk (efetiva necessidade, actual need)
  • Documents proving each justification (waived only for public and well-known facts)
  • Official photo ID and CPF (Brazilian taxpayer number)
  • Clean criminal record certificates from the Federal, State (or District), Military and Electoral Courts, according to the Federal Police list for your state
  • Proof of lawful occupation
  • Proof of fixed residence in your name, or a statement from the third-party holder with a copy of their ID
  • Psychological fitness report and proof of technical skill for revolver and pistol, from professionals accredited by the Federal Police, no more than one year old
  • Valid CRAF (Certificado de Registro de Arma de Fogo, the firearm registration certificate) for the gun you want to carry

Step by step

  1. Check whether your case qualifies

    As a rule, the law prohibits carrying firearms (art. 6 of Lei 10.826/2003). The self-defense carry permit is an exception and depends on actual need due to a high-risk profession or a threat to your physical safety. The Polícia Federal (Federal Police) decides case by case and may refuse even if all documents are in order.

  2. Have the gun registered

    The permit is tied to a specific gun of permitted use, already registered in your name with a valid CRAF (firearm registration certificate). If you do not have a gun yet, the process starts with the purchase authorization and registration.

  3. Build your justification with evidence

    Describe in detail the facts you face, the activities you carry out and the risks to your life. Attach evidence for each claim, such as police reports, protective orders, documents about your professional activity or records of threats. This is the core of the review.

  4. Get the reports for revolver and pistol

    The psychological assessment and the shooting test must be done with professionals accredited by the Federal Police, for revolver and pistol, in a caliber equal to or greater than the one set by the Federal Police. Both are valid for one year.

  5. Fill in the application on Sinarm

    Access the service Solicitar Porte de Arma de Fogo para Defesa Pessoal (Request a Self-Defense Firearm Carry Permit) on gov.br with a silver or gold account. State in the form that you are not under investigation or prosecution and describe your actual need.

  6. Attach the documents and track the process

    Upload them at the end of the application or under Consultar Andamento de Processos (Check Process Status). The head of the police station may interview you before issuing an opinion.

  7. If approved, pay the fee and print the permit

    The R$ 1.466,68 fee is paid only after approval, via GRU (Guia de Recolhimento da União, the federal payment slip), within 5 business days. The permit becomes available for printing within 5 business days after payment, on the tracking page. If refused, you may appeal within ten days.

    Where to file the request: Apply for a self-defense carry permit on gov.br

Understand the service

The self-defense carry permit (porte de arma para defesa pessoal) is the authorization from the Polícia Federal (PF, the Federal Police) to carry a gun outside your home or workplace, discreetly. In Brazil, carrying is prohibited as a rule (art. 6 of Lei 10.826/2003) and is granted only on an exceptional basis to those who show actual need (efetiva necessidade) due to a high-risk profession or a threat to their physical safety. The PF decides case by case and may refuse even if all documents are in order.

Possession and carry: what is the difference

  • Possession (posse) means having the gun registered (CRAF, Certificado de Registro de Arma de Fogo, the firearm registration certificate) and keeping it at home or at your workplace, if you are its legal manager.
  • Carry (porte) means being allowed to carry the gun with you. It requires an additional document, the carry permit, granted by the PF.

Having a registered gun does not give you the right to carry it. And the carry permit does not replace the registration: the two documents go together.

Requirements

Under art. 10, § 1, of Lei 10.826/2003, art. 46 of Decreto 11.615/2023 and art. 32 of IN 201/2021, applicants must:

  • be over 25 years old and be Brazilian or a foreigner with permanent residence;
  • show actual need due to a high-risk profession or a threat to their physical safety;
  • meet the requirements of art. 4 of the law: clean criminal record certificates, not being under investigation or prosecution, lawful occupation, fixed residence, technical skill and psychological fitness;
  • own a handgun of permitted use registered in Sinarm (the Federal Police firearms system), with a valid CRAF.

How the PF assesses actual need

The PF considers the facts faced, the activities carried out and the personal criteria that indicate a risk to life, safety or physical integrity (art. 33 of IN 201/2021). Each justification needs documentary evidence, except for public and well-known facts. The head of the police station may interview the applicant and suggests the territorial scope and duration of the permit.

Validity and scope

  • Validity: up to 5 years, as stated on the document.
  • Scope: state, regional or national, set by the PF.
  • Gun: the permit is valid only for the gun listed on it.
  • Documents: always carry the permit, the valid CRAF and an ID document.
  • No renewal: when it expires, you must file a new application, meeting all requirements again.

Where and how you cannot carry a gun

Art. 51 of Decreto 11.615/2023 prohibits self-defense permit holders from:

  • carrying the gun openly (in plain view);
  • entering or staying armed in churches, schools, stadiums, clubs, bank branches and other places where people gather for events of any kind.

Violations lead to revocation of the permit and seizure of the gun. The same applies to anyone carrying the gun while drunk or under the influence of drugs or of medication that affects intellectual or motor performance. Under the law, the permit automatically loses effect if the holder is detained or stopped in these conditions (art. 10, § 2).

The holder must also immediately notify the PF of any change of address and notify the police and the PF of theft, robbery or loss of the gun, or the permit may be suspended (art. 50 of the decree).

Can I fly armed?

Private individuals with a self-defense permit cannot board armed: boarding armed is restricted to public agents who carry by virtue of their duties (Resolução ANAC 461/2018, a rule of Brazil's civil aviation agency). The general rule is to check the gun in, unloaded, with the Guia de Despacho de Arma de Fogo (firearm check-in form) filled in on the PF system and validated at the airport.

Common mistakes that lead to refusal

  • A generic justification, such as "the city is violent", without concrete facts or evidence.
  • Reports done for only one type of gun, or expired.
  • Requesting a permit for a restricted-caliber gun or without a valid CRAF.
  • Assuming the application receipt already allows you to carry: there is no carry permit based on the receipt.

What changed recently

  • 21/07/2023: Decreto 11.615/2023 began requiring actual need to be shown with concrete facts (it is not presumed), reaffirmed the exceptional nature of the permit and set the bans on open carry and on carrying in crowded places.
  • June 2025: the STF (Supremo Tribunal Federal, Brazil's Supreme Court) recognized the constitutionality of Decreto 11.615/2023 in the ADC 85 ruling.
  • 24/03/2026: Lei 15.358/2026 added art. 21-A to the Estatuto do Desarmamento (Disarmament Statute), increasing by two thirds the penalties for illegal possession and carry when linked to drug trafficking.
  • 2026: the official service page was updated on 24/07/2026, with a fee of R$ 1.466,68, an estimated total processing time of up to 60 days and validity of up to 5 years.

Disclaimer

This guide is for information only and does not replace the official rules or advice from a professional. Rules change: before any application, check the current version of Lei 10.826/2003 (Estatuto do Desarmamento), Decreto 11.615/2023 (as amended by Decreto 12.345/2024), Instrução Normativa 201/2021-DG/PF and the official service pages on gov.br and on the Polícia Federal website.

Sources

Regulations and official pages used in this guide. Always check the version in force.

Frequently asked questions

Direct answers to the most common questions about this service.

What is the difference between owning and carrying a gun?

Possession (posse) means having the gun registered and keeping it at home or at your workplace, if you are its legal manager. Carry (porte) is the authorization to take the gun outside those places, granted by the Federal Police on an exceptional basis.

How much does a self-defense carry permit cost?

The Federal Police fee is R$ 1.466,68, paid via GRU (the federal payment slip) only after the application is approved. Add the psychological and technical reports and the certificates.

How long is a carry permit valid?

Up to 5 years, as stated on the document. There is no renewal: when it expires, you must file a new application and prove all requirements again.

Who can get a carry permit in Brazil?

Besides the categories that carry by virtue of their role, such as police officers, a private individual over 25 may apply for a self-defense permit by proving actual need due to a high-risk profession or a threat to their physical safety. They must own a registered gun and meet the other legal requirements.

With a carry permit, can I enter any place armed?

No. Decreto 11.615/2023 prohibits carrying the gun in plain view and entering armed into churches, schools, stadiums, clubs, banks and crowded places. Violations lead to revocation of the permit and seizure of the gun.

How long does it take to get a carry permit?

The official page estimates up to 60 calendar days in total. After approval, you have up to 5 business days to pay the fee, and the permit becomes available within up to 5 business days.

Can a permit holder board a plane armed?

No. Boarding armed is restricted to public agents who carry by virtue of their duties, under Resolução ANAC 461/2018. Private individuals must check the gun in unloaded, with a form filled in on the Federal Police system.

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