Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, conscription is mandatory for every male who has turned 18 years old. It normally lasts for twelve months. But in practice people are not forced to serve against their will. Military service was first made mandatory in 1906, during

Afonso Pena Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena (; 30 November 1847 – 14 June 1909) was a Brazilian politician who served as the List of presidents of Brazil, sixth president of Brazil between 1906 and 1909. Before his political career, Pena had been an attorney ...

's government, when

Hermes da Fonseca Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca (; 12 May 1855 – 9 September 1923) was a Brazilian field marshal and politician who served as the eighth President of Brazil between 1910 and 1914. He was a nephew of marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, the first president ...

was

Minister of War A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...

. It would only be fully implemented during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

though, when military personnel in the country were made necessary. Conscription in Brazil is currently regulated by the ''Lei do Serviço Militar'' (Military Service Act), created on August 17, 1964, by then-military-president Castelo Branco. According to the law, every male is subjected to military service from January 1 of the year in which he turns 18 until December 31 of the year in which he turns 45. In case of a war, this period may be altered, according to the demands. Seventeen-year-olds are allowed to undergo military service, as volunteers.LEI No 4.375, DE 17 DE AGOSTO DE 1964.
- Military Service Law at government's official website Men must enlist for conscription in the year they turn 18. Once a citizen is exempted, he is given one of the following documents: ''Certificado de Alistamento'' (commonly known as CAM); ''Certificado de Reservista''; ''Certificado de Isenção''; or ''Certificado de Dispensa de Incorporação''. Without these documents, he won't be able to obtain a

Brazilian passport The Brazilian passport is the official document for foreign travel issued by the federal government, through the Federal Police. A new model was officially introduced in July 2015 that complies with both Mercosul and ICAO standards, and bring a ...

, enroll in any educational institution nor be admitted as an employee in any company whose operations depend on the authorization of federal, state or municipal government.

References

{{Brazil-mil-stub