# Law No. 6370 of October 27, 1976

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105659657](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659657)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6370-of-october-27-1976

## Summary
**Law No. 6370 of October 27, 1976** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 6370, de 27 de outubro de 1976*) is a Brazilian statute that extends the validity period of identity cards for foreigners. Enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil during the administration of Ernesto Geisel, it serves as a formal legal instrument within the Brazilian federal jurisdiction.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 6370, de 27 de outubro de 1976
- **Alternative Names:** Lei nº 6370/1976; Law No. 6370 of October 27, 1976
- **Entity Type:** Statute (formal written document creating law)
- **Date of Promulgation:** October 27, 1976
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signed By:** Ernesto Geisel (President of Brazil)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Primary Subject:** Extending the validity period of identity cards for foreigners (*prorroga o prazo de validade de carteira de identidade para estrangeiro*)
- **Legal Digest Topics:** Time limit (*Prazo*), Foreigner (*Estrangeiro*), Prorogation (*Prorrogação*)
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-10-27;6370`
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6370.htm
- **Copyright Status:** Public domain (as a government edict)

## FAQs
**What is the specific function of Law No. 6370/1976?**
The law functions to extend (*prorrogar*) the deadline or validity period associated with identity cards issued to foreigners in Brazil. It addresses the administrative time limits (*prazo*) for these documents.

**Who enacted this law and where does it apply?**
The statute was enacted by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Ernesto Geisel on October 27, 1976. It applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil and was published in the capital, Brasília.

**How is this law classified legally?**
It is classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law. As a legal document, it is considered a subclass of "written work" and "rule," and falls under the broader category of "statutory law."

**Is the text of Law No. 6370 copyrighted?**
No. As an official legal document and edict of the government of Brazil, the text is in the public domain. This ensures public accessibility to the legal rules governing society without copyright restrictions.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6370 of October 27, 1976, represents a specific exercise of executive and legislative authority during the military dictatorship era in Brazil (specifically under the Geisel administration). While seemingly administrative, statutes concerning the documentation of foreigners are critical for defining the legal status, mobility, and rights of non-citizens within a national territory.

This law matters as a concrete manifestation of **statutory law**—providing the written, definitive rule regarding the temporal validity of foreign identification. In a broader context, it illustrates the function of statutes as the primary instruments through which government authority is formally recorded and exercised. By establishing clear rules on "prorogation" and "time limits" for foreigner IDs, the law contributes to the administrative stability and regulatory framework of the Brazilian state.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Regulation:** Specifically targets the "time limit" and "validity" of identity documents for a specific demographic (foreigners).
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of Ernesto Geisel, a period of political transition within Brazil's military regime.
- **Legal Classification:** Serves as a clear example of a "statute" as defined by legal ontologies—a formal written document distinct from abstract legal concepts.
- **Open Access:** Notable for its availability via the official `planalto.gov.br` portal and its identification within the Lexml legal system, ensuring public accessibility.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Nature
Law No. 6370 of October 27, 1976, is a **statute** enacted by the federal government of Brazil. As a statute, it is defined as a formal written document created to establish law. It is taxonomically classified as an instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule."

Structurally, the law consists of "legal norms" and serves as the manifestation of statutory law. It was created through the process of legislation, preceded by draft laws, and finalized by promulgation. Unlike informal agreements or executive orders lacking legislative weight, this statute serves as the official record of the legal rule enacted by the Brazilian authority.

### Subject Matter and Provisions
The core function of this statute, as recorded in the Brazilian legal digest, is the **prorogation (extension) of the validity period of the identity card for foreigners** (*prorroga o prazo de validade de carteira de identidade para estrangeiro*).

The law addresses three main conceptual subjects:
1.  **Time Limit (*Prazo*):** It modifies or extends existing deadlines.
2.  **Foreigner (*Estrangeiro*):** The specific demographic subject to the rule.
3.  **Prorogation (*Prorrogação*):** The administrative act of extending the validity of a document or deadline.

This places the law within the domain of administrative and migration law, specifically regulating the documentation required for foreigners residing in or transiting through Brazil.

### Enactment and Authority
The statute was officially published on **October 27, 1976**, in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**.

The promulgation of the law is attributed to **Ernesto Geisel**, who served as President of Brazil during this period. This historical detail situates the law within the broader political context of the 1970s, a time when Brazil was under a military dictatorship, though the law itself functions as a standard administrative statute.

### Jurisdiction and Language
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. As the largest country in South America with Portuguese as its official language, the statute is written and published in **Brazilian Portuguese**. Its validity is restricted to the territories and legal spheres where Brazilian federal law holds sovereignty.

### Digital Availability and Identifiers
Law No. 6370 is indexed and accessible through modern legal databases, reflecting the standardization of Brazilian legal information.
-   **Lexml Brazil ID:** The unique identifier for this legal resource is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-10-27;6370`.
-   **Official URL:** The full text is hosted on the official Brazilian government portal at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6370.htm`.
-   **Citation:** It is legally cited as *Lei nº 6370/1976*.

### Copyright Status
Consistent with the "edict of government doctrine" recognized in many jurisdictions, this statute is in the **public domain**. Official legal documents, including legislative enactments like Law No. 6370, are not subject to copyright. This ensures that the citizens and residents of Brazil, as well as international observers, have unrestrained access to the laws that govern the country.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-10-27;6370)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6370&ano=1976&data=27/10/1976&ato=93cETRq50MnRVTa0e)
3. LexML Brasil