More Than 35 Thousand Brazilian Farmers Face The Real Risk Of Losing Their Properties Due To Lack Of Land Regularization In Border Areas, In A Scenario That Exposes Legal Challenges, Threats To National Sovereignty And Deep Impacts On Agriculture.
Rural property owners located in border areas in Brazil are facing a decisive deadline to maintain possession of their lands.
According to Federal Law No. 13,178/2015, all properties with more than 15 fiscal modules in these regions need to undergo a title ratification process by October 22, 2025.
If the procedure is not carried out within this deadline, owners run the serious risk of losing their properties to the Union, a measure aimed at ensuring national sovereignty and regularizing historical possession situations.
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The warning has been reinforced by legal sector experts, such as attorney Roberto Bastos Ghigino from the HBS Advogados office.
According to Ghigino, the requirement seeks to provide legal security to producers and correct pending issues that often drag on for decades.
Furthermore, the measure is essential for the country to maintain control over areas near land borders, as provided by the Federal Constitution.
Regularization Is Mandatory To Avoid Loss Of Property
The ratification process is mandatory for properties located up to 150 kilometers from Brazilian borders that originated from public lands granted by the States.
Even if the property was subdivided after October 22, 2015, if it had an area greater than 15 fiscal modules at that time, the owner is still required to regularize it.
The fiscal module is a variable unit of measurement that depends on the location and economic characteristics of each municipality, as established by the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra).
Therefore, owners should consult their property documents and seek old certificates and records to prove the origin and legal status of the lands.
According to the attorney, some States, such as Rio Grande do Sul, have not yet regulated the process through the General Justice Corregedoria, but nonetheless, property owners should act quickly.
The recommendation is for them to start searching for historical certificates and other documents that may prove the regularity of the titles.
“Property owners who do not pay attention to this requirement run the real and concrete risk of losing their land to the Union.” warns Ghigino.
Additionally, he emphasizes that regularization may involve costs with certificates, notary fees, and potential legal fees, but that the investment is small compared to the possibility of total loss of the property.
Justice Already Guides Notaries In Several States
In some States, the Courts of Justice have already published provisions and normative instructions to guide property registries on the correct way to conduct ratification procedures.
The expectation is that more States will follow the same path in the coming months, in order to facilitate the process and ensure legal security for property owners.
This movement is considered essential to prevent a collapse in the agricultural sector of border regions, which are strategically important for both the economy and national security.
According to estimates, more than 35 thousand farmers may be impacted by the need for regularization.
Many are still unaware of the obligation or believe their properties do not meet legal requirements, which increases the risk of property loss.
National Sovereignty And Impacts On Agriculture
The ratification of title deeds for properties in border areas is not just a bureaucratic formality.
It is seen as a crucial measure to protect Brazilian sovereignty and prevent foreigners, directly or indirectly, from controlling strategic areas of national territory.
The Federal Constitution already provides restrictions on the acquisition of rural properties by foreigners in border areas, precisely to protect national interests.
Without ratification, the federal government may even take possession of irregular properties to ensure these areas remain under Brazilian control.
This concern is reinforced by the increasing international interest in agricultural land in Brazil, driven by the growing global demand for food and natural resources.
The agribusiness sector, which accounts for more than 25% of Brazil’s GDP according to data from the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA), could be directly affected if a significant number of properties were considered irregular.
The loss of these areas would impact both the production and exportation of grains, meats, and other agricultural products.
How To Regularize The Situation
For those who need to regularize their properties, the first step is to consult the competent property registry and gather all documentation regarding the property.
Certificates of old records, deeds, concession contracts, and any other documents that prove the public origin of the property are essential for the ratification process.
Then, it is necessary to follow the procedure established by the registry or, if the State has regulated the issue, in accordance with the guidance of the local Court of Justice.
In more complex cases, hiring specialized attorneys in real estate or agrarian law may be essential to ensure that all legal requirements are properly met.
The final deadline for ratification, October 22, 2025, is considered short given the bureaucracy involved.
Therefore, experts recommend that property owners immediately start gathering documents and regularizing their properties to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Updates And Outlook
As of April 2025, the federal government has not announced any extension of the deadline for ratification of titles in border areas.
Therefore, property owners should act based on current legislation and consider the possibility of a significant number of properties being incorporated into the Union’s assets if regularization does not occur.
Land regularization is a historical concern in Brazil, and the current scenario reinforces the need for constant attention to deadlines and legal requirements by rural producers.
The success of this process can ensure not only legal security for property owners but also the economic stability of various regions of the country.
Now we want to know: do you think the deadline for regularization should be extended to avoid losses in agriculture? Leave your opinion in the comments!

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