Brazil Document Legalization: Apostilles & Sworn Translations

An apostille is an international certification that authenticates documents for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Brazil joined this convention in 2016.

What the Apostille Does:

• Verifies that the document is genuine
• Confirms that the signature on the document is authentic
• Certifies the capacity of the person who signed it
• Authenticates any seal or stamp on the document

What the Apostille Does NOT Do:

• Translate the document
• Verify the content is accurate
• Replace the need for sworn translation

Where to Get an Apostille:

In the United States, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued—except for federal documents like FBI background checks, which must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State.

A sworn translation (tradução juramentada) is a legally recognized translation done by a public translator certified by a Brazilian Commercial Board (Junta Comercial).

Critical Point: Only sworn translations done by Brazilian-certified translators are accepted by Brazilian authorities. Translations done by "certified translators" in the U.S., UK, or other countries are typically rejected.

Why This Matters:

• American Translators Association (ATA) certification is NOT recognized
• UK NAATI certification is NOT recognized
• Only translations by Brazilian tradutor juramentado are valid

You can find certified Brazilian translators online who work remotely. They will translate your documents and provide an official sworn translation certificate.

The order in which you complete these steps is crucial:

Step 1: Obtain the Original Document

Get your criminal background check, diploma, or other required document.

Step 2: Apostille the Original

Have the original document apostilled in your country. In the U.S., this is done by the state Secretary of State (or U.S. Department of State for federal documents).

Step 3: Sworn Translation

After apostilling, send the apostilled document to a Brazilian sworn translator. They will translate both the document AND the apostille.

Common Mistake: Getting the translation before the apostille. This forces you to get the document re-translated after apostilling, costing extra time and money.

The FBI criminal background check (Identity History Summary) has specific requirements:

Obtaining the Check:

• Request through FBI's official channels (not third-party services)
• Typically takes 3-5 business days electronically, 12-14 weeks by mail
• Valid for 90 days from issue date for most Brazilian applications

Apostilling FBI Checks:

• Must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State (not your state)
• Department of State apostilles take 4-8 weeks by mail
• Expedited services are available through third-party agents

Timing Tip: Because of the 90-day validity window, plan carefully. Start too early, and your check expires. Start too late, and you miss your deadline.