Brazil Birth Certificate Apostille — CNJ Authentication & Sworn Translation
We apostille your Brazilian birth certificate end to end: an updated Certidão de Nascimento, the Apostila de Haia at a CNJ-authorized cartório, and a sworn translation for your destination — fully remote.
- CNJ-authorized cartório apostille
- Updated certidão obtained for you
- Accepted by USCIS & in Spain
- Sworn translation included
Brazilian birth certificate — what do you need?
Step 1 of 4
Where will you use the Brazilian birth certificate?
Apostille for a Brazilian birth certificate: issued through the notary network
A Brazil birth certificate apostille works differently from most countries. The document is the Certidão de Nascimento issued by a Cartório de Registro Civil das Pessoas Naturais, and the Apostila de Haia is issued by notary offices (cartórios) authorized by the CNJ — not by a central foreign ministry. That decentralized model is why the apostille itself is often completed the same day.
The two things to get right are the copy and the translation. Foreign authorities expect a recent certified copy (an updated 2ª via) so the apostille can verify the cartório’s current signature, and because Brazilian documents are in Portuguese, a sworn translation is needed for both the US and Spain. We obtain the updated certidão, run the apostille and arrange the sworn translation for you.
Who needs this service?
A Brazilian birth certificate filed with USCIS or for a foreign citizenship claim must carry the Apostila de Haia and a certified English translation of both the certificate and the apostille.
Because Brazilian documents are in Portuguese, registering a Brazilian birth in Spain or applying for residency requires the apostilled certidão plus a sworn Spanish translation — a step Spanish-speaking LatAm certificates skip.
Enrolling children, proving filiation or updating civil records in another country requires the apostilled Certidão de Nascimento.
Required documents
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certidão de Nascimento (recent certified copy) | Cartório de Registro Civil das Pessoas Naturais (the civil-registry notary office that holds the record) | Same day to a few days for an updated 2ª via | The document apostilled is the Certidão de Nascimento. Brazilian consulates and foreign authorities expect a recent certified copy (an updated "2ª via" or "certidão em inteiro teor"), because the apostille verifies the issuing cartório’s current signature — an old copy is often rejected. |
| Apostille (Apostila de Haia) | Authorized Cartório / Tabelionato accredited by the CNJ (Conselho Nacional de Justiça) | Often same day at an authorized notary office | Brazil joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 14 August 2016. Unlike most countries, Brazil does not centralize apostilles in a foreign ministry — they are issued by notary offices (cartórios) authorized by the CNJ. Any authorized cartório in the country can apostille the certificate. |
| Sworn translation (if destination is non-Portuguese) | Tradutor Público Juramentado (registered with a state Junta Comercial) | 1–3 business days after the apostille | Brazil is Portuguese-speaking, so a translation is required for both the US (certified English) and Spain (Spanish) — unlike Spanish-speaking LatAm certificates. Brazilian sworn translations are done by a Tradutor Público Juramentado; the translation must cover the certificate and the apostille text. |
How the process works
We identify the cartório that holds your Certidão de Nascimento, confirm whether you need an updated 2ª via, and check the translation requirement for your destination country.
We request a recent certified copy of the Certidão de Nascimento so the apostille authority can verify the current signature and seal of the issuing cartório.
We process the Apostila de Haia at a CNJ-authorized notary office — often completed the same day, since Brazil issues apostilles through the notary network rather than a central ministry.
A Tradutor Público Juramentado prepares the sworn translation into English or Spanish, and we courier the finished apostilled and translated package to your address abroad.
Official sources & authorities
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Related guides
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Birth certificate apostille by country
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
Frequently asked questions
Who apostilles a Brazilian birth certificate?
In Brazil the apostille (Apostila de Haia) is issued by notary offices — cartórios and tabelionatos — that the CNJ (Conselho Nacional de Justiça) has authorized. There is no central foreign-ministry step: any CNJ-authorized cartório can apostille the certidão, which is why it is often done the same day.
Do I need a fresh copy of my certidão?
Usually yes. Foreign authorities expect a recent certified copy (an updated "2ª via" or "inteiro teor"), because the apostille verifies the current signature and seal of the issuing cartório. We obtain the correct up-to-date copy for you.
Do I need a translation for Spain?
Yes. Unlike Spanish-speaking LatAm countries, Brazilian documents are in Portuguese, so both Spain and the United States require a sworn/certified translation of the certificate and its apostille. In Brazil this is done by a Tradutor Público Juramentado.
How fast is the Brazilian apostille?
The apostille itself is often issued the same day at an authorized cartório. The overall timeline depends on obtaining an updated certidão and the sworn translation — most complete cases finish within 3–7 business days.
Can you do this if I live abroad?
Yes. We obtain the updated certidão, process the apostille at an authorized cartório and arrange the sworn translation, then deliver the finished package to your address abroad. No travel to Brazil is required.
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