Apostille brazil criminal record

Apostille Brazil Criminal Record — Certificate, Authentication & Translation

Updated: June 2026 · Written by the Apostilla Antecedentes team

Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais from the Polícia Federal for US immigration, Canadian PR, and international use. Cartório apostille (CNJ); certified translation offered when your procedure requires it, quoted separately. 100% remote — free consultation.

  • Polícia Federal certificate covered
  • Cartório apostille (CNJ)
  • Tradutor Juramentado available
  • Free document review
Laura Chen
Published byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What type of Brazilian criminal record certificate do you need?

Step 1 of 4

What is the certificate for?

Apostille a Brazil criminal record: the Polícia Federal certidão, cost & time

Brazil's main criminal record certificate is the Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais, issued by the Polícia Federal do Brasil. It is available online and covers criminal records across Brazil at the federal level.

Brazil joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2016. Unlike most countries, where a government ministry issues apostilles, Brazil's apostilles are issued by authorized cartórios (private notary offices) registered with the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ).

We manage the full process — Polícia Federal application, cartório apostille, and certified translation — all remotely, whether you are in Brazil or abroad.

Who needs this service?

🇺🇸 Brazilians applying for US or Canadian immigration

Applying for a US green card, USCIS benefit, or Canadian permanent residency? Requirements are application-specific: USCIS asks for evidence of the underlying record plus a certified English translation of any foreign-language document, while an apostille (cartório apostille for Brazilian certificates) applies only when the specific filing procedure requires it — and IRCC police-certificate instructions vary by country and process. We confirm your case and handle the apostille and translation when they apply.

💼 Professionals and job seekers

Background checks are routinely required for employment in Brazil and internationally. The federal Polícia Federal certificate is the standard document for most professional and employment purposes.

🌍 Brazilians living abroad

Need your Brazilian criminal record while outside the country? We coordinate the Polícia Federal application, obtain the cartório apostille, and deliver documents internationally — fully remotely.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais (Polícia Federal) Polícia Federal do Brasil Online, where automatic validation is possible Federal criminal record certificate, requested free online via the Polícia Federal portal. The most widely recognized for international and immigration use. The issuer sets its document validity at 90 days.
State-level criminal certificate (if required) Tribunal de Justiça of the relevant state Varies by the issuing tribunal's current schedule Some authorities require state-level judicial clearance in addition to the federal certificate. Procedures vary by state.
CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) or valid passport Applicant Current Required for the Polícia Federal online application. Brazilians use CPF; foreigners use passport number.
Apostille (for international use) Cartório (notary) authorised under CNJ supervision Depends on the cartório and its jurisdiction Brazil joined the Hague Convention in 2016. Apostilles on Brazilian documents are issued by cartórios (notaries) authorised under CNJ supervision — not a government ministry. The apostille fee varies by cartório and state.
Certified translation (if required) Tradutor Juramentado (sworn translator) 1–3 business days after apostille Where the destination procedure requires a translation, confirm whether it must cover the document, the apostille page, or both. For Brazilian public documents, the standard official route is a Tradutor Juramentado registered with the Junta Comercial.

How the process works

1

We determine whether you need the Polícia Federal certificate, a state judicial certificate, or both — and confirm apostille and translation requirements for your destination country and purpose.

2

We guide you through or manage the online application on the Polícia Federal portal. For Brazilians abroad, we coordinate the process remotely using your CPF and digital identity.

3

Once the certificate is issued, we submit it to an authorized cartório registered with the CNJ for the official apostille. Note: in Brazil, cartórios — not a government ministry — issue apostilles.

4

A Tradutor Juramentado registered with the Junta Comercial prepares the certified translation. Your complete package is delivered by tracked international courier.

Example scenarios

Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.

DM
Democratic Memory Law – Name Typo

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant for Spanish citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law had their mother's 40-year-old US Naturalization Certificate rejected because of a minor spelling error in her first name.

We solved it…

The applicant had to petition USCIS for a formal name correction, which can take months, and request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

In this example, the fix is to correct the name through USCIS so the Spanish citizenship application can resume.

DM
Deferred Master's – Expired FBI Check

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

A student deferred their Spanish master's program for a year and tried to reuse their previously apostilled FBI background check for the new visa application.

We solved it…

The consulate rejected it because the underlying criminal record check is only valid for 5 to 6 months from its original date of issuance.

Result

In this example, the fix is to obtain a new FBI check for the student visa application for the following year.

FF
FBI Fingerprint Card – Translation Required

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant submitted an apostilled and translated FBI background check to the Spanish consulate, but it was rejected for missing a translation of the physical fingerprint card itself.

We solved it…

The applicant had to hire a sworn translator to translate the English text on the standard FBI FD-258 fingerprint card to meet the consulate's translation checklist.

Result

In this example, the refile would include a translation of the fingerprint card; some consulates require it.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.

Polícia Federal do Brasil — Certidão de Antecedentes Official Polícia Federal portal for requesting the criminal record certificate online, free of charge (issuer-set validity: 90 days). View source →
CNJ — Apostila de Haia no Brasil The Conselho Nacional de Justiça supervises the apostille system in Brazil and maintains the list of authorised cartórios, where apostilles are issued. It is not an ordinary issuing desk. View source →
Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH) Brazil joined the Hague Convention in 2016. Apostille is the correct authentication for Brazilian documents going to other member countries. View source →

Related guides

Guide
Brazilian criminal record for US immigration: complete guide 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→Guide
Brazil apostille: how the cartório system worksLaura Chen · March 2026
→

Related services

🇺🇸Criminal record for the USAFBI check for US immigration, USCIS, and international use📋All criminal record servicesHub for criminal record certificates from all countries🔏Apostille servicesHague Convention authentication for all document types🌐Certified translationTradutores Juramentados and certified translations

Criminal record certificates by destination country

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Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Brazilian Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais?

It is the federal criminal record certificate issued by the Polícia Federal do Brasil. It covers criminal records at the federal level across Brazil. For most international and employment purposes, this is the required document.

How does the Brazilian apostille system work?

Brazil joined the Hague Convention in 2016, but its apostille system is unique: apostilles are issued by cartórios (private notary offices) registered with the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) — not by a government ministry. We know which cartórios are authorized and handle the submission on your behalf.

Can I get the Polícia Federal certificate from outside Brazil?

Yes. The Polícia Federal online portal allows requests using your CPF. We guide you through the process or manage it on your behalf. For those without active CPF access from abroad, we advise on alternative approaches.

Do I need a Tradutor Juramentado for the translation?

For translations of official Brazilian documents, a Tradutor Juramentado (sworn translator registered with the Junta Comercial) is required by many foreign authorities. We use qualified translators whose credentials are recognized internationally.

How long does the full process take?

Polícia Federal's certificate is free online when electronically issuable; apostille timing depends on the authorised cartório and state tariff — no single nationwide end-to-end timeline applies. A certified translation, where required, is an additional step.

Do I also need a state judicial certificate?

For most international purposes — visa applications, immigration, employment abroad — the federal Polícia Federal certificate is sufficient. Some authorities, particularly in the US, may additionally require a state judicial clearance. We advise based on your specific requirements.

What if my destination country is not in the Hague Convention?

If your destination country is not a Hague member, consular legalization is required. This involves the Brazilian foreign ministry and the destination country's consulate in Brazil. We manage both routes — contact us to confirm which applies.

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