Brazilian documents apostilled through the CNJ's online system plus sworn certified translation (Portuguese to Spanish/English). Complete package — 100% remote, no travel to Brazil needed.
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What type of Brazilian document do you need apostilled?
Brazil joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2016. The Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) serves as the centralized federal apostille authority and operates an online portal. State-level documents may be processed by the relevant Tribunal de Justiça in each state.
Important: Since Brazilian documents are in Portuguese, a certified translation (tradução juramentada) is required for virtually all international uses — Spain, the US, the EU, and beyond. We handle apostille + translation as a single coordinated service.
Brazilian birth certificates, criminal records, and university degrees frequently need apostille and certified translation for visa and immigration purposes. We handle the full process remotely.
Spain requires apostilled Brazilian documents and certified Spanish translations for visa applications. The apostille route is via the CNJ or state Tribunal de Justiça.
Degrees from Brazilian universities (USP, UNICAMP, PUC, etc.) need apostille for international credential recognition. Since they are in Portuguese, a sworn translation is always required.
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Brazilian document (or certified copy) | Cartório, federal courts, universities, or other Brazilian authority | Varies by document type | Must be an original or a notarially certified copy (cópia autenticada) from a Brazilian notary (cartório). |
| Apostille via CNJ or State Court | Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) or Tribunal de Justiça of the issuing state | 1–5 business days (CNJ online system) | Brazil uses the CNJ's online apostille portal. State-issued documents go to the relevant Tribunal de Justiça. The CNJ provides a centralized online system. |
| Certified translation into destination language | Sworn translator (tradutor juramentado) | 2–5 business days | Brazil is Portuguese-speaking. A certified translation is required for use in Spain, the US, and virtually all other countries. |
We determine whether your document is federal (CNJ) or state-level (Tribunal de Justiça), and whether the CNJ online system or a physical submission is required.
For documents eligible for the CNJ's online system, we submit digitally. For state-level documents, we coordinate with partners at the relevant Tribunal de Justiça.
The CNJ's apostille includes a digital verification code. We confirm it is valid and properly formatted for your destination country.
Since Brazilian documents are in Portuguese, a certified translation is almost always required. We coordinate this in parallel and deliver the complete package by tracked courier.
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
The Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) serves as Brazil's centralized apostille authority and operates an online portal. For state-issued documents, the relevant Tribunal de Justiça (state court) may also issue apostilles.
Yes. The CNJ operates an online apostille system (apostila.cnj.jus.br) that allows digital requests and issues electronic apostilles with verification codes. This is the fastest route and can be used from anywhere in the world.
Yes — almost universally. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in Latin America. Any use of Brazilian documents in Spain, the US, or other countries requires a certified translation. We provide sworn translations (tradução juramentada) for Portuguese to Spanish, English, and other major languages.
CNJ online apostilles typically take 1–5 business days. State Tribunal de Justiça processing may take 3–10 business days. Add translation time (2–5 business days). Total package: approximately 5–10 business days.
Spain requires a criminal background certificate from Brazil covering the period of residence. The standard certificate is issued by the Polícia Federal (for federal criminal records) or state police. It must be apostilled by the CNJ or Tribunal de Justiça and translated into Spanish by a sworn translator.
Yes. The CNJ's online system can be accessed remotely. For documents requiring physical submission, we coordinate with partners at Brazilian state courts and cartórios.
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