Criminal Record Certificate for Brazil

Brazilian Criminal Record Certificate — USA, Canada & International

Updated: March 2026 · Reviewed by specialist

Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais from the Polícia Federal for US immigration, Canadian PR, and international use. Cartório apostille (CNJ) and certified translation included. 100% remote — free consultation.

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

What type of Brazilian criminal record certificate do you need?

Step 1 of 4

What is the certificate for?

Brazilian criminal record certificates: what you need to know

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? You need a Brazilian Polícia Federal certificate with cartório apostille and certified English translation. We handle the complete process remotely.

💼 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 1–3 business days (online) Federal criminal record certificate. The most widely recognized for international and immigration use. Available online via the Polícia Federal portal.
State-level criminal certificate (if required) Tribunal de Justiça of the relevant state 3–7 business days 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) registered with the CNJ 3–7 business days Brazil joined the Hague Convention in 2016. Apostilles on Brazilian documents are issued by registered cartórios (notaries) authorized by the CNJ — not a government ministry.
Certified translation (if required) Tradutor Juramentado (sworn translator) 1–3 business days after apostille Required for non-Portuguese-speaking destination countries. Brazil requires translations by 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.

Real client cases

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 carried a 6-month processing delay, requiring them to request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

Name corrected. Spanish citizenship application resumed.

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

New FBI check obtained. Student visa approved for 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 get the visa approved.

Result

Visa approved after adding translation of fingerprint card.

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 portal for requesting the federal criminal record certificate online. View source →
CNJ — Apostila de Haia no Brasil The Conselho Nacional de Justiça oversees the apostille system in Brazil. Apostilles are issued by authorized cartórios. 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
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Brazil apostille: how the cartório system worksLaura Chen · March 2026
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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

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Laura Chen

Reviewed by

Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.

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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?

The Polícia Federal certificate is typically issued within 1–3 business days online. The cartório apostille takes 3–7 business days. A certified translation adds 1–3 days. Total typical timeline: 8–15 business days.

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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