Apostille for Brazil · California Documents
Apostille for Brazil from California
Brazil entered the Hague Apostille Convention on August 14, 2016 — a California apostille now replaces the former consular legalization requirement.
Documents we apostille for Brazil
Birth certificate
Required for Brazilian citizenship registration at a cartório and child registration at the Brazilian Consulate.
Marriage certificate
Apostilled for marriage recognition at a Brazilian cartório. Single-status declaration (notarized + apostilled) also required.
FBI background check
Federal route via U.S. Dept of State — not California SOS. Required for Brazilian permanent and temporary visas.
Diploma & transcripts
For credential recognition (revalidação) at Brazilian federal universities and professional licensing bodies.
Power of attorney
Notarized in California, apostilled for real estate and legal matters before Brazilian authorities.
Divorce decree
Apostilled for prior-marriage documentation at cartório or the Brazilian Consulate.
How the Brazil apostille works
- Document check ($45, credited). We verify your document is California-issued, correctly certified, and Brazil-ready before any Secretary of State fee is paid.
- Sacramento filing. Couriered to the California Secretary of State — mail-in or same-day in person depending on your timeline.
- Brazil routing. Brazil has been a Hague member since 2016 — a California apostille is accepted at cartórios, consulates, and Brazilian government agencies.
- Returned tracked. Apostilled document returned by tracked carrier with status updates throughout.
Brazil apostille — FAQ
Yes, since August 14, 2016. Before that date, California documents required Brazilian consular legalization. After that date, the California Secretary of State apostille is accepted.
A tradutor juramentado is a sworn translator registered with a Brazilian state Junta Comercial. Sworn translations carry legal force (fé pública) in Brazilian proceedings. Required when submitting English-language California documents to Brazilian courts, cartórios, or government agencies.
Yes — apostilled California birth certificate, statement of single status (notarized + apostilled), and apostilled divorce decree if applicable. Your cartório will specify the exact checklist.
No. FBI documents are federal records authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not California SOS. We prepare California documents and advise on the federal route.
Status and requirements for Brazil verified against the HCCH Apostille Section status table (hcch.net) as of 2026-06-19. Not legal advice.