What is an apostille and what is it used for?

An apostille is an authentication certificate issued by a designated authority that verifies the authenticity of public documents for international use. Created by the 1961 Hague Convention, it eliminates the need for consular legalization among 124 signatory countries. In Brazil, apostilles are issued by notary offices authorized by the CNJ since August 2016.

How much does apostille cost and how long does it take in Brazil?

Apostille costs vary by state but range from R$ 100 to R$ 200 per document in 2026. Processing is usually immediate or up to 5 business days depending on the notary office. Digital documents with ICP-Brasil electronic signatures can be apostilled online through the CNJ e-Apostille platform.

Which documents can be apostilled in Brazil?

Public documents eligible for apostille include birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, academic transcripts, notarized powers of attorney, court decisions, and sworn translations. Private documents must first be notarized or have signatures authenticated before the notarization itself can be apostilled.

Does an apostille replace a sworn translation?

No. The apostille certifies document authenticity but does not translate content. If the destination country requires the document in another language, you must hire a sworn translator (tradutor juramentado) and then apostille both the original document and the sworn translation separately.

Apostille in Brazil: Hague Convention Document Validation

Executive Summary

The 1961 Hague Convention, incorporated into Brazilian law through Decree No. 8,660/2016, simplified the validation of public documents among 124 signatory countries. The apostille replaced the former consular legalization process — slower and more expensive — with a single certification issued at notary offices authorized by the National Council of Justice (CNJ). This guide details the complete apostille process in Brazil, eligible documents, updated costs, and timelines.

If you need to use Brazilian documents abroad or validate foreign documents in Brazil, our international law team can guide you through every step.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an authentication certificate issued by a designated authority of a country that is party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, adopted in The Hague on October 5, 1961. In Brazil, the competent authority is any notary office authorized by the CNJ, pursuant to CNJ Resolution No. 228/2016 and CNJ Provision No. 62/2017.

Apostille vs. consular legalization

Before Brazil’s accession to the Hague Convention (August 14, 2016), documents destined for international use underwent a multi-step consular legalization process:

Authentication at the originating notary office
Legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE/Itamaraty)
Consular legalization at the embassy or consulate of the destination country
Potentially, further legalization at the destination country’s MRE

This process took weeks and cost hundreds of reais. With the apostille, a single certification — the Hague seal — replaces all these steps. The apostilled document is automatically accepted across all 124 member countries.

Hague Convention signatory countries

The Convention covers most European countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and many others. The complete list is maintained by the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Countries that are not signatories — such as mainland China, the United Arab Emirates, and much of Africa — still require traditional consular legalization.

Which Documents Can Be Apostilled?

The Convention applies exclusively to public documents, as defined in Article 1:

Eligible documents

Civil registry certificates: birth, marriage, death, divorce
Notarial documents: public deeds, powers of attorney, notarial minutes, signature authentications
Judicial documents: court decisions, rulings, case certificates
Educational documents: diplomas, academic transcripts, completion certificates from public institutions
Administrative documents: clearance certificates (INSS, Federal Revenue, criminal background), residency certificates
Sworn translations: performed by public translators appointed by the Commercial Registry (Junta Comercial)

Documents that CANNOT be directly apostilled

Private documents (private contracts, personal statements): must first have signatures notarized, and then the notarization can be apostilled
Consular and diplomatic documents: excluded by Article 1(3)(a) of the Convention
Customs and commercial documents: excluded by Article 1(3)(b)

How to Obtain an Apostille in Brazil

Step-by-step process

1. Identify the document to be apostilled

Verify whether it is a public document or requires a preliminary step (signature authentication, sworn translation).

2. Locate an authorized notary office

The CNJ maintains a list of authorized offices on the e-Apostille platform. Any notary office, civil registry, or document registry may be authorized, depending on the state.

3. Present the original document

Bring the original document (or certified copy, as applicable) to the notary office. Digital documents with ICP-Brasil electronic signatures can be apostilled electronically.

4. Pay fees

Costs vary by state. In São Paulo, apostille fees are approximately R$ 130 to R$ 180 per document (TJSP 2026 fee schedule). Other states range from R$ 100 to R$ 200.

5. Receive the apostille

The notary issues the apostille as a seal or label affixed to the document, containing standardized data: country of origin, signatory name, signatory capacity, seal/stamp, location, date, certifying authority, and registration number.

Electronic apostille (e-Apostille)

Since 2019, the CNJ has offered electronic apostille for digital documents. Documents signed with ICP-Brasil digital certificates can be apostilled online, generating a digitally verifiable apostille recognized internationally. The system integrates with e-Notariado and enables verification via QR Code.

Sworn Translation and Apostille

Sworn translation complements the apostille and is frequently required. The correct workflow is:

Apostille the original document in Portuguese
Hire a sworn translator registered with the state’s Commercial Registry
Apostille the sworn translation — as it is a public document

Each apostille incurs an individual fee. For a university diploma destined for Germany, for example, you would pay for apostille of the diploma and apostille of the sworn translation into German.

Finding a sworn translator

Public translators are appointed by state examination and registered with Commercial Registries. Check the JUCESP (São Paulo) website or your state’s Commercial Registry. Translation costs range from R$ 150 to R$ 500 per page, depending on language and complexity.

Updated Costs and Timelines (2026)

Item	Approximate cost	Timeline
In-person apostille	R$ 100 — R$ 200 per document	Immediate to 5 business days
Electronic apostille	R$ 100 — R$ 200 per document	1 to 3 business days
Sworn translation	R$ 150 — R$ 500 per page	3 to 15 business days
Signature authentication	R$ 15 — R$ 30 per signature	Immediate
Certified copy	R$ 8 — R$ 15 per page	Immediate

Exemptions and discounts

Beneficiaries of free legal aid (justiça gratuita) may request fee exemption for apostille, pursuant to Law No. 1,060/1950 and Article 98 of CPC/2015. Some states grant discounts for bulk apostille (more than 5 documents).

Non-Signatory Countries: Consular Legalization

For documents destined for countries that are not party to the Hague Convention — such as China, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and many African nations — the process remains traditional consular legalization:

Authentication at a notary office
Legalization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ERESP or Brasília)
Consular legalization at the embassy/consulate of the destination country

Total processing time can reach 30-60 days, depending on the consulate. Consular fees vary widely: the Chinese embassy charges between US$ 50 and US$ 100 per document; Arab consulates may charge more.

Validating Foreign Documents in Brazil

The reverse process — validating foreign documents for use in Brazil — follows analogous logic:

From Hague Convention signatory countries

The document must be apostilled in the country of origin before being presented in Brazil. Upon receipt, it must be translated by a Brazilian sworn translator and registered at a Document Registry Office (RTD), pursuant to Article 129 of Law No. 6,015/1973 (Public Records Law).

From non-signatory countries

The document must be legalized by the Brazilian consulate in the country of origin, translated by a sworn translator, and registered at the RTD. Foreign court judgments additionally require recognition (homologação) by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), pursuant to Article 105, I, “i” of the Federal Constitution and Article 961 of CPC/2015.

Special Cases

Documents for citizenship applications

Those pursuing dual citizenship — Italian, Portuguese, or other nationalities — must apostille Brazilian birth, marriage, and criminal background certificates. For Italian citizenship, consulates require apostille of all documents in the genealogical line, from the Italian ancestor to the applicant.

Documents for marriage abroad

Birth certificate, civil status certificate (single/divorced), and proof of residence require apostille and sworn translation into the destination country’s language.

Business documents

Articles of incorporation, meeting minutes, and corporate powers of attorney are private documents. They must first have signatures authenticated at a notary, and then the authentications can be apostilled. For international trade operations, consult our team about specific documentation.

Common Apostille Mistakes

Apostilling a copy instead of the original: some notaries require the original document; certified copies can be apostilled, but the apostille covers the certification, not the document itself
Forgetting sworn translation: the apostille does not translate the document; the destination country may reject untranslated documents
Confusing apostille with authentication: authentication at a notary confirms a signature; apostille certifies the document for international use
Not verifying signatory status: sending an apostilled document to a non-signatory country results in rejection

Applicable Legislation

Hague Convention of 1961: abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents
Decree No. 8,660/2016: promulgates the Hague Convention in Brazil
CNJ Resolution No. 228/2016: regulates apostille issuance in national territory
CNJ Provision No. 62/2017: regulates apostille issuance by notary offices
Law No. 6,015/1973: Public Records Law (registration of foreign documents)
CPC/2015, Articles 960-965: recognition of foreign judgments

Next Steps

If you need to apostille documents for international use or validate foreign documents in Brazil, contact our international law team. We offer comprehensive assistance with apostille, sworn translation, consular legalization, and foreign judgment recognition.

For matters related to visas and immigration, citizenship, or international contracts, explore our specialized guides or schedule a consultation directly.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each case has specific circumstances that should be analyzed by a qualified attorney.