Hague apostille for Brazil explained: what it is and when you need it

Updated on 3 November 2026. This guide is informational and is not legal advice. Rules change and vary by receiving authority, so always confirm with the body in Brazil that will receive your document. We have no affiliation with the bodies cited, and there are no affiliate links.

Quick answer

A Hague apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document: the signature, the capacity of the person who signed and, where relevant, the seal or stamp. Between countries that are party to the Apostille Convention, it replaces consular legalization. If you hold a document issued outside Brazil and need to use it in Brazil:

Check whether the country that issued it is party to the Convention. The HCCH status table lists all Contracting Parties.
If it is, get the apostille in that country, from its competent authority. Brazilian authorities only apostille documents issued in Brazil, according to the CNJ (Brazil’s National Council of Justice). See where to get the apostille.
If it is not, you need consular legalization at a Brazilian embassy or consulate.
Then, a sworn translation into Portuguese made in Brazil. The CNJ states that in Brazil a foreign document, even when apostilled, only produces effects with a sworn translation, and that this translation can only be made in Brazil.

What an apostille does, and what it does not

According to the CNJ, an apostille is a certificate of authenticity issued by a country that is party to the Hague Convention and attached to a public document to attest its origin. It certifies the authenticity of the signature and the capacity in which the signatory acted and, where applicable, of the seal or stamp. It does not certify the content of the document.

It does not translate. Translation is a separate step.
It does not extend the validity of a document. The CNJ says an apostille does not “expire”, but it does not affect the validity of the document either: if a certificate has a validity period, the apostille does not prolong it.
It does not guarantee acceptance. The receiving authority may still ask for a recent certificate, a translation or other formalities.
It is only valid between Contracting Parties.

The Convention was signed in The Hague on 5 October 1961. Brazil acceded to it in December 2015, and the HCCH status table shows that it entered into force for Brazil on 14 August 2016. The table, last updated on 30 June 2026, lists 130 Contracting Parties. Some of them do not have the Convention in force yet (Thailand, for example, from 28 February 2027), so check the entry-into-force column for the country concerned.

Brazil’s CNJ Resolution 228/2016 provides that apostilles issued by other Contracting Parties are accepted throughout Brazil in place of diplomatic or consular legalization.

Apostille or consular legalization?

	Hague apostille	Consular legalization
When it applies	The country that issued the document and Brazil are both party to the Convention	The country that issued the document is not party to the Convention
Who does it	The competent authority of the country that issued the document	Only a Brazilian embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over the place where the document was issued. According to Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry in Brasília and its regional offices cannot legalize foreign documents
Next step in Brazil	Sworn translation in Brazil (and registration where the receiving body requires it)	Sworn translation in Brazil, after legalization

Some bilateral agreements waive legalization altogether. The CNJ mentions France as an example, and the Federal Police page on residence permits lists agreements with a similar effect for specific cases. Ask the Brazilian body that will receive your document whether one applies.

Which documents can be apostilled

Under Article 1 of the Convention, public documents include:

documents from an authority or official connected with a court or tribunal, including those from a public prosecutor, a clerk of a court or a process server;
administrative documents;
notarial acts;
official certificates placed on documents signed by private persons, such as certificates of registration or official authentications of signatures.

The Convention does not apply to documents executed by diplomatic or consular agents, nor to administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations. Each country decides which of its documents can be apostilled.

Digital apostilles (e-Apostilles)

The HCCH states that an e-Apostille is an official apostille issued in digital form, that it cannot be refused simply because it is electronic, and that the same rules apply as for a paper apostille. In practice, confirm with the Brazilian receiving body which format it will accept, and check with the issuing authority in your country whether your document type can receive an e-Apostille.

Foreign documents in Brazil: what usually comes next

Sworn translation. The CNJ and the Federal Police both state that foreign documents, even apostilled, need a sworn translation made in Brazil to produce effects. For the process, see the Portuguese-language guide on sworn translation step by step.
Registration. Brazilian Law 6.015/1973 (Article 129, item 6) subjects foreign documents, together with their translations, to registration in the Registry of Titles and Documents so that they produce effects before public offices and in court. Some bodies accept just the translation, so ask which is required.
Specific procedures. For a visa or residence permit, see our guide to sworn translation for Brazilian visas and residence permits.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Hague apostille?

It is a certificate, issued by a competent authority of a country that is party to the Apostille Convention, that authenticates the origin of a public document: the signature, the capacity of the signatory and the seal or stamp. It replaces consular legalization between Contracting Parties.

Is an apostille the same as legalization?

No. Legalization is the older, multi-step procedure, which still applies when the country involved is not party to the Convention. An apostille is a single certificate that is valid between Contracting Parties.

Does Brazil accept apostilles from my country?

Brazil accepts apostilles issued by Contracting Parties of the Convention in place of consular legalization (CNJ Resolution 228/2016, Article 2). Check the HCCH status table to confirm that your country is a Contracting Party and that the Convention is in force.

Can I get a foreign document apostilled in Brazil?

No. Brazilian authorities only issue apostilles for documents issued in Brazil, according to the CNJ. A foreign document must be apostilled in the country that issued it, and the embassy or consulate of that country can usually explain how.

Does an apostille translate my document?

No. It only authenticates the origin of the document. To use a foreign document in Brazil you will normally also need a sworn translation made in Brazil.

Does an apostille expire?

The CNJ says the apostille itself does not expire, but it does not extend the validity of the document it is attached to. A receiving body may ask for a certificate issued within a certain period.

Can an apostille be electronic?

Yes. The HCCH says an e-Apostille is as valid as a paper apostille and cannot be refused simply because it is electronic. Check with the receiving body in Brazil and with the issuing authority in your country.

What if my country is not party to the Convention?

Then you need consular legalization, done only by a Brazilian embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over the place where the document was issued, followed by a sworn translation in Brazil.