Where to get an apostille for a document for use in Brazil (US, UK, Canada, Australia)
Updated on 3 November 2026. This guide is informational and is not legal advice. Authorities, fees and processing times change and vary by document type, so confirm on the official page of the issuing authority and with the Brazilian body that will receive your document. We have no affiliation with the bodies cited, and there are no affiliate links.
Quick answer
A document that will be used in Brazil must be apostilled in the country that issued it, by that country’s competent authority. Brazilian authorities only apostille documents issued in Brazil, according to the CNJ (Brazil’s National Council of Justice). The usual order is:
- Ask the Brazilian body (Federal Police, a registry, a school, a court) which documents it needs and in what form. Some want a recent certificate, and the apostille does not make an old document newer.
- Get the document from the original issuer (a registry office, a court, a state agency).
- Get the apostille from the authority that handles that type of document in your country (see below).
- Bring the document to Brazil and have it translated by a sworn translator in Brazil. The CNJ states that a foreign document, even apostilled, only produces effects in Brazil with a sworn translation made there.
If you are not sure what an apostille is, start with Hague apostille for Brazil explained.
Who issues the apostille: four common countries
Each country sets its own authority. The table summarises what the official pages say as of 3 November 2026. Always open the link, because fees, formats and rules change.
| Country | Who issues it | Key points from the official page |
|---|---|---|
| United States | The Secretary of State of the state that issued the document; for federal documents, the U.S. Department of State | USAGov says state documents go to that state’s Secretary of State and federal documents to the Department of State |
| United Kingdom | The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office | GOV.UK lists £45 for a paper apostille and £35 for an e-Apostille, with standard service taking up to 25 working days and e-Apostille up to 2 working days. Birth, marriage and similar General Register Office certificates cannot receive an e-Apostille |
| Canada | Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for federal documents and for documents issued or notarised in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island and Yukon. Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan issue their own | Global Affairs Canada says Canada joined the Convention on 11 January 2024. Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan issue apostilles for any notarised document; British Columbia and Quebec only for documents issued in the province. GAC does not charge for the service and needs paper originals |
| Australia | The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through Australian Passport Offices in capital cities | DFAT says it cannot tell you whether you need an apostille, so ask the Brazilian receiving body |
If your country is not in the table, check the HCCH list of competent authorities, which names the authority designated by each Contracting Party.
Step by step
- Confirm your country is party to the Convention. Use the HCCH status table and look at the entry-into-force date. If it is not, you need consular legalization at a Brazilian embassy or consulate instead.
- Check what type of document you have. In some countries a private document, such as a letter or a copy, must first be notarised or certified before it can be apostilled. A court or registry document may go to a different authority than a notarised one. The official pages above explain the split.
- Use the right original. Check the issuing authority’s rules on originals and copies. Global Affairs Canada, for example, needs paper originals.
- Apply and pay following the issuing authority’s instructions, and note the processing time. Do not quote or rely on third-party prices: use the official page.
- Check the apostille. Make sure the document, the name spellings and the dates are right before you leave the country, because correcting them later costs time.
- Translate in Brazil. Take the apostilled document to a sworn translator in Brazil. Ask the translator whether the apostille and stamps will be included in the translation. See the Portuguese guide to sworn translation step by step.
Common mistakes
- Translating abroad. A translation made outside Brazil does not replace a sworn translation made in Brazil for use in Brazil, according to the CNJ.
- Expecting the apostille to validate old documents. The apostille does not prolong a document’s validity. For some Brazilian procedures, certificates must be recent. The Federal Police refers to a 90-day period for criminal-record certificates in residence applications, although the authority may accept older ones.
- Applying to the wrong authority. Federal and state documents often go to different places, and in Canada the provincial rules differ.
- Skipping the pre-check. Brazil has a few bilateral agreements that waive legalization or translation for certain nationalities and procedures. The Federal Police stresses that you cannot combine rules from different agreements, so ask the receiving body first.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get an apostille for a document I will use in Brazil?
From the competent authority of the country that issued the document, not from Brazil. The authority differs by country and by document type: for example, in the United States a state Secretary of State for state documents, and in the United Kingdom the FCDO Legalisation Office.
Can the Brazilian consulate apostille my document?
No. The CNJ states that Brazilian consulates and embassies do not provide apostille services, and that Brazilian authorities only apostille documents issued in Brazil. A Brazilian consulate abroad legalizes documents from countries that are not party to the Convention.
Do I translate my document before or after the apostille?
For a foreign document that will be used in Brazil, you apostille it in the issuing country and then have it translated by a sworn translator in Brazil. A sworn translation made abroad is not a substitute.
Does every document need its own apostille?
In general, yes. The CNJ explains for Brazilian documents that each document with different signatures is apostilled separately, and the same logic usually applies abroad. Check the issuing authority’s page for the document types it handles.
How long does an apostille take?
It depends on the country and the service. As an example, the UK page lists up to 25 working days for the standard paper service and up to 2 working days for an e-Apostille. Check the issuing authority’s page for the current time.
Does an apostille expire?
The CNJ says that the apostille itself does not expire but does not extend the validity of the document. The Brazilian receiving body may require a recent certificate, so check before you order.
What if my country is not party to the Convention?
Then the document needs consular legalization by a Brazilian embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over the place where it was issued. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that its offices in Brazil cannot legalize foreign documents.
Can I use an electronic apostille in Brazil?
The HCCH says an e-Apostille cannot be refused simply because it is electronic, but confirm with the Brazilian body, and with your country’s authority whether your document can receive one. In the United Kingdom, for example, some certificates cannot.
Read also
- Hague apostille for Brazil explained
- Sworn translation for a Brazilian visa or residence permit
- Recommendations (hub)
- In Portuguese: Onde apostilar documento no Brasil, for documents issued in Brazil
Informational content based on public sources consulted on 3 November 2026. We do not provide apostille or translation services, and this is not legal advice.