Legalization of Documents (Apostille)
Due to the implementation in Brazil of the 1961 Hague Convention (“The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents,” known as the “Apostille Convention”), Brazilian Consulates will no longer legalize foreign documents issued by countries that are also a party to the 1961 Hague Convention.
As the United States of America is a party to the Convention, the Consulate General of Brazil in Chicago will no longer legalize documents issued in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota e Wisconsin, which will be accepted in Brazil only with an apostille issued by the competent authority in these states.
The Consulate General of Brazil in Chicago will continue to legalize the following:
- signatures from Brazilian nationals and foreigners who have RNE (“Registro Nacional de Estrangeiro”) or CNRM ("Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório"); and
- photocopies of Brazilian documents.
Foreign documents legalized by Brazilian Consulates and Embassies by August 14th, 2016, will be valid in Brazil until February 14th, 2017 (article 20 of the Resolução CNJ nº 228, from 06/22/2016). From then on, documents will only be valid if legalized by the competent foreign authority.
Examples of documents that will no longer be legalized by the Consulate and need to be certified with an apostille by the competent authorities:
Public documents issued by foreign institutions (American and from Bermuda Islands):
a. Birth, marriage, and death certificates;
b. Notarial acts (public power of attorney, will, etc.);
c. Court documents (adoption, divorce, custody of minors, etc.);
d. Documents issued by schools and universities.
Private documents previously certified by Notary Public and County Clerk:
a. Private power of attorney;
b. Private statements;
c. Travel authorization forms, except for Brazilian citizens and foreign nationals who have “RNE” and attend in person to the Consulate to proceed the signature authentication;
d. Authorization forms to issue passports for minors, except for Brazilians and foreign nationals who have RNE and attend in person to the Consulate, to proceed the signature authentication;
e. Life certificate forms.
COMPETENT AUTHORITIES TO ISSUE THE APOSTILLE
Illinois: https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/apostilles.html
Indiana: http://www.in.gov/sos/business/4096.htm
Iowa: https://sos.iowa.gov/
Missouri: https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Business/Notary/notary/certify
Michigan:https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_95527_95530---,00.html
Minnesota: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/notary-apostille/apostille-authentication/?searchTerm=apostille
Nebraska: https://sos.nebraska.gov/business-services/apostilles-and-authentications
North Dakota: http://sos.nd.gov/notaries-public/authentications-apostille-and-certification
South Dakota: https://sdsos.gov/general-services/apostilles-authentications.aspx
Wisconsin: https://sos.wi.gov/apostilles.htm
APOSTILLE IN BRAZILIAN DOCUMENTS
The Consulate General recalls that Brazilian documents will only be accepted in the United States and Bermuda Islands after receiving an apostille issued by authorized notaries in Brazil. The Consulate General does not issue apostilles for Brazilian documents.
To find out which notary offices are authorized to apostille Brazilian documents, access this page: https://www.cnj.jus.br/poder-judiciario/relacoes-internacionais/apostila-da-haia/cartorios-autorizados/.
CONTACTS
If you have any questions regarding this subject, contact the Consulate-General at notarial.chicago@itamaraty.gov.br. You can also contact the National Council of Justice (CNJ) at ouvidoria@cnj.jus.br.
Address for in-person or mail contact:
Ouvidoria do Conselho Nacional de Justiça
SEPN 514, BLOCO B, lote 7, sala 11 – Brasilia/DF-
CEP 70760-542
Hours: from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday-Friday