Apostille / Legalization
Brazil and South Africa are members of the Apostille Convention (The Hague Convention) which abolishes the traditional document legalization requirement, replacing the process with the issuance of a single Apostille Certificate by a competent authority from where the document originates.
In South Africa, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the High Court of South Africa are the competent authorities. Detailed information on the process is available here: http://www.dirco.gov.za/consular/legalisation.htm
Documents apostilled by DIRCO:
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificates
- Death Certificates
- Letters of Non-Impediment
- Police Clearance Certificates
- School and transfer Certificates
- Medical Certificates
- Confirmation letters issued by the Traffic Department
- Export related documents
- Divorce decrees and settlement agreements
- Documents regarding the registration of companies and close corporations, registration of patent designs, trademarks and copyrights
- Confirmation letters of Citizenship / Naturalization
- Adoption papers
- Qualification Certificates
Documents apostilled by the High Court of South Africa (via a Notary Public):
- Sworn translations
- Certified copies
- Powers of attorney
- Proof of life forms
- Minor travel consent forms
- Passport for minors consent forms
- Prenuptial contracts
Documents issued in South Africa
South African documents to be valid in Brazil need to be apostilled by DIRCO or the High Court of South Africa, depending on their nature, and translated in Brazil by a sworn translator.
Documents issued in Brazil
Brazilian documents to be valid in South Africa must be apostilled by an authorized Cartório (registry/notary office) and translated in South Africa by a sworn translator.
Please note:
1. Certified copies of South African diplomas, certificates and other documents might not be accepted by some public or private Brazilian institutions, even if an apostille certificate was issued.
2. Documents in a foreign language, duly apostilled and translated, must be registered at a Cartório de Registro de Títulos e Escrituras e Documentos in order to take effect in Brazil.