Legalization and Authentication of Documents
ATTENTION: in-person services are available by appointment only, scheduled via e-consular system.
LEGALIZATION AND AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS
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 no longer legalize foreign documents issued by countries which are also parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.
Therefore, the Consulate General of Brazil in Washington, DC, does not:
1) Legalize public documents issued by countries that subscribed the 1961 Hague Convention;
2) Recognize or authenticate signatures of non-Brazilian foreign nationals (except for those holding a valid RNE - Brazilian Residence Card);
3) Authenticate copy of any document that was not issued by an office or a branch of the Brazilian Government.
As the United States of America is a party to the Convention, documents issued in the United States will be accepted in Brazil only with an Apostille issued by the competent authority in the United States, such as the Secretary of State.
All foreign nationals (except those holding a valid RNE) must have their signatures notarized by a local notary public and apostilled by the Secretary of State (please see list below) that issued the public commission to such a notary.
1) Consular Authentication
The Consulate General of Brazil in Washington will continue to authenticate:
a) Signatures from Brazilian nationals and foreigners with a non-expired "RNE" (Registro Nacional de Estrangeiro) upon presentation of the original Brazilian identification document*; and
b) Photocopies of Brazilian documents (accompanied by the original)
*Foreign nationals without a valid RNE must have their signatures notarized by a local notary public and apostilled by the Secretary of State (please see list below)
For authentication of one's signature service, it is required an appointment via https://ec-washington.itamaraty.gov.br/. On the designated date, it is necessary to bring:
a original identification document (a document with photo and signature);
the document in which you want the sign to be authenticated;
a "signature form" filled in but NOT SIGNED (it must be signed in front of the consular agent);
a US$ 20.00 USPS money order per sign to be authenticated.
Brazilian documents photocopy authentication service, can only be provided by mail, which will require mailing to the Consulate General:
the original document to the authenticated;
the exact copy of the original document (only one copy per page; whenever possible, print front and back sides of the document on the same page);
a US$ 5.00 USPS money order per copy to be authenticated;
a return pre-paid flat rate envelope with your name and address in the "TO:" section. We suggest USPS Priority or Priority Express services.
Send required documents listed above to the following address:
Consulate General of Brazil
1030 15th Street, NW – Suite 280W
Washington, DC 20005
ATTN: Setor de Legalizações
2) Apostille
Examples of documents which will no longer be legalized by the Consulate General (and must be certified with an Apostille by the competent local authorities instead):
i) Public documents issued by foreign / USA institutions, such as:
- Birth, marriage and death certificates;
- Notary acts (signature of foreigners, public power of attorney, will, etc.);
- Court documents such as adoption, divorce, custody of minors, legal change of name etc.; or
- Documents issued by schools and universities
ii) Private documents previously certified by a Notary Public and a County Clerk, such as:
- Private power of attorney;
- Private statements;
- Travel authorization forms (except for Brazilian citizens and foreign nationals who hold a valid "RNE" and attend in person to the Consulate General, presenting such original Brazilian identification document) in order to proceed the signature authentication. *Foreign nationals without a valid RNE must have their signatures notarized by a local notary public and apostilled by the Secretary of State (please see list below)*;
- Authorization forms to issue passports for minors (except for Brazilians and foreign nationals who hold a valid "RNE" and attend in person to the Consulate General, presenting such original Brazilian identification document) in order to proceed the signature authentication. *Foreign nationals without a valid RNE must have their signatures notarized by a local notary public and apostilled by the Secretary of State (please see list below)*;
- Life certificate forms
IMPORTANT NOTE: Foreign documents legalized by Brazilian Consulates by August 14th, 2016 were valid in Brazil until February 14th, 2017 (as per Article 20 of the 'Resolução CNJ nº 228', dated 06/22/2016). From then on, documents shall only be valid if legalized by the competent foreign authority.
For information on the validity of the Apostille Convention by Brazil, please contact the CNJ Ombudsman Office (Ouvidoria):
https://www.cnj.jus.br/ouvidoria-cnj/
Tel : +55 (61) 2326-4607 / 2326-4608
ÂncoraPLEASE CONTACT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHERE THE DOCUMENT WAS ISSUED IN ORDER TO REQUEST AN "APOSTILLE":
Delaware:
(302) 739-3073
https://corp.delaware.gov/apost_info/
District of Columbia (Washington, DC):
(202) 727-3117
https://os.dc.gov/service/authentications
Kentucky:
(502) 564-3490
http://www.sos.ky.gov/bus/businessrecords/Pages/Apostilles-and-Authentications.aspx
Maryland:
(410) 974-5521
https://sos.maryland.gov/Certifications/Pages/default.aspx
North Carolina:
(919) 814-5400
https://www.sosnc.gov/divisions/authentications/Apostille_Certificates
Ohio:
(614) 466-3910 / (877) 767-6446
https://ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/site/government/resources/document-authentication-and-certification
Virginia:
(804) 692-0114
https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/official-documents/authentications/
West Virginia:
(304) 558-6000 / 8000 / (866) 767-8683
https://sos.wv.gov/business/Pages/AuthDocs.aspx
Other cases:
U.S. State Department, Office of Authentications
(202) 485-8000
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/authentications-and-apostilles.html