Two countries
Apostille from Brazil to United States
At a glance
Can a document from Brazil be used in the United States?
| Result | Apostille applies. |
|---|---|
| Brazil | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| United States | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Apostille issued by | National Council of Justice (Conselho Nacional de Justiça, CNJ), with the notarial and registry offices (cartórios) authorised under the judiciary2 |
| Fee in Brazil | Not published by the office (all documents)2 |
| Processing time in Brazil | Not published by the office2 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from Brazil ready for the United States
- Search the National Council of Justice list for an authorised notarial or registry office in your state and city.2
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in the United States that asked for it.
Situations
When the answer changes
- Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
- The other direction. For a document from the United States used in Brazil, the apostille or legalisation starts in the United States. Check United States to Brazil
Note: What the apostille confirms
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about documents from Brazil for the United States
Is an apostille from Brazil accepted in the United States?
Yes. An apostille from Brazil is enough for the United States: both are members of the Apostille Convention (Brazil since 14 August 2016, the United States since 15 October 1981). The apostille is issued in Brazil by National Council of Justice, with the notarial and registry offices (cartórios) authorised under the judiciary and 0 other offices. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.
Who issues the apostille for a document from Brazil?
National Council of Justice (Conselho Nacional de Justiça, CNJ), with the notarial and registry offices (cartórios) authorised under the judiciary. The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in the United States.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in Brazil. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.
Does the United States also need a translation?
The office in the United States that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Brazil - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Decisão da Corregedoria da Justiça (TJPR)
- Notification regarding the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP), No 3 of 2021
- United States of America - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Requesting Authentication Services
- Request for Authentications Service (DS-4194)
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
Every fact on this page links to the source it was taken from. Read how we check facts.
Related