Frequently asked questions

A sworn translation is made by a public translator registered with a Brazilian Commercial Board and carries legal validity. A regular translation has no official status and is used for information or business purposes.

In most cases, yes. A translation signed with an ICP-Brasil digital certificate has the same validity as the paper version. Some consulates and foreign institutions still require paper; we check this with you before starting.

It depends on the language pair, the amount of text, the type of document and the deadline. Send us the document and we will reply with a free, no-obligation quote.

A clear scan is usually enough for the translation itself. To apostille or legalize the document, the original or a certified copy may be required.

Countries party to the Apostille Convention, including Portugal, Italy, Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and China, among many others. Countries outside the Convention require consular legalization.

It depends on the country and the institution. Some accept the apostilled original with a local translation; others require the Brazilian sworn translation to be apostilled too. We confirm this before we start.

The apostille itself does not expire, but many institutions require the underlying document to be recent — for example, certificates issued within the last 90 days or 6 months.

An apostille is always issued in the country that issued the document. For foreign documents to be used in Brazil, we advise on getting the apostille at origin and produce the sworn translation here.

Countries that are not party to the Apostille Convention, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria. The list changes as new countries join the Convention, so we always confirm.

It depends on the consulate: some return documents within days, others take weeks. We give you an estimate with your quote.

In most cases, no. We submit and collect the documents for you.

The result is the same. What changes is where the foreign country provides the service: some handle legalization at the embassy in Brasília, others at consulates in cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

No. We serve clients across Brazil and abroad; documents travel both ways by courier.

Yes. A copy certified by a Brazilian notary is a public document and can receive a Hague apostille.

A Brazilian notary can certify a copy of any document presented in original, but this does not replace the apostille or legalization from the issuing country. We advise case by case.

It depends on the act. Selling property in Brazil, for example, requires a public power of attorney. Many procedures abroad accept a private one with recognised signature and apostille. We check the requirement for your case.

You can execute it at a Brazilian consulate or with a local notary plus apostille. If it is in another language, we produce the sworn translation in Brazil.

It means signing in front of the notary (reconhecimento por autenticidade). It is required for higher-value acts, such as vehicle transfers, and by some countries before an apostille.

We can deliver documents, file requests and collect finished acts. Acts that require your presence or signature depend on you or an authorised representative.

It is a full copy of the registry entry, including all notes and annotations. It is required, for example, in Italian and Portuguese citizenship applications.

Yes. We request it from the Brazilian registry and send it to you, translated and apostilled if you need.

With a name, an approximate date and the city, we can usually locate the record. Sometimes a search across several registries is needed.

We handle the documents in Brazil: certificates, translations and apostilles. The application itself is filed with the consulate, the comune or a lawyer of your choice, and we are happy to work alongside them.

Discrepancies are common. We assess whether the destination authority will accept the difference or whether the record needs to be corrected, and explain the route.

In consecutive interpreting the speaker pauses and the interpreter translates afterwards — ideal for meetings and notary acts. In simultaneous interpreting the interpreter works in real time, usually from a booth with headsets — used at events and conferences.

If the foreign party is not fluent in Portuguese, the registry office requires an interpreter, usually a public sworn translator. We arrange this with the registry office.

For notary acts, a few days is usually enough. For events with simultaneous interpreting, book a few weeks ahead if you can.

Not directly: a sworn translation is produced and signed by the public translator. If you are not sure yet whether you will need one, tell us the purpose and we will recommend the right option from the start.