Apostille certification, also known as the Hague Apostille, is a legal procedure that ensures documents are valid between various countries that are part of the Hague Convention. Created to streamline and simplify document legalization, this treaty eliminates the need for complex validations and authentications, allowing documents issued in one country to be accepted in another without additional bureaucracy.
For Brazilian immigrants in the U.S., this process is essential as it ensures the validity of documents for situations like education, marriage, divorce, and immigration processes. If you need further assistance with the process, contact us for a free consultation.
Where Must the Document Be Apostilled?
For the apostille to be valid, it must be completed in the document’s country of origin. This means:
- Brazilian Documents for Use Abroad: Must be apostilled in Brazil and translated to be valid in the U.S. or any other Hague Convention country.
- Foreign Documents for Use in Brazil or Other Hague Convention Countries: Must be apostilled in the country where they were issued to be valid in Brazil or any other treaty-participating country.
Therefore, if you have American documents that you wish to use in Brazil, the apostille must be done in the U.S. If you need help apostilling American documents or translating Brazilian documents, our team is here to guide you.
What Documents Are Needed for Apostille Certification?
For the apostille process, having the original document is essential. Each type of document may have specific requirements, and our team is here to help ensure that everything is compliant with the necessary standards.
Commonly apostilled documents include:
- Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates
- Diplomas and academic transcripts
- Identity documents, passports, and criminal background checks
If you need help identifying which documents to prepare or how to initiate the process, we offer a free consultation to guide you.
Situations When You May Need Apostille Certification
Apostille certification is required in various situations to validate documents across countries. Here are some common examples:
Marriage or Divorce Conducted Abroad
If you were married in Brazil and are getting divorced in the U.S., you will need to apostille your U.S.-issued divorce certificate for it to be valid in Brazil. Likewise, any marriage conducted abroad will require apostille certification to be recognized in Brazil.
Continuing Your Education
For those who studied in the U.S. and wish for their degree to be valid in Brazil or another country, it’s necessary to apostille diplomas, school transcripts, and other educational documents. This ensures that your qualifications are legally recognized, opening doors to educational and professional opportunities in Brazil.
Immigration Processes
In immigration cases, many personal documents, such as birth certificates and identity documents, need to be apostilled to be accepted in official immigration processes.
In any of these situations, our team is ready to provide support, ensuring your documents are complete and prepared for apostille certification.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The time for apostille certification can vary depending on the urgency and the type of service you select. We offer several options to fit your needs:
- Standard: 12 to 20 business days
- Expedited: Approximately 1 week, including mailing time
- Urgent: For emergency cases, we offer a service where we personally pick up the document for the client and handle the entire apostille process. This way, the document can be delivered the same or next day, depending on timing.