Fees and steps checked on
Brazil certificate attestation is the chain that makes a Brazilian certidão de casamento, certidão de nascimento, diploma or company document valid in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates. The document is attested by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its equivalent, translated from Portuguese, then attested by the UAE Consulate General in São Paulo, which issues a digital attestation that already counts as MOFA attestation in the UAE.
Price: send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price plus VAT, all official fees included, before any work starts. Translation from Portuguese is part of every Brazilian file, so the quote covers it too. See attestation fees.
Apostila de Haia versus UAE attestation
Brazil joined the Apostille Convention in August 2016, and since then cartórios issue the apostila for use in member countries. The UAE is not a member. The UAE consulate's own page says Brazilian documents must be attested by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs "or equivalent". Whether a cartório apostille is accepted as that equivalent for your document is not stated, so we confirm it on your copy. In Brazil, legalisation for countries outside the Convention is handled by the Itamaraty legalisation sector. See attestation vs apostille.
The Brazilian route, step by step
- Cartório. The civil registry issues a recent certidão, or a notary recognises the signature on a power of attorney.
- Sworn translation (tradução juramentada). Portuguese into English or Arabic, as the São Paulo consulate asks for a legal translation of civil certificates.
- Ministry of Education. For diplomas, where required.
- Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or equivalent. The Brazilian attestation the UAE side looks for.
- UAE Consulate General in São Paulo. You apply on the UAE MOFA website with UAE PASS, choose Brazil, pay online, then book an appointment by email or WhatsApp and present the original. The attested document arrives by email.
Brazilian documents and what they need
| Document (Portuguese name) | Translation | Steps in Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| Certidão de casamento (marriage) | Yes, sworn translation | Cartório, foreign ministry or equivalent |
| Certidão de nascimento (birth) | Yes, sworn translation | Cartório, foreign ministry or equivalent |
| Diploma de graduação (degree) | Yes | University, education ministry where needed, foreign ministry |
| Histórico escolar (transcript) | Yes | University, foreign ministry |
| Procuração (power of attorney) | Yes | Notary, foreign ministry or equivalent |
| Contrato social (company contract) | Yes | Junta Comercial, foreign ministry (UAE commercial fee) |
All official fees are included in our total price.
Portuguese names on UAE paperwork
Brazilian names are long and often include both parents' surnames, and a married name may appear only on the certidão de casamento. UAE visas and Emirates IDs use the passport name. When the certidão and passport differ, the sworn translation should show the name exactly as written, and you keep a passport copy in the file. Accents (ã, ç, é) are often dropped in UAE systems, which is normal.
Doing it from Dubai
You do not need to fly to Brazil. The original goes by courier to São Paulo, where it is translated, taken through the Brazilian step and presented at the consulate, then returned. MOFA allows anyone to apply on your behalf. If you also need an English version for a UAE employer, a UAE legal translation can be added.
Where people use Brazilian documents in the UAE
Most Brazilian files are family files: a marriage certificate for a spouse visa, a birth certificate for a child's visa or school place in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Professionals also attest a diploma for a skilled work permit, and investors attest a contrato social or procuração to open a company or bank account. Tell us the use when you send the copy, because it decides which documents and which translations you actually need.
Holding a second set of papers from Argentina? The route is on Argentina certificate attestation, and both sets can go into one request.
Common problems with Brazilian documents
- Old certidões. Some offices want a recently issued certidão. Order the new one before translation, not after.
- Apostille treated as the end. It is not, for the UAE.
- One translation for several documents. Each document is translated and attested on its own.
- Lamination. Refused.
For a spouse visa, see marriage certificate attestation; for a child, birth certificate attestation.
