Apostille and Sworn Translation in Brazil: Preparing Parent Company Documents

Almost every corporate step a foreign parent takes in Brazil starts with a document issued abroad: the certificate of incorporation, the articles, a board resolution, a power of attorney. Before a Brazilian registry, the Federal Revenue or a bank will accept it, the document usually needs two things: an apostille (or consular legalization) in the country where it was issued, and a sworn translation into Portuguese made in Brazil. Getting the order wrong, or the wrong translator, is one of the most common reasons why a subsidiary’s incorporation or a change of administrators takes weeks longer than planned. This guide explains what each step is, who does it and how to prepare.

Two steps, two countries

A frequent misunderstanding is that the apostille can be obtained in Brazil. Brazilian notary offices issue apostilles on Brazilian documents going abroad. A document issued by the parent company’s country must be apostilled there, before it is sent to Brazil.

The apostille

Brazil joined the Hague Apostille Convention, which entered into force for the country on August 14, 2016 (Decree 8,660/2016). For documents from other member countries, the apostille replaces the old chain of consular legalization. Most of Brazil’s main investment partners, including the United States, the European Union countries, the United Kingdom, Japan and China, are parties to the Convention; the Hague Conference keeps the official list.

For countries that are not parties, documents still need consular legalization at the Brazilian consulate in the country of origin. A few bilateral agreements simplify the process: the Brazil–France agreement (Decree 3,598/2000) exempts certain public documents from legalization, and an agreement with Uruguay was promulgated in 2025 (Decree 12,621/2025). Neither exempts the document from sworn translation.

What gets apostilled matters. Private documents, such as a board resolution or a power of attorney signed by a director, are usually notarized first, and the apostille is then placed on the notarial certificate. The Commercial Registry and the bank will look at the apostille, not only at the document.

The sworn translation

Since Law 14,195/2021, sworn translators are called public translators and interpreters (tradutores e intérpretes públicos). Translating documents to be presented to Brazilian public bodies and notary or registry offices is reserved to them, and a translation by anyone else has no legal standing before those bodies. The original must accompany the translation, and translations may be issued electronically.

Some practical points:

• The translator translates everything, including the apostille, seals and stamps on the document.
• There is no general exemption for English or Spanish documents before the Commercial Registry. Since 2024, DREI rules accept a bilingual document in two columns (Portuguese and the foreign language) without a separate translation, but the apostille or legalization is still required.
• Identity documents of foreign individuals are excepted from these requirements under the DREI rule for the Commercial Registry.
• Translations are not cheap or instant. Fees are charged per page or per word, and long articles of association take time. Asking for bilingual documents prepared in the parent’s country can save both.

For documents to have effect before public bodies and courts, the Public Registries Law also requires the registration of foreign documents and their translations with a Registry of Deeds and Documents (Registro de Títulos e Documentos). Whether this extra step is needed depends on how the document will be used; the Commercial Registry and the Federal Revenue apply their own rules.

Where the parent’s documents are used

The Commercial Registry (Junta Comercial)

Under DREI rules, a quotaholder or administrator resident abroad must appoint a representative in Brazil by power of attorney, and a foreign legal entity quotaholder must also prove its incorporation and legal existence. These documents, issued abroad, must be apostilled or legalized and translated by a public translator. See how to set up a subsidiary in Brazil.

The Federal Revenue (CNPJ of the foreign parent)

A foreign company that holds an interest in a Brazilian entity must register in the Brazilian taxpayer register (CNPJ) and appoint a representative domiciled in Brazil with powers to represent it before the Federal Revenue. The registration requires the parent’s constitutive document and proof of the powers of its representatives, apostilled or legalized and translated. The CNPJ can be declared unfit if the representative is missing or cannot be located. The parent must also inform its beneficial owners.

Banks

Banks apply their own know-your-customer rules when the subsidiary opens an account or closes foreign exchange contracts with the parent. They usually ask for the same corporate documents and may request recent versions. Requirements vary by bank and are worth checking early.

A checklist for headquarters

1. List the documents needed for the step ahead (incorporation, change of administrators, capital increase) with the Brazilian team before anyone signs.
2. Prepare them, if possible, in bilingual format with a Portuguese column.
3. Have private documents notarized, then apostilled in the country of origin (or legalized at the Brazilian consulate).
4. Send the originals, or the electronic apostille, to Brazil and commission the sworn translation.
5. Keep certified copies of the parent’s standing documents on file in Brazil, because the same documents are requested again for each corporate change and by banks.
6. Recent documents are usually expected; there is no general legal validity period, but registries and banks may reject old certificates.

How Solidy can help

Solidy already serves subsidiaries of multinational companies in Brazil. We tell headquarters which documents are needed for each corporate act, coordinate apostille, sworn translation and filings, and keep the parent’s documents and powers of attorney up to date for the Commercial Registry, the Federal Revenue and banks. Talk to our market entry team or read how to open a company in Brazil as a foreigner.