Beginning August 2016, Brazilian authorities will accept foreign-issued documents legalized with an apostille. Once the formal statement is implemented, the lengthier consular legalization process will no longer be required.
What is an apostille?
An "apostille" is a form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that participate in the Hague Convention of 1961. A list of countries that accept apostilles is provided by the U.S. State Department.
Why is having an apostille so important?
An apostille reduces the time consuming formalities of legalization to the delivery of a certificate in a prescribed form, entitled "Apostille," by the authorities of the State where the document originates. This certificate, placed on the document, is dated, numbered and registered.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact the Regional Immigration Manager, Americas, Laura Taggart.