Sworn translation and apostille: Brazil ⇄ South Africa
A Brazilian document for use in South Africa or a document from South Africa for use in Brazil: step by step, apostille, consulates and sworn translation English ⇄ Portuguese.
5 out of 5 on GoogleStep by step: a Brazilian document for use in South Africa
Used for: Temporary visas and permanent residence (Department of Home Affairs – DHA; applications via the embassy in Brasília or consulate in São Paulo), qualification evaluation (SAQA), study and work
You
Get the right document in Brazil
- Inteiro teor certified copy from the cartório.
- Police certificate: no older than 6 months when submitted.
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We translate it into English
- Complete sworn translation, including stamps and annotations, as a digitally signed PDF.
- The rules ask for a “sworn translator”: check first with the authority that a Brazilian sworn translator is accepted.
OptionalWe request the e-Apostila if required
- Permanent residence: the rules require apostilled documents; others, if asked.
- On the original, only for documents issued in digital form.
- e-Apostila: R$ 119 each
You
Book at the embassy or consulate
- Embassy (Brasília) or consulate (São Paulo), depending on your state of residence.
- Work visa: first have your degree evaluated by SAQA, with the sworn translation.
Translation time: 4 business days (or 24 h with express, when there is capacity); the e-Apostila on the original, where needed, adds 1 business day. Embassy legalisation, where required, is a separate step.
Brazilian documents most often required in South Africa
Which version to get in Brazil and what the authority there requires.
- 01
Police clearance certificate
From each country where you lived 12 months or more after age 18; max. 6 months old.
Some South African missions refuse name-and-date-of-birth-only reports – check first whether these missions accept the online Federal Police certificate.
- 02
Birth certificate (full copy)
For minors and dependants the full (unabridged) version naming the parents is asked for.
- 03
Marriage certificate / divorce decree
Certified copy; some missions apply a 6-month rule to certified documents.
- 04
Degree certificate + academic transcript
SAQA wants the Portuguese document with the sworn translation's stamps and signatures plus the official English translation; never the translation alone.
Price into English: from R$ 139 per document · e-Apostila R$ 119 (on the original or the translation).
Good to know
- Brazilians need no visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business; no translations are involved there.
- For visa renewals inside South Africa only a South African police certificate is required.
What the authority requires from the translation
Check with the authority first
- Home Affairs (visas and residence): translation certified as correct by a “sworn translator”, with stamp and signature.
- There, sworn translators are sworn in by a High Court: ask the embassy first whether a Brazilian sworn translator is accepted.
- Permanent residence: the document also needs an apostille – we add the e-Apostila.
Embassy and consulates of South Africa in Brazil
Brazilian documents are apostilled at a cartório in Brazil; the embassy is only involved where the country requires legalisation.
Since 1 Sep 2026 DIRCO no longer serves walk-ins: book online before going to Pretoria.
Step by step: a document from South Africa for Brazil
Apostille or legalisation? South Africa is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention: the document gets the apostille in the issuing country and is valid in Brazil without the consulate. Then we do the sworn translation. The difference in 30 seconds →
You
Get the right document
- Birth, marriage and death: unabridged certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
- Police clearance certificate: SAPS, max. 6 months old for the Apostille.
- Qualifications: verification letter (Umalusi/DBE for matric, SAQA for higher education, QCTO occupational).
Get the apostille
- DHA, SAPS and verification letters: DIRCO Legalisation Section (OR Tambo Building, Pretoria), free.
- DIRCO: in person only with an online booking, or by courier (3–4 weeks).
- Contracts, powers of attorney, notarial documents: High Court registrar, not DIRCO.
traduzme does this for you
We do the sworn translation
- Send a photo or PDF of the apostilled document.
- Digitally signed PDF, valid throughout Brazil.
- Stamps and the Apostille are translated too; no consulate step needed.
You
Submit it to the Brazilian authority
- Cartório, Federal Police, university, Junta Comercial …
- Some ask for registration at Títulos e Documentos (RTD): ask first.
The 4 business days (or 24 h with express, when there is capacity that day) are for the translation. The apostille or legalisation in the issuing country takes extra time – start early.
Common documents from South Africa
Name in Portuguese, name as it appears on the original and what to watch out for.
- 01
Birth certificate – unabridged
ENUnabridged Birth Certificate – Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
Shows the parents; DIRCO does not accept abridged printouts without the issuing official's signature and stamp.
- 02
Marriage certificate – unabridged
ENUnabridged Marriage Certificate – DHA
- 03
Death certificate
ENUnabridged Death Certificate – DHA
- 04
Police clearance certificate
ENPolice Clearance Certificate – SAPS Criminal Record Centre
Fingerprint-based; for the DIRCO Apostille it must be no older than 6 months.
DIRCO warns against unregistered agents.
- 05
Letter of no impediment
ENLetter of No Impediment – DHA
Valid for 6 months.
- 06
Degree / matric certificate
ENMatric (NSC) – Umalusi/DBE · degree – SAQA verification letter
The Apostille goes on the verification letter, not on the certificate itself.
Prices: certificates, diplomas and ID documents R$ 129 · transcripts and powers of attorney from R$ 139.
Good to know
- Always order the unabridged version – the abridged one does not show the parents and is often refused.
- High Court and DIRCO are separate routes: do not submit a High Court Apostille to DIRCO, and vice versa.
- From abroad, documents that go straight to DIRCO (DHA, SAPS) can be lodged through a South African mission with a cover letter naming the destination country (Brazil).
- Dates on South African documents usually follow DD/MM/YYYY or YYYY/MM/DD.
Embassies and addresses
Brazil’s mission in the country
Mission of South Africa in Brazil
Does not apostille or legalise documents for Brazil.
Brazilian missions: checked on gov.br in Nov 2026. Foreign missions: check their website before you go.
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Questions: Brazil ⇄ South Africa
Special cases: certified translation, USCIS, IRCC, driving licence, diploma and more →
Overview and calculator: sworn translation English ⇄ Portuguese →
How do I use a Brazilian document in South Africa?
How do I apostille or legalise a document from South Africa for use in Brazil?
Where is Brazil’s mission in South Africa?
Sources consulted
- hcch.net · status table
- dirco.gov.za · legalisation services
- hcch.net · details3
- lawlibrary.org.za · r413
- visa.vfsglobal.com · Documents Checklist for GENERAL WORK VISA Shangh
- africadosul.org.br
- dirco1.azurewebsites.net · brazil
- gov.br · fale conosco 1
- dha.gov.za · ImmigrationRegulations2014 Updated2018 compresse
- africadosul.org.br · passaportes e vistos
- saqa.org.za · What you will need to apply
- dirco.gov.za · basic application information and requirements
Last reviewed: 6 November 2026, by Benedikt Schober (traduzme) · Rules and addresses checked against the official sources cited for each country.
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