Hague Apostille: when you need it and how to request it

An apostille is a certificate established by the 1961 Hague Convention that confirms the authenticity of a public document issued in one country so that it has effect in another. Brazil and Portugal are both parties to the Convention, which removes the need for the old consular legalisation: a properly apostilled Brazilian document is, as a rule, accepted by the Portuguese authorities.

The documents that most often need an apostille in proceedings in Portugal are birth, marriage and death certificates, criminal records, diplomas and academic transcripts, powers of attorney and company documents. Each Portuguese authority may have specific requirements, such as the type of certificate (for example, a full-content certificate) or the accepted issue date.

In Brazil, apostilles are issued by authorised notary offices and must be applied to the original document or to a certified copy, as applicable. When the document is going to be translated, it is important to check whether the translation also needs certification. An apostille applied to the wrong document or to an outdated version of the certificate means the procedure has to be repeated.

Before requesting the apostille, it is worth confirming exactly which documents your case requires, in which version and with what validity. This check saves time and costs, especially when the documents have to be handled remotely. This article is for information only and does not replace a legal consultation.