How to update your Brazilian documents after changing your name due to U.S. Citizenship

The official document proving you have acquired U.S. citizenship through naturalization is the Certificate of Naturalization, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This is a federal administrative act conducted by USCIS, an agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, rather than a court-ordered name change.

If your name or surname was changed as part of the formal naturalization process and is explicitly stated on your Certificate of Naturalization, please note that this change is not automatically reflected in your Brazilian civil records. To update your name in Brazil, a formal judicial request must be filed.

How to formally request recognition of your new name

A name change abroad does not automatically alter your Brazilian civil registry. Therefore, to update your Brazilian documents, any citizen who changed their name due to U.S. naturalization must file a judicial action for the rectification of civil records (ação judicial de retificação de registro civil) in Brazil.

Only after a court decision is issued will it be possible to:

1. Update your records at the competent Civil Registry Office (Cartório).

2. Subsequently update your CPF (Tax ID) and Voter Registration Card.

Can this be done directly at a Cartório?

Administrative updates at a Cartório are only permitted for specific cases provided by law, such as marriage, divorce, or recognition of parentage.

A name change resulting from foreign naturalization is not considered an automatic update. Since it involves a voluntary change of legal identity, judicial oversight is required under Brazilian law.

Our Services

If you changed your name or surname upon acquiring U.S. citizenship, we can assist you with every step of the legal process in Brazil. You do not need to travel to Brazil or visit a Consulate in person.

To receive a quote and learn more about the step-by-step process for regularizing your personal documents, click here.