Registration at the Consulate or in Brazil? Find out the best option for your Marriage Abroad

Every Brazilian citizen who gets married abroad is required to register the marriage in Brazil. The law does not establish a specific deadline; however, without registration, the individual may face difficulties renewing a passport, updating their CPF, or even receiving inheritances or purchasing property in Brazil.

Currently, the registration can be done either at the Brazilian Consulate closest to your residence or directly in Brazil through a remote process.

Below, we explain the differences between each option.

Registration at the Consulate

Each consulate has the autonomy to define how the foreign marriage registration process is conducted. However, the required documents are generally the same, with only minor variations.

The main documents include:

• Original marriage certificate – if issued in the same country where registration is requested, apostille is not required. If issued in another country, it must be apostilled and accompanied by a sworn translation into Portuguese;

• Brazilian spouse: Brazilian passport or ID (RG);

• Brazilian spouse: updated birth certificate (issued within the last 6 months);

• Foreign spouse: valid passport or identity document issued by a foreign authority;

• Foreign spouse: full birth certificate (long form), including place of birth and parents’ names.

The processing time is approximately 14 days from the date all required documents are fully submitted through the e-Consular system.

Once approved, it will be necessary to schedule an in-person appointment at the Consulate. Only the Brazilian spouse is required to attend in person, bringing the original versions of all submitted documents. The Consular Marriage Certificate will be issued on the same day of the appointment.

At the consulate, you will receive a Consular Marriage Certificate. This is a “temporary” document that must later be transcribed in Brazil (as explained below).

Registration in Brazil

If you choose not to proceed through the Consulate, it is possible to complete the entire process remotely in Brazil.

However, you will need to physically send the foreign marriage certificate, duly apostilled in the country where it was issued and translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator (we can assist with this if needed).

At the end of the process, your original foreign certificate will be returned along with your definitive Brazilian marriage certificate.

Required documents:

• Foreign marriage certificate (physical copy);

• Brazilian spouse’s birth certificate (PDF);

• Proof of residence abroad (PDF).

In this case, both the registration and transcription of your foreign marriage will be completed, and your Brazilian marriage certificate will be issued within approximately 7 days.

Transcription in Brazil

Consulates only perform the registration—they do not carry out the transcription of the marriage.

In practical terms, this means you will not yet have a Brazilian marriage certificate, but rather a consular certificate that must be transcribed in Brazil.

If you are still living abroad, this transcription can only be done at the Central Registry Office in Brasília/DF (Marcelo Ribas Registry Office).

If you return to live in Brazil, you may complete the transcription at a civil registry office in any city, provided you present proof of residence in that location.

Which Option Is Better?

It depends on your availability to attend a Consulate and your ability to gather all required documents.

The documentation required for registration in Brazil is simpler, and the process is faster; however, costs are higher compared to registration at the Consulate.

In any case, even those who register at the Consulate will still need to complete the transcription in Brazil.

In Brazil, the process can be done entirely remotely but is more expensive. At the Consulate, it is partially remote and more affordable, provided you are able to attend in person.

Regardless of the option you choose, we offer the best solutions to ensure your marriage is registered and transcribed with minimal bureaucracy.

To learn more about our services, click here.

To request a quote, click here.