Sworn Translation of Brazilian Documents: How It Works in Italy

22 May Sworn Translation of Brazilian Documents: How It Works in Italy

Do you have a Brazilian document — a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a criminal record — that you need to make valid in Italy? A simple translation is not enough. To have legal standing in Italy, a Brazilian document must follow a specific bureaucratic process: apostille in Brazil, then a sworn translation certified by an Italian court.

In this article, we walk you through the process step by step, clearly and without jargon.

What Is a Sworn Translation (Traduzione Giurata)?

A sworn translation — also called an asseverated translation — is a translation that carries official legal value. It is not simply a version in another language: it is a translation carried out by a professional translator who then swears an oath before a court clerk, assuming full civil and criminal responsibility for its accuracy and faithfulness to the original.

The result is a document — original + translation + oath record, stapled together — that becomes an official act recognised by Italian authorities.

Why Do Brazilian Documents Need an Apostille First?

Brazil joined the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on 14 August 2016. This means that Brazilian public documents (birth, marriage, death certificates, notarial deeds, court rulings, etc.) can be recognised in Italy through an apostille — without going through a consulate.

In Brazil, apostilles are issued by authorised Cartórios — Brazilian notary offices — through an electronic system managed by the CNJ (National Council of Justice).

IMPORTANT: The apostille on Brazilian documents must be obtained IN BRAZIL from Cartórios. It is not possible to apostille Brazilian documents in Italy or in the UK.

The Full Process: Step by Step

STEP 1 — Apostille in Brazil

• The original Brazilian document (certificate, deed, ruling, etc.) must be taken or sent to an authorised Cartório in Brazil
• The Cartório affixes the apostille to the original document
• The apostille may be physical or electronic (with QR code) — but always check the requirements of the Italian authority receiving the document

STEP 2 — Sworn Translation in Italy

• The apostilled document is entrusted to a professional translator in Italy (registered with the court’s CTU register or the Chamber of Commerce)
• The translator produces the translation from Portuguese into Italian
• The translator goes to the court (without the client needing to be present) and certifies the translation before the court clerk
• The result is the oath record, stamped and with revenue stamps attached, stapled to the original document and the translation

IMPORTANT: The translation and certification must be carried out by a third-party translator — not the person the document refers to, nor a family member.

Who Can Carry Out a Sworn Translation in Italy?

In Italy, sworn translations can be carried out by:

• Translators registered with the court’s CTU (Official Technical Consultant) register
• Translators registered with the Experts and Appraisers Register of the Chamber of Commerce
• Translators who are members of publicly recognised professional associations

The translation must also include a translation of the apostille itself, if present on the original document.

Revenue Stamps: What Are the Costs?

Court certification is subject to revenue stamps. The value is generally €16 for every 100 lines of translation (including the oath record). Exemptions from revenue stamps exist for specific purposes (e.g. academic documents, adoptions, divorces).

Which Brazilian Documents Require a Sworn Translation?

The most common are:

• Certidão de Nascimento (birth certificate) — for citizenship recognition, passport, AIRE registration
• Certidão de Casamento em Inteiro Teor (full marriage certificate) — for registering the marriage at the Italian Consulate
• Certidão de Obito (death certificate)
• Criminal record certificate — for citizenship applications or visas
• Degrees and academic qualifications — for recognition in Italy
• Notarial deeds and powers of attorney

Words at Hand: Your Specialist for Portuguese Translations

Words at Hand is a specialist agency in legal and consular translations. With specific expertise in Brazilian documents, we offer:

• Sworn translation certified by an Italian court for Brazilian documents (Portuguese → Italian)
• Support in obtaining the apostille in Brazil through our network of contacts
• Document verification before submission to the Consulate
• Urgent service available

Contact us today for a free quote: cristina@wordsathand.com | WhatsApp: +44 7824 347667 | wordsathand.com/contact