Moving to Brazil or applying for a visa? Your FBI background check needs an apostille for most visa and residency applications. We personally walk your documents into the U.S. Department of State for the fastest turnaround in the country: 7 to 10 business days.
"From the beginning to delivering of my documents, Fingerprints & Apostilles took control and kept me informed every step of the way. I will without a doubt be a repeat customer for all my federal apostilles."
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You can absolutely do that. Here is what the experience looks like compared to using our service.
| Mail It Yourself | Fingerprints & Apostilles | |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | 5 to 12+ weeks | 7 to 10 business days |
| Paperwork | You fill out every form | We handle everything |
| Cost | $20 apostille fee + your shipping | $120 all-in (shipping included) |
| Tracking | None | Status updates throughout |
| Risk of Rejection | High (incorrect forms, missing items) | We catch issues before submission |
| Return Shipping | Extra cost, you arrange | 2-day shipping included |
Brazil requires an apostilled FBI background check for most long-term visa and residency pathways. Here are the most common reasons people need this service.
Applicants for a Brazilian permanent or residency visa typically need an apostilled FBI background check as part of the application.
Residency through marriage or a stable union (união estável) to a Brazilian citizen or resident commonly requires an apostilled FBI background check.
Brazil's retirement pathway for those receiving foreign pension or retirement income generally requires an apostilled FBI background check.
Foreign nationals employed by Brazilian companies often must submit an apostilled FBI background check as part of their work authorization.
After arrival, many residency pathways require you to register with the Federal Police (Polícia Federal). An apostilled, translated FBI background check is commonly part of that process.
Foreign investors establishing businesses or making qualifying investments in Brazil commonly need an apostilled FBI background check for the visa process.
Brazilian authorities and consulates typically expect a recent FBI background check, often issued within the last 90 days. That is a tight window, and the exact requirement can vary by visa type.
If you mail your document to the Department of State, the standard timeline is 5 to 12 weeks. That could burn your entire validity window before the apostille comes back. And because Portuguese is the official language, Brazil usually requires a translation after apostille too.
Our 7 to 10 business day turnaround preserves your validity window. You get your apostilled document back with enough time to complete the translation and submit your visa application before your deadline.
FBI background checks are federal documents. Only the U.S. Department of State can apostille them. Your state's Secretary of State cannot do this. If someone tells you to go to your state, they are wrong.
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, so a certified or sworn translation (tradução juramentada) of your apostilled FBI background check is typically required. The translation must be done after the apostille, not before. We can point you to translation help if you need it.
The Department of State attaches the apostille to your document with a staple and grommet. Brazilian authorities will reject your documents if the staple shows signs of tampering. Do not remove, rebind, or laminate it.
In Virginia? Get fingerprinted at one of our three locations (results in as low as 30 minutes). Anywhere else in the U.S.? Get ink fingerprints on an FD-258 card locally and mail the card to us. Already have your FBI background check? Skip straight to step 2.
Upload your completed FBI background check through our website, email the PDF to us, or drop it off in person at our Alexandria office. Americans living abroad can email it from anywhere in the world.
We personally walk your documents into the U.S. Department of State. Your apostilled FBI background check is returned with 2-day shipping included. International return shipping is available when you provide your own label.
After you order, you receive tracking texts, emails, and a personal tracking page so you always know exactly where your documents are. You know the ready date as soon as we drop your documents off at the Department of State. No waiting in the dark, no chasing updates. And if anything comes up, you have a dedicated point of contact who can help.
Need an apostille for a different country? We handle FBI background check apostilles for all Hague Convention member countries.
Yes. Brazil joined the Hague Apostille Convention, effective August 2016, so U.S. documents are apostilled rather than legalized. An apostille from the U.S. Department of State authenticates your FBI background check for use with Brazilian authorities.
7 to 10 business days. We personally walk documents into the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. instead of mailing them. The standard timeline by mail is 5 to 12 weeks.
Generally yes. Brazilian authorities and consulates typically expect a recent FBI background check, often issued within the last 90 days. Confirm the exact validity window with the consulate or office handling your application, since requirements vary by visa type. Our 7 to 10 business day turnaround gives you the maximum usable window.
Usually yes. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, so a certified or sworn translation (tradução juramentada) of your apostilled FBI background check is typically required. The translation should be completed after the apostille. We can point you to translation help if you need it.
If you are in the Washington, D.C. metro area, yes. Get fingerprinted at one of our three Virginia locations, receive your FBI background check (results in as low as 30 minutes), and we begin the apostille process immediately.
Yes. If you already have your FBI background check, you can send it to us from anywhere in the world. We handle the apostille and ship it back to you. International shipping is available when the customer provides their own shipping label.
Yes. If you already have your FBI background check, email the PDF to us and we handle the apostille. For return shipping outside the United States, you provide your own shipping label.
You do not need to be in Virginia. If you already have your FBI background check, email it to us from anywhere. If you need fingerprints, you can get ink fingerprints done on an FD-258 card at any fingerprinting location near you and mail the card to us. We will process your FBI background check and start the apostille. Visit our mail-in fingerprinting page for details.
Many Brazilian residency and visa pathways require you to register with the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) after arrival. An apostilled, translated FBI background check is commonly part of that registration and of the underlying visa application. Confirm the exact documents with your immigration attorney or the office handling your case.
No. The Department of State attaches the apostille to your document with a staple and grommet. If the staple shows signs of tampering, Brazilian authorities will reject your documents. Do not remove, rebind, or laminate it.
Don't Have Your FBI Background Check Yet?
You do not need to arrive with your FBI background check in hand. We handle the entire process from fingerprints to apostille under one roof. Get fingerprinted at one of our three Virginia locations, receive your results in as low as 30 minutes, and we take it straight to the Department of State.
Book an appointment, get fingerprinted, and walk out. We handle everything from there. Your apostilled FBI background check arrives at your door.
Visa consultants, relocation companies, immigration attorneys, and fingerprinting businesses: add FBI background check apostilles to your services without building the process yourself.
Brazil usually requires a certified or sworn Portuguese translation of your apostilled FBI background check. Get the apostille first, then translate the entire packet. We recommend Rush Translate for fast, affordable certified translations in 65+ languages.
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7 to 10 business days. 2-day return shipping included. We walk your documents into the Department of State personally so you do not have to wait months.
If you are moving on a marriage or stable union (uniao estavel), Brazil often wants your US marriage certificate apostilled to register the union at a cartorio, and US-born children of a Brazilian parent usually need an apostilled birth certificate to be registered. We apostille vital records from all 50 states, with the same expedited handling and return shipping included.