The Brazilian criminal record certificate (certidão de antecedentes criminais) is issued by the Federal Police and by the state Civil Police forces, and you can request it yourself. Antecedentes Criminais Brasil is a private service, not a government agency: we explain the route and help when it gets complicated, with the Hague apostille, sworn translation and issuance for people living abroad.
The Bahia Criminal Record Certificate (Certificado de Antecedentes Criminais da Bahia) is issued by the state Civil Police and can be requested on the website antecedentes.pc.ba.gov.br or at the SAC posts. People over 18 with an identity card (RG) issued by the Bahia SSP (state public security department) can issue it online; people with an RG from another state, another document or foreign nationals follow a different route. Below, each situation, plus timing, validity, validation and use abroad.
Which route applies to your case in Bahia
| Your situation | Where to request | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Over 18 and RG issued by the Bahia SSP | Online at antecedentes.pc.ba.gov.br, or at an SAC post | Requirements of the online service |
| RG issued by another state | E-mail to the ISPE, with a copy of the identity document | Bahia services portal |
| Other identification document | In person, at the CEDEP or an SAC post, with the identity document | Guidance of the issuance system |
| Foreign national | SAC post or ISPE headquarters, with an identification document | Bahia services portal |
| Request for someone else | In-person service, with a power of attorney notarized at a notary office | Bahia Civil Police |
The table summarizes the guidance published by the state channels. The following sections detail each row, with the precautions that avoid a repeated request or a rejected document.
Who issues the Criminal Record Certificate in Bahia?
The certificate is provided by the Civil Police of the State of Bahia, with a search in the computerized records of the Institute of Public Security, Statistics and Criminal Research (Instituto de Segurança Pública, Estatística e Pesquisa Criminal, ISPE). It states whether or not criminal records exist and shows the citizen's situation at the exact moment of the search.
It is a state document, not a Federal Police certificate. Before requesting, check the name of the document and the authority that the receiving institution requires. To understand the difference between the types, see the guide to the criminal record certificate and our content on the state criminal record certificate.
When the search finds no criminal record, the system issues the certificate. The result is valid for that search, at that moment. This means the document shows the situation found in the ISPE records on the date of the search, and it does not automatically replace any other criminal record document an institution asks for. If the requirement speaks of a certificate from another authority, confirm first whether the Bahia Civil Police certificate is accepted.
So, when presenting the certificate for a specific purpose, ask the recipient whether it requires the Bahia Civil Police certificate or another document.
How to request a Bahia criminal record certificate online
The service address is https://antecedentes.pc.ba.gov.br/. The certificate can also be requested at the posts of the Citizen Service (Serviço de Atendimento ao Cidadão, SAC).
Who can issue it online?
The online service has two requirements:
- Be over 18.
- Hold an identity card (RG) issued by the Public Security Department of the State of Bahia.
Having another valid document is not enough: the origin of the RG determines the procedure.
Step by step
- Go to antecedentes.pc.ba.gov.br.
- Check the requirements and follow the instructions to request the search.
- Wait for the system's result.
- If there is no criminal record, the system issues the certificate and you print it yourself.
What if the system does not issue the certificate?
According to the Civil Police, if there is no criminal record the system issues the certificate; otherwise, the applicant must go to an SAC post or to the ISPE. The lack of automatic issuance is not, in itself, a conclusion about your criminal situation: the way forward is to follow the in-person referral rather than repeat the online request.
RG from another state, other documents and foreign nationals
I have an RG from another state. How do I request?
The Bahia services portal tells people with an RG from another state to request by e-mail to the ISPE, attaching a copy of the identity document:
antecedentecriminal.ispe@pcivil.ba.gov.br
This guidance appears on the portal in a 2025 archive; before sending personal documents, confirm on the state portal that the channel is still valid.
What if I have another identification document?
For holders of other identification documents, the guidance of the issuance system is to request the certificate in person at the CEDEP units or SAC posts, bringing the identity document. If your document does not meet the requirements of the online service, check the in-person service before insisting on internet issuance.
Can foreign nationals request it?
Yes. Foreign nationals must go to the SAC posts or to the ISPE headquarters, with an identification document. The information used on this page indicates no specific electronic procedure for them; for that reason, the route presented here is in-person service. Before going, it is worth checking on the state portal how the service is currently operating.
I am outside Bahia. Can I request it?
It depends on the document: Bahia RG and over 18, online system; RG from another state, e-mail to the ISPE; other documents, in-person service. The sources consulted do not allow us to guarantee that any of these routes can be completed entirely remotely. If the certificate will be used outside Brazil, see also the Hague apostille for criminal records.
In-person service: SAC and ISPE
The SAC posts are a request channel indicated by the state government. The ISPE appears in cases where electronic issuance is not available, and the CEDEP is indicated for people with other documents. People with an RG from another state follow their own rule of e-mailing the ISPE: do not mix up the routes. In-person service is indicated when the system does not provide the certificate after the search, when the identification document differs from the one required for the online service, and for foreign nationals.
Which documents should I bring?
According to the Bahia Civil Police, bring:
- Identity card in perfect condition, original; or
- a copy of the identity card notarized at a notary office.
Foreign nationals bring an identification document to the SAC or to the ISPE headquarters.
Can I request records for another person?
To request records for third parties you need a power of attorney notarized at a notary office. An informal authorization does not replace it. Besides the power of attorney, bring the identification documents indicated for the service and check the post's guidance before going.
Checklist before requesting in Bahia
- Confirm which document the receiving institution requires: the Bahia state certificate or another, such as a Federal Police certificate.
- Check where your RG is from: Bahia SSP, another state or another document. This answer defines the channel.
- If you go to the SAC or the ISPE, bring the original identity card or a copy notarized at a notary office. To request for another person, also bring a notarized power of attorney.
- If you will use the certificate on a later date, count the 90-day validity from issuance, not from presentation.
- If the destination is abroad, ask the recipient whether it requires a Hague apostille or sworn translation before hiring any service.
- Confirm the current channels on the state portals: part of the information we use comes from 2025 archives.
Common mistakes when requesting a Bahia criminal record certificate
- Trying the online system with an RG from another state. The electronic service assumes an RG issued by the Bahia SSP; for an RG from another state the guidance is to e-mail the ISPE.
- Repeating the online request over and over. When the system does not issue the certificate, the referral is the SAC post or the ISPE. Follow the referral instead of insisting.
- Treating the lack of issuance as a criminal result. The guidance does not say that; it only points to in-person service.
- Going to the service without the right identity document. Bring the identity card in perfect condition, original or notarized copy.
- Forgetting the validity. The certificate is valid for 90 days from issuance; issuing it too early may force you to request it again.
- Requesting for others without a notarized power of attorney. A power of attorney notarized at a notary office is the requirement stated for that case.
- Assuming acceptance. Neither the certificate, nor the apostille, nor the translation guarantees that the recipient will accept the document.
Timing, validity and validation
Issuance time
The state service states that the issuance time is immediate: online, immediate; in-person service, about 15 minutes. This is the service's reference, not a guarantee for all cases: when the system does not issue, the request goes to in-person service, and the time may depend on the type of service and on whether issuance is possible. Before traveling, check the portal.
Validity
The certificate has a validity of 90 days from the date of issuance. After that you must request a new search. Immediate issuance does not mean permanent validity: if the certificate will be presented later, check that it will still be within the 90 days. The receiving institution may have its own conditions, and validity does not guarantee acceptance.
How to validate authenticity
The Civil Police keeps a lookup page: https://antecedentes.pc.ba.gov.br/validar_atestado.asp. Enter the code printed on the certificate in the field indicated. When printing the document, check that the code is visible. Validation uses the code of a document already issued; requesting a new certificate is a new request and a new search. It is also not the same as apostille or translation for use abroad, which are separate procedures.
How much does the Criminal Record Certificate cost in Bahia?
The price is not stated on the Bahia Civil Police page; confirm on the portal before requesting. We do not attribute a price or free issuance to the Civil Police without documentary confirmation.
And what about hiring help?
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil is a private, optional service. Starting prices:
| Private service | Price |
|---|---|
| Assisted issuance | from R$ 30 |
| Hague apostille | from R$ 95 |
| Sworn translation (1-page certificate: from R$ 110) | from R$ 110 per page |
These prices are for the private service, not Civil Police fees; the notary office (cartório) fee is charged separately where applicable. You can request the certificate yourself through the public channels.
Use abroad: Hague apostille and translation
If the certificate will be used outside Brazil, issuance may be only one step. Depending on the receiving institution, a Hague apostille or sworn translation may be needed; confirm with whoever will receive the document. It is not appropriate to assume that every certificate used abroad requires the same procedures. Organize the request in order: first the certificate, watching the 90-day validity, then the complementary steps required by the recipient.
See what the Hague apostille is to understand the process.
When to consider the Hague apostille?
When the destination institution requires the certificate to be apostilled. We offer assistance with the Hague apostille from R$ 95, notary office fee charged separately where applicable.
When may a sworn translation be needed?
When the recipient requires another language. We offer sworn translation from R$ 110 per page (1-page certificate: from R$ 110). Confirm the language and whether a sworn translation is really required.
None of these services guarantees that a consulate or other authority will accept the document: the decision belongs to whoever receives it.
I am abroad and need the Bahia certificate
Identify your document: Bahia RG (online), RG from another state (e-mail to the ISPE) or other documents (in person). Apostille and translation are separate steps, assessed afterwards. Our assistance helps organize the request, without replacing the Civil Police, which issues the certificate.
Need help with your request?
Will you use the certificate abroad, or are you stuck on the request? Leave your contact details: we will review the case and tell you the timing and price before any payment.
Sources
Information based on pages of the state public channels, in archived 2025 versions (the source pages showed access restrictions during research). Confirm current conditions on the portals.
- Bahia Civil Police, issuance: https://antecedentes.pc.ba.gov.br/
- Bahia Civil Police, validation: https://antecedentes.pc.ba.gov.br/validar_atestado.asp
- Bahia Civil Police, Criminal Records (Antecedentes Criminais): https://www.ba.gov.br/policiacivil/71/antecedentes-criminais
- Bahia Services Portal, service 635: https://servicos.ba.gov.br/detalhe/servico/635