A Brazilian criminal record certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) is issued by the Federal Police (Polícia Federal, PF) and by the state Civil Police (Polícias Civis), 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.
Quick answer: the PF certificate is issued online, free of charge and immediately, and is valid for 90 days. State documents (Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and others) follow each state's own rules. Check which authority the recipient named before you start. Our optional help starts from R$ 30; the apostille from R$ 95; sworn translation from R$ 110 per page.
| Quick answer | |
|---|---|
| What you need | The certificate named by the recipient: federal (PF) or state |
| Where to get it | PF online portal; state: the state Civil Police or state portal |
| Time | PF: immediate; Paraná: up to 24 hours |
| Cost | PF: free; our assistance from R$ 30 |
| Apostille | Only if required by the recipient; ours from R$ 95, cartório fee extra |
Do you need a Brazilian criminal record certificate and do not know where to begin? The first step is to identify which document was requested and which authority must issue it. There is the federal certificate, provided by the Federal Police (PF), and there are state services, such as those offered in Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.
Issuance of the federal certificate by the Federal Police is free, immediate and done over the internet. The document is valid for 90 days, according to the information published by the PF itself.
For state services, it is important to consult the instructions of the responsible authority. In Minas Gerais, for example, the online service is available to people who hold an ID card (carteira de identidade) issued in that state. In Paraná, the atestado is free, can be requested over the internet and is ready in up to 24 hours. In Rio Grande do Sul, the police-records certificate (certidão de antecedentes policiais) is issued on the Civil Police website.
On this page you will find a roadmap to identify the right route, access federal issuance, find information on state services and understand when private support can be useful.
We also explain how to organize your request when the document will be used outside Brazil, especially where a Hague apostille or sworn translation is involved.
What is the criminal record certificate?
The criminal record certificate is the document you find in the criminal records services provided by the Federal Police and by the state Civil Police.
To understand the terms, see what criminal records are.
When searching for this document, it is common to come across expressions such as certidão de antecedentes criminais, atestado de antecedentes criminais, federal criminal records and certidão negativa criminal (negative criminal certificate).
These expressions can appear in the searches of people who must submit documents to an institution or complete a procedure. However, before requesting any certificate, it is important to check exactly the name and the authority indicated by whoever will receive the document.
The existence of federal and state services does not, by itself, mean that all documents are interchangeable. When the requirement is unclear, confirm directly with the recipient which certificate they expect to receive.
Federal Police criminal record certificate
The Federal Police provides issuance of the federal certificate free of charge over the internet.
According to the service described on gov.br, issuance is immediate and the document is valid for 90 days.
This information answers the main questions about the federal request:
Is the Federal Police certificate free?
Yes. Issuance of the federal certificate by the PF is free. You do not need to hire a private service to access the issuance the agency provides.
Is it issued over the internet?
Yes. The Federal Police provides an online issuing service.
How long does it take to issue?
Federal issuance is stated as immediate.
How long is the certificate valid?
The federal certificate is valid for 90 days, according to the information published by the Federal Police.
These features refer to the federal service described by the PF. They should not automatically be used to explain the procedures of every state.
When to look for the federal certificate
If the requested document expressly mentions the Federal Police or federal criminal records, start with the corresponding service.
You can go directly to the Federal Police issuing portal.
Before you begin, check the description of the required document. If there is any specific reference to a state authority, do not assume that the federal certificate is enough.
To understand this difference better, see also our page on the Brazil federal police certificate.
Are the federal certificate and the state certificate the same thing?
They are issuing routes tied to different authorities. The Federal Police has its own federal certificate service, while the state Civil Police offer their own services.
In the content consulted for this page, no rule was found that would establish all the general legal limits of the certificate issued by the PF.
For that reason, it is not appropriate to say that the federal certificate replaces any state document, or that a state certificate always replaces the federal one.
On this question, the information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
When there is a specific documentary requirement, try to confirm with the receiving institution which document it accepts. That check helps you avoid obtaining a certificate different from the one you really need to submit.
Federal Police or Civil Police: which route?
The choice between the Federal Police and the Civil Police should start with identifying the requested document.
The federal route is direct: the PF provides free and immediate issuance over the internet. State services, on the other hand, must be checked state by state, against the conditions stated by the respective authority.
It is not advisable to treat all state services as if they used the same procedure. The examples of Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul show that there is specific information to consider.
When to start with the Federal Police
If the request mentions Federal Police criminal records, a federal certificate or PF criminal records, the first route to check is the federal service.
The issuance provided by the PF is free and immediate, and the certificate is valid for 90 days.
You can access the issuing portal without going through an intermediary company.
If the request does not identify the issuing authority, confirm that before proceeding. That way you do not have to choose between different documents just because their names are similar.
Minas Gerais: note the identity card
In Minas Gerais, Portal MG states that the online criminal record atestado service is available to holders of an identity card issued in the state.
This condition deserves attention before you apply.
If you hold an ID card issued in Minas Gerais, consult the state service and follow the instructions the portal provides.
If your ID card was issued by another state, do not assume that the same online service is available on the same terms.
The information confirmed for this page is specifically the restriction tied to an ID issued in Minas Gerais. There is no basis here to describe alternative procedures, additional documents or service conditions for all other cases.
If your situation does not match the condition stated by the portal, seek guidance directly from the state service.
This check is especially useful when someone asks for a state atestado but the person concerned starts the search with the federal service without checking the requirement.
Paraná: free request over the internet
In Paraná, the state criminal record atestado service gives its own information on issuance, cost and validity.
According to Portal PR, the document:
- Is requested free of charge.
- Is handled entirely over the internet.
- Is ready in up to 24 hours.
- Is valid for 90 days.
These conditions were published for the Paraná service and should not be presented as a rule for all states.
Note also the difference between the published times: the Federal Police states immediate issuance, while Paraná sets up to 24 hours for the state atestado.
If you specifically need the Paraná document, consult the instructions of the corresponding service before you begin the request.
Rio Grande do Sul: issuance by the Civil Police
In Rio Grande do Sul, the Certidão de Antecedentes Policiais is issued on the website of the state Civil Police.
This is the information confirmed by the RS Civil Police itself.
To request the state document, look for the police-records certificate issuing service provided by the authority.
The content consulted does not provide enough data to establish on this page a specific deadline, cost or validity for this certificate.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
Do not automatically use the Federal Police or Paraná deadlines as a reference for issuance in Rio Grande do Sul.
What if your state is not among the examples?
This page presents confirmed information on federal issuance and on specific services in Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.
For other states, no rule was found in the material used for this page that would allow a comprehensive description of state issuing conditions.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
That does not mean the service does not exist. It only means there is not enough information, within the sources used, to explain its conditions safely.
The most prudent decision is to identify the state named in the request, find the responsible authority and check its instructions before requesting the certificate.
To understand the differences between state services better, see also our page on the state criminal record certificate.
How to issue and verify the criminal record certificate
To issue a certificate, it helps to separate three questions: which document you need, where it is provided, and how to check the information related to its use.
Prefer a linear walkthrough? See how to get a Brazil criminal record step by step.
Federal issuance has an identified route, while state services must be checked separately.
Verification also deserves attention. Do not simply assume that the procedure for consulting or checking a certificate is identical at every authority.
How to issue the Federal Police certificate
If you need the federal certificate, start with the PF issuing portal.
1. Confirm that the requested document is federal.
Read the requirement you received and check whether it mentions the Federal Police or federal criminal records.
If the description is generic, try to clarify the requirement with whoever will receive the documents.
2. Open the Federal Police service.
Use the PF criminal records issuing portal.
This is the address provided for starting the federal procedure.
3. Follow the instructions shown on the portal.
Use the service's own instructions to make the request.
You do not need to hire private support just to access the free federal service.
4. Check the document you obtained.
Check that the certificate matches the requested document and note its validity.
The Federal Police states that a certificate issued through the federal service is valid for 90 days.
5. Confirm any additional requirements.
If the recipient asks for something beyond issuance, such as preparing the document for use abroad, clarify that requirement before hiring any additional service.
Free issuance by the Federal Police and private document-preparation services are separate activities.
What if you cannot issue it online?
The gov.br service states that some people may not be able to issue the certificate online because other people have the same name, a situation known as homonymy (homonímia).
If this happens, consult the instructions the service shows and confirm directly with the Federal Police how to proceed in your case. A difficulty issuing online should not automatically be read as an indication of a criminal record.
How to request a state atestado
The first step is to identify which state and which authority must issue the document.
The information confirmed on this page shows important differences.
In Minas Gerais, the condition stated for the online service is tied to an ID card issued in that state.
In Paraná, issuance is free and done over the internet, with a time of up to 24 hours and validity of 90 days.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the Certidão de Antecedentes Policiais is issued on the Civil Police website.
In each case, use the information of the competent authority. Avoid transferring to one state the conditions published by another.
If you are still trying to find out which atestado you need, see the page dedicated to the atestado de antecedentes criminais.
How to verify a criminal record certificate
Verification is a different matter from issuance.
After obtaining the document, you may need to confirm its authenticity or present the certificate to someone who wants to check its data.
The specific verification procedure must be checked with the issuing authority.
Based on the facts available on this page, it is not possible to say that all federal and state certificates use a single system or the same verification sequence.
For guidance on this step, see our page on how to verify a Brazil criminal record certificate.
When checking a document, first identify which authority appears as the issuer. That information helps direct your query to the corresponding service.
If the receiving institution requires a specific way of verifying, confirm that requirement directly with it.
How long is the certificate valid?
The validity stated for the Federal Police's federal certificate is 90 days.
Portal PR also states a validity of 90 days for the Paraná state atestado.
These are the data confirmed for the two services.
It is not correct to use this information to declare that all certificates issued by any Civil Police necessarily have the same validity.
Nor is it appropriate to conclude, solely from the period stated by the issuing authority, that any institution will accept the document throughout that whole period.
If you received a requirement with its own conditions of submission, confirm those conditions with the recipient.
What to do when the request is unclear
Some people look for a certificate without receiving complete instructions about the issuing authority.
In that situation, start with the information you already have: the name used in the request, the institution that asked for the certificate and the stated purpose.
If there is an express reference to the Federal Police, consult the federal route.
If the request identifies a state Civil Police, look for the service of the corresponding state.
If none of this information is available, ask the recipient to clarify which document they want to receive.
This care avoids taking the similarity between document names as confirmation that they meet exactly the same requirement.
Good-conduct atestado and negative criminal certificate
The terms used to search for criminal record documents can vary.
Besides certidão de antecedentes criminais, you may find searches for atestado de antecedentes criminais, atestado de bons antecedentes (good-conduct attestation), criminal record and certidão negativa criminal.
The name searched, however, does not replace identifying the issuing authority.
To choose the right service, check whether the requirement you received indicates a document from the Federal Police, from a state Civil Police or some other specific document.
Criminal record atestado
When the request uses the expression atestado de antecedentes criminais, one of the main questions is which authority must issue it.
Paraná, for example, offers a state criminal record atestado service. According to the state portal, the request is free, entirely online and takes up to 24 hours.
Minas Gerais also offers an online service for the criminal record atestado, with the stated condition about an ID card issued in the state.
These examples show why it is worth checking the authority before starting issuance.
If you are looking specifically for a state atestado, do not automatically choose the federal service just because it is free and immediate.
Good-conduct atestado (atestado de bons antecedentes)
The expression atestado de bons antecedentes may appear when someone looks for information on criminal-record documents.
See also the guide on the criminal record declaration.
Before using it as a synonym for another certificate, check the exact name given by the recipient.
The sources gathered for this page contain no sufficiently documented general rule that would establish the legal equivalence of all these names.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
If the request expressly mentions an atestado from a particular Civil Police, that indication should guide the search for the service.
In Rio Grande do Sul, for example, the Civil Police states that the Certidão de Antecedentes Policiais is issued on its website.
That information identifies the issuing route for the Rio Grande do Sul document, but does not allow us to declare it automatically equivalent to any other atestado requested by an institution.
Negative criminal certificate (certidão negativa criminal)
The expression certidão negativa criminal can also be used by people looking for documentation related to criminal records.
However, this page does not have enough basis to say that every certificate called a negative criminal certificate necessarily corresponds to the criminal record certificate issued by the Federal Police.
So the recommendation is not to decide only by the name in the search.
See our page on nada consta criminal to explore this expression and better identify the document mentioned in your request.
If the requirement you received names a specific authority, use that information to find the corresponding service.
Do not assume that documents with similar names have the same scope or are accepted in the same situations.
What if the institution does not name the issuing authority?
When the requirement gives only a generic expression, you may need to ask for clarification.
One direct question to the recipient can settle the doubt: must the certificate be issued by the Federal Police or by a state Civil Police?
It is also useful to confirm whether the institution requires any additional document or verification procedure.
This guidance does not set new issuing rules. It helps organize the request based on the information that was actually provided.
If you already know you need the federal certificate, the Federal Police portal is the route for free issuance.
If you need a state certificate, use the service for the state indicated.
Folha corrida and ficha criminal: are they the same thing?
The expression folha corrida is a popular name for the criminal record certificate. The Santa Catarina Court of Justice (Tribunal de Justiça de Santa Catarina, TJSC), in a publication dated June 24, 2020, identifies the criminal record certificate as a document also popularly known by that name.
To understand what you can check about criminal records, see the full guide.
So when someone asks for a folha corrida or a criminal records sheet, they may be referring to the criminal record certificate. The term, however, does not by itself identify which authority must issue the document.
If you need the so-called folha corrida online, the route depends on the requirement you received. For the Federal Police federal certificate, issuance is free and immediate over the internet. For state documents, consult the conditions published by the Civil Police or the responsible authority in the respective state.
Can you check another person's ficha criminal by CPF?
The expression ficha criminal (criminal file) appears in searches such as "ficha criminal pelo CPF" (by tax ID) and "ficha criminal consulta". However, it is not appropriate to treat these expressions as if they automatically identified a public service available for checking third parties' records.
In the content consulted, no official service was found that lets you search another person's so-called ficha criminal just by entering their CPF.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
This does not mean there are no specific procedures for issuing certificates or for consulting information made available by public bodies. It only means there is no basis, in the sources used, to say that a general service exists for checking third parties' ficha criminal by CPF.
If an institution asked for a folha corrida, a ficha criminal or a criminal record certificate, ask for the exact identification of the document and of the issuing authority. That confirmation is safer than choosing a service only by the name used in the search.
Police certificate or court certificate: what is the difference?
The criminal record certificate issued by the Federal Police or by the Civil Police should not automatically be confused with the criminal judicial certificate of the Federal Court (Justiça Federal).
They are documents tied to different authorities. The police certificate must be requested from the corresponding police service. The criminal judicial certificate, on the other hand, is governed within the Federal Court by specific rules on the judicial information that must appear in the document.
Under article 14 of CJF Resolution No. 680/2020 (Conselho da Justiça Federal), the criminal judicial certificate reports criminal-class proceedings in progress and archived proceedings with a final criminal conviction (sentença penal condenatória transitada em julgado), until the serving or extinction of the sentence is recorded.
Article 15 of the same resolution makes an important distinction: the criminal judicial certificate will be positive only when there is a final conviction in a proceeding of one of the classes listed in Annex II.
So the existence of a criminal proceeding in progress does not, by itself, mean that the criminal judicial certificate will be positive under this regulation.
For that reason, before requesting the document, check whether the institution asked for police-issued records or a criminal judicial certificate. Similar names are not enough to conclude that the documents are equivalent or can replace one another.
Where do you request the criminal judicial certificate?
The Federal Court provides the Unified Certificate (Certidão Unificada) system, presented by the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (Tribunal Regional Federal da 1ª Região, TRF1).
According to the guidance published by the court, the system lets you select the type of certificate you want (criminal, civil or for electoral purposes) and choose which Federal Regional Courts will be searched, among the TRFs of the 1st to 5th Regions.
If you received a requirement for a Federal Court criminal certificate, check that this is the document requested before starting the procedure.
Do not confuse access to the judicial system with the Federal Police criminal records issuing service. Although both can appear in searches related to criminal records, the issuing authorities and the documented information are not the same.
To understand where to request the document, how the selection of the certificate type works and what to watch out for, see our guide to the federal court criminal certificate.
When the receiving institution expressly mentions a Federal Court certificate, that indication should guide the choice of service. If the request uses only the generic expression "criminal certificate", confirm with the recipient which issuing authority is required.
Support for use abroad
People who must present a criminal record certificate outside Brazil may have questions that go beyond issuing the document.
The request may mention the Hague apostille, sworn translation or other conditions of presentation. In those cases, it is important to distinguish the document issued by the public authority from the private services hired to help prepare the documentation.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers support related to assisted issuance, the Hague apostille and sworn translation.
The service is private and does not replace the Federal Police or the state Civil Police.
Can the federal certificate be used abroad?
The Federal Police states that its federal certificate is issued free of charge over the internet and is valid for 90 days.
However, the sources used on this page do not allow us to establish a general legal rule on acceptance of this certificate in every country or procedure.
No cited rule was found that comprehensively clarifies the general legal limits of the PF certificate.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
Before hiring an additional service, check which document the foreign recipient requires and whether it has its own instructions on how to submit it.
Do not assume that issuing the certificate, by itself, confirms that every documentary condition required for a specific purpose has been met.
Hague apostille for criminal records
If you received a requirement involving the Hague apostille, it is important to identify exactly which document must go through the service.
See also what the Hague apostille is.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers a Hague apostille service from R$ 95.
That is the starting price stated for the private service. Where a notary fee (emolumento cartorário) applies, it is charged separately.
The starting price does not mean every request necessarily has the same final price.
Before any payment, our approach is to review your need and state the deadline and price.
To understand better the service for documents meant for use abroad, see Hague apostille for criminal records.
Sworn translation of the certificate
When the documentation involves a sworn translation requirement, Antecedentes Criminais Brasil also offers that service.
The stated price is from R$ 110 per page.
This is a starting price for the private service, not a fee for issuing the certificate by the Federal Police.
Before requesting the translation, confirm that it was really required by the recipient and which document needs to be translated.
There is no basis in the information used on this page to say that all certificates presented abroad require sworn translation.
If the request you received is not clear, try to clarify the conditions of presentation before proceeding.
This check helps separate the services that are actually needed from those that still depend on confirmation.
Assisted issuance for people abroad
Even when a free service is available over the internet, some people may prefer guidance in organizing the request.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers assisted issuance from R$ 30.
This charge corresponds to the private assistance service. It does not change the fact that the Federal Police provides federal issuance free of charge.
Assisted issuance can be considered when you want help identifying the route for the request or dealing with questions about it.
There is no promise that hiring it will remove requirements set by the issuing authorities or change the conditions they establish.
Service should begin with identifying the document needed and reviewing the information provided by the person concerned.
How much does private assistance cost?
The starting prices published by Antecedentes Criminais Brasil are:
| Service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Assisted issuance | R$ 30 |
| Hague apostille | R$ 95 |
| Sworn translation | R$ 110 per page |
The amounts refer to private services. Notary fees are charged separately where applicable.
The federal certificate issued directly by the Federal Police remains free.
Before hiring, confirm which services are needed in your case. The need for an apostille, translation or assistance should not be presumed just because the documents will be used outside Brazil.
How to decide whether you need help
If your need is limited to issuing the federal certificate, start directly with the Federal Police portal.
Issuance is free and immediate, and you can make the request yourself.
If you need a state document, consult first the Civil Police or the service for the corresponding state.
If you are in Minas Gerais, check the condition tied to an ID card issued in the state. In Paraná, consider the published information on online issuance, free of charge, the up to 24 hours time and the 90-day validity. In Rio Grande do Sul, look for the Civil Police's Certidão de Antecedentes Policiais service.
If your question involves document preparation for use abroad, you can ask for a review of your case.
The aim is to identify the need presented and clarify which private services may be relevant, without replacing the information or decisions of the responsible authorities.
Ask for guidance on your certificate
Using the certificate abroad, or stuck on the request? Leave your contact: we review the case and tell you the deadline and price before any payment.
If you prefer, go to our contact page to find the way to reach us.
You can also learn more about the service on the about page or return to the home page of Antecedentes Criminais Brasil.
Sources
The information on federal issuance, state services, folha corrida and criminal judicial certificates presented on this page is based on the following addresses:
- Federal Police (Polícia Federal) — Criminal records: https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/antecedentes-criminais
- gov.br — Issue a Criminal Record Certificate: https://www.gov.br/pt-br/servicos/emitir-certidao-de-antecedentes-criminais
- Santa Catarina Court of Justice (TJSC) — Folha corrida and criminal record certificate: https://www.tjsc.jus.br/web/imprensa/-/-folha-corrida-certidao-de-antecedente-criminal-pode-ser-solicitada-pela-internet
- Federal Justice Council (Conselho da Justiça Federal) — Resolution No. 680/2020: https://www.cjf.jus.br/publico/biblioteca/Res%20680-2020.pdf
- TRF1 — Unified Certificate System of the Federal Court: https://www.trf1.jus.br/trf1/noticias/lancado-sistema-de-certidao-unificada-da-justica-federal-saiba-como-acessar-
- Portal MG — Obtain the criminal records atestado: https://www.mg.gov.br/servico/obter-o-atestado-de-antecedentes-criminais
- Portal PR — Request the criminal records atestado: https://www.parana.pr.gov.br/servicos/Seguranca/Atestados-e-Certidoes/Solicitar-Atestado-de-Antecedentes-Criminais-eVoG68rb
- Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul — Issue the police-records certificate: https://www.pc.rs.gov.br/emitir-certidao-de-antecedentes-policiais
Issuing conditions must be checked directly with the authority responsible for the requested document.