Brazil's criminal record certificate is issued by the Federal Police and by the state Civil Police, 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 Brazilian Federal Police (PF) issues its criminal record certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) free of charge, over the internet, and it is valid for 90 days. You can request it yourself with no intermediary. Some people, such as those who share their name with others (homonyms), cannot complete the request online. "NADA CONSTA" has a specific meaning described below.
| Quick answer | |
|---|---|
| What you need | PF Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais (federal; state Civil Police certificates are a different document) |
| Where to get it | PF online service, reached through the Gov.br service page |
| Time | Issued immediately when the request completes normally; valid for 90 days |
| Cost | Free from the PF. Our optional assistance: from R$ 30 |
| Apostille | Separate service, only if the recipient requires it (ours: from R$ 95, cartório fee excluded) |
If you need the Brazilian federal criminal record certificate, the first route is the Federal Police service. Issuance over the internet is free and immediate, and the certificate is valid for 90 days, according to the information published by the Brazilian government.
You can start the request yourself, without hiring a company. However, not every request is completed online. People who share a name with others, known as homonyms, may run into difficulties.
It is also important to understand what the certificate says. The result "NADA CONSTA" has a specific meaning in the Federal Police service and should not be read as an unlimited statement about any legal situation.
Is the Brazilian federal police certificate free?
You can request the Federal Police criminal record certificate free of charge, directly over the internet. You do not need an intermediary or a fee to use the public service. According to the Federal Police, issuance is free and immediate when the request is completed normally, and the document is valid for 90 days.
If you are looking for a free Brazilian police certificate, the first step is the public service on the Gov.br portal.
Here is the difference between the two routes:
| Criterion | PF portal (free) | Private assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of issuance | Free | Assisted issuance from R$ 30 |
| Who issues the certificate | Federal Police | Still the PF; the private service only assists |
| When to use it | When you can complete the request yourself | When the request is stuck, there is a homonym difficulty, or you need help from abroad |
| Time | Immediate when the procedure completes normally | No guaranteed time; depends on the circumstances of the request and the issuing body |
| Mandatory | No | No. Private help is optional |
| Result | Certificate issued by the PF service | Help with the request, with no guarantee of issuance or outcome |
When the request gets stuck
The Gov.br service says that some people cannot issue the certificate over the internet because other people have the same name. This situation is known as homonymy. If the system does not complete the issuance, read the message shown and follow the instructions provided by the Federal Police. Do not assume that every difficulty is caused by homonyms.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers assisted issuance from R$ 30, especially where the request was not completed, there are homonym-related difficulties, or the applicant is abroad. That price is for the private assistance, not a charge by the Federal Police. The assistance does not guarantee that the certificate will be issued and sets no completion time.
For use outside Brazil, separate services may also be needed, depending on the recipient's requirements: Hague apostille from R$ 95 and sworn translation from R$ 110 per page. For a one-page certificate, translation starts at R$ 110. The cartório fee is charged separately where applicable.
Federal Police certificate or Federal Court certificate
The criminal record certificate of the Federal Police and the criminal judicial certificate of the Federal Courts (Justiça Federal) are not equivalent documents.
The PF certificate shows "NADA CONSTA" when there is no record of a conviction with final judgment in the service consulted. The criminal judicial certificate of the Federal Courts follows the criteria of CJF Resolution No. 680/2020. Under article 14, it lists criminal cases in progress and archived cases with a final conviction, until the fulfilment or extinction of the sentence is recorded.
Article 15 provides that the criminal judicial certificate is positive only where there is a final conviction in a case of the classes listed in Annex II of the resolution. So the mere existence of a case in progress does not, in itself, make the certificate positive.
In the Unified Federal Court Certificate system, you choose the type of certificate (criminal, civil or electoral) and the Regional Federal Courts (TRFs) you want to search.
If an institution specifically asks for a Federal Court criminal certificate (in Portuguese), do not assume the free PF certificate will be enough.
What the PF certificate shows
The Federal Police certificate is a document issued by the federal service for consulting criminal records. According to the service on Gov.br, the Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais (CAC) returns the information "NADA CONSTA" when there is no record of a conviction with final judgment ("trânsito em julgado") in the service consulted. That definition matters because it limits what the result means.
What does NADA CONSTA mean?
When the federal certificate shows "NADA CONSTA", the result indicates that no record of a final conviction was identified in the service consulted, under the criterion given by the Federal Police. The expression should not be stretched to situations that this definition does not describe.
For example, if an institution asks for a specific document about criminal records, confirm whether the federal certificate corresponds exactly to the document it requires.
Are federal and state certificates the same thing?
No; do not confuse the issuer. The federal certificate is issued by the Federal Police. The state Civil Police also issue criminal record documents. Before you start, check whether the institution that asks for the document specified the Federal Police or a state Civil Police.
If the request expressly mentions Federal Police records, use the federal service described on this page. If a state document is required, see our content on state criminal records (in Portuguese). If the institution does not clearly name the issuer, try to confirm it before you request or submit a document.
Do you pay for the federal certificate?
No. Issuance by the Federal Police is free. That information appears in the service provided by the Brazilian government, which also states that issuance is over the internet and that the certificate is valid for 90 days. There is no need to hire private help for a request you can complete directly on the PF portal.
How long is the certificate valid?
The Federal Police says the certificate is valid for 90 days, so check the issue date before you submit the document. If you are putting documents together for an institution, employer or procedure abroad, also confirm which certificate was requested and what presentation conditions the recipient has set.
The 90-day validity does not by itself mean that any institution will accept the document in any circumstance. The purpose of the submission has to be considered separately.
How to issue it through the PF service
To obtain the Federal Police criminal record certificate, use the issuance portal provided by the PF itself.
Access the service: Issue the criminal record certificate, Federal Police
The federal service lets you request the certificate over the internet, free of charge. According to the information published on Gov.br, issuance is immediate when the procedure completes normally.
Where to start
Go directly to the Federal Police portal, find the option to issue the certificate and follow the instructions the system shows. To organize your request:
- Open the Federal Police issuance address given above.
- Read the guidance shown in the service before you continue.
- Fill in the information the system asks for, checking the data you enter.
- Follow the response displayed by the portal.
- If the certificate is issued, check the document and the result it shows.
- Note the 90-day validity stated by the Federal Police.
Is issuance really immediate?
The Federal Police says the certificate is issued free of charge and immediately over the internet. There is, however, an important exception documented by the Gov.br service: some people cannot issue the certificate online because other people have the same name. That situation is known as homonymy. So although the service is described as immediate, that does not mean every individual attempt will end with an issued certificate.
What to do when your name matches someone else's
If you have a common name or know that other people share your name, consider the possibility of homonymy. The Brazilian government itself says this factor can prevent online issuance in some cases. The most prudent step is to read the guidance shown by the Federal Police service and confirm with the responsible body how to proceed.
Can I request it without help?
Yes. The federal certificate can be requested by the person concerned. Issuance by the Federal Police is free, and hiring assistance is not a condition for using the public service. If you only need the federal certificate and can make the request normally, go straight to the PF portal.
For broader information about documents and terminology, see our page on the criminal record certificate (in Portuguese). If you come across the term "atestado de antecedentes criminais" in a document requirement, confirm which body must issue the document before you start.
Completing the request
After you start the request, distinguish three situations: the request was completed and the certificate issued; the system could not complete the issuance; or you need to clarify the meaning of the result shown. These situations should not be treated as equivalent.
How to read the result
The central information provided by the Gov.br service is the meaning of "NADA CONSTA". According to the government's description, the Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais returns this expression when there is no record of a conviction with final judgment in the service. The term "trânsito em julgado" is part of the definition given by the body. The reading of the result should therefore stay tied to that criterion, without turning it into statements about situations the source does not describe.
If you searched for "criminal record" or "negative criminal certificate", the main point is to identify which document was actually issued and what information it shows. Wording used in internet searches or informal requests does not replace identifying the issuing body and the required document.
Which data must be correct?
When using the service, follow the instructions shown on the portal and check the requested information carefully. The official content collected for this page does not set out a complete list of the fields required in the form, nor verified rules for every possible registration discrepancy. For that reason we do not list mandatory personal documents or a specific correction procedure here.
If you have a doubt about a field or about any item of the request, look for the corresponding guidance in the Federal Police service itself. If the request was completed, examine the document provided before you use it. Attention to the data entered does not replace checking the origin, content and validity of the certificate.
What if the certificate will be used abroad?
Before arranging additional documents, confirm what the recipient asks for. The certificate issued by the Federal Police and private document preparation services are not the same thing. PF issuance is free. Private assistance, the Hague apostille and sworn translation are separate services that you may consider according to your needs.
To understand this type of preparation, see our page on the Hague apostille for criminal records (in Portuguese). The need for each step must be confirmed for your concrete case, without assuming that all documents intended for use abroad have the same requirements. For country-specific guidance, see our guides for the USA, Canada, the UK and Ireland.
Homonym, protocol or discrepancy
Not every attempt at issuance ends with the document available. One of the difficulties expressly recognized by the Brazilian government is the existence of homonyms. That information should not be used to explain automatically any error message, discrepancy or failure to complete the request.
What is a homonym problem?
Homonyms are people who have the same name. The Gov.br service says some citizens may be unable to issue the Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais over the internet because other people share their name. This identifies homonymy as a possible cause of difficulty in the electronic procedure. It does not allow us to say that every issuance error is caused by matching names, and it does not tell us what procedure applies to each affected person. If the request was not completed, check the guidance shown on the Federal Police portal before you decide how to proceed.
Is there a specific procedure for homonyms?
The content consulted confirms that homonymy can prevent issuance over the internet, but it does not give a description sufficient to set out a detailed resolution procedure on this page.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible body.
This caveat avoids inappropriate guidance on supplementary documents, service channels or steps that the sources did not confirm. We cannot guarantee that everyone with the same name must follow a single procedure. The applicable instruction must be obtained from the service responsible for issuance.
What if a protocol appears?
If the system shows a protocol or another reference related to your request, follow the instructions in the service environment itself. The facts gathered for this page contain no documented rule that defines the meaning of every type of protocol, how to track it, or how it relates to completing the request.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible body.
Avoid assuming that receiving a protocol is the same as the certificate being issued. The key is to identify what the system actually reported and whether the requested document was made available. If something is still pending, clarify it through the channel indicated by the issuing body.
What if the information does not match?
A discrepancy noticed during the request has to be examined according to the message the system shows. Among the facts confirmed for this page there is no general correction procedure that can be recommended for all cases. For that reason we do not suggest specific changes to data, resubmission of information or any other measure as a guaranteed solution.
We also cannot set out here the general legal limits of the federal certificate. The research used for this content did not locate a cited rule that supports a comprehensive explanation of those limits.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible body.
When to seek further guidance
If you could not complete the issuance, need to interpret a specific message, or received a document requirement you do not understand, start with the responsible body. For questions about federal issuance, the reference is the Federal Police. For requirements of a receiving institution, confirm with that institution which document it wants.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil can provide private assistance with issuance and document preparation, especially where a Hague apostille, sworn translation or support for people abroad is needed. This assistance does not replace the Federal Police's authority to issue the certificate and is not a guarantee of results.
How to verify the certificate
Before you submit a federal criminal record certificate, verify its origin, content, validity and match with the request you received. These checks help you tell an issued document from a request attempt that was never completed.
Check where the document came from
First, identify whether the certificate was obtained through the Federal Police service. The issuance portal given on this page belongs to the federal service responsible for the document. If you have not yet made the request, use the address in the issuance section. If you already hold a certificate, try to confirm its origin through the information provided by the PF. Do not rely on the document's appearance or on information from third parties as the only criterion of authenticity. You can also read our page on how to validate a criminal record certificate (in Portuguese).
Check the 90-day validity
The Federal Police says the certificate is valid for 90 days, so check the issue date and take that period into account before using the document. If you are gathering documents in advance, consider the date on which you intend to submit them. A certificate issued free of charge over the internet remains subject to the validity stated by the body. Also distinguish the certificate's validity from the requirements set by whoever will receive it; if the recipient has stated its own conditions, confirm them with the recipient directly.
Is there an authentication tool?
The content collected for this page confirms issuance over the internet, free of charge and the 90-day validity, but it does not describe a specific authentication procedure that can be reproduced here.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible body.
We therefore do not give verification codes, authentication steps or technical resources that the supplied sources do not confirm. If you need to prove that a certificate is authentic, follow the validation instructions provided by the Federal Police.
What if the institution asks for a "negative criminal certificate"?
The expression "certidão negativa criminal" may appear in the description of documents required by third parties. It is not prudent to assume that any document mentioned this way corresponds to the certificate issued by the Federal Police. The federal service has its own definition of the result "NADA CONSTA": the absence of a record of a final conviction in the service. Before you request or submit the document, confirm the name of the issuing body required by the institution. If a federal certificate is needed, use the Federal Police service. If the requirement is different or incomplete, clarify it with the recipient.
When is private assistance worth it?
Federal issuance by the PF is free and you can do it yourself. The private service should not be confused with that procedure. Assistance may be considered when you need help organizing the request or need other services related to using the certificate.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil states the following starting prices:
| Private service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Assisted issuance | from R$ 30 |
| Hague apostille | from R$ 95 |
| Sworn translation | from R$ 110 per page |
These prices are for private services, in Brazilian reais. The cartório fee is charged separately where applicable. They are not fees for issuing the federal certificate by the Federal Police. Ordering any additional service is a decision separate from the free request offered by the public body. Before you order, clarify what work will be done, which documents will be needed and what price will be quoted for your case.
Will you use the certificate abroad, or did you run into difficulties?
If the certificate will be submitted outside Brazil, begin by identifying exactly which document the recipient asks for. Then check whether you can already obtain it directly in the federal service or whether there is a difficulty to clarify. If you need help with issuance, the Hague apostille or sworn translation, Antecedentes Criminais Brasil can review your request as a private provider. That does not change the fact that PF issuance is free, and it does not transfer to the company the authority to issue the public document.
Need help with your federal police certificate?
Need help obtaining, apostilling, or translating the Brazilian certificate? Leave your contact; we will review the case and explain the price before payment. Contact us.
See also our overview of Brazilian police clearance from abroad. We cannot guarantee issuance, acceptance or any result.
Sources
- Brazilian Federal Police, Antecedentes Criminais (free online issuance, 90-day validity): https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/antecedentes-criminais
- Gov.br, Emitir Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais (homonyms, meaning of NADA CONSTA): https://www.gov.br/pt-br/servicos/emitir-certidao-de-antecedentes-criminais
- Federal Justice Council (CJF), Resolution No. 680/2020, articles 14 and 15: https://www.cjf.jus.br/publico/biblioteca/Res%20680-2020.pdf
- Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1), launch of the Unified Federal Court Certificate system: https://www.trf1.jus.br/trf1/noticias/lancado-sistema-de-certidao-unificada-da-justica-federal-saiba-como-acessar-
The sources confirm free issuance over the internet, the 90-day validity, possible difficulties related to homonymy, the definition of "NADA CONSTA" and the criteria for the criminal judicial certificate of the Federal Courts. Questions beyond these facts, especially specific procedures for discrepancies and the general legal limits of the document, must be confirmed directly with the responsible body.