This is an independent guide. The Brazilian Federal Police and state Civil Police issue their own certificates; Antecedentes Criminais Brasil is a private service, not a government agency, and can assist with issuance, apostille, and sworn translation.
The UK asks for a Brazilian certificate on covered routes only, for example Skilled Worker applicants applying from outside the UK in education, health, therapy or social services, if you were in Brazil for 12 months or more in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over. The Federal Police issues it online, free. A certificate not in English needs a certified translation; the UK sources list no apostille.
| Quick answer | |
|---|---|
| What you need | A criminal record certificate from Brazil if your route is covered and you meet the 12-month rule; the sources do not say whether the PF certificate alone is enough |
| Where to get it | PF online service (free); the Home Office Brazil guidance also names a friend or relative with a procuração |
| Time | PF validity 90 days. UK: for your latest country of residence, issued no earlier than 6 months before the application |
| Cost | PF certificate: free. Our optional assistance: from R$ 30 |
| Apostille | Not listed in the UK sources we rely on; translation is (ours: apostille from R$ 95, cartório fee excluded) |
When do you need a Brazilian police certificate for the UK?
The confirmed example comes from the Skilled Worker document guidance: an application made from outside the UK by someone working in education, health, therapy or social services. This does not mean every UK visa applicant needs a Brazilian certificate. First check whether the requirement applies to your route and occupation.
Under the Home Office certificate requirement, a certificate is required for every country, other than the UK, where the person has been present for 12 months or more in the 10 years before applying, while aged 18 or over. Stays may be continuous or in total, so several separate periods in Brazil add up. Add up all your adult stays in the 10-year window before deciding. Other UK procedures may have other rules; do not apply the Skilled Worker conditions to every situation.
UK checklist
- Visa and job. Is this an application from outside the UK for a covered Skilled Worker role?
- Time in Brazil. At least 12 months, continuous or in total, in the past 10 years, aged 18 or over?
- Other countries. Does the same threshold apply elsewhere? You may need more than one certificate.
- Document. Does the Home Office expect the PF certificate or something more? The sources do not say.
- Format. An original or a scanned copy of a certificate issued by the relevant authority is accepted.
- Language. A certificate not in English needs a certified translation.
- Issue date. For your latest country of residence the certificate must be issued no earlier than 6 months before the application date.
Federal Police or state certificate for the UK?
The Federal Police certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) is free, online and valid for 90 days, according to the PF. See our guide to the federal certificate. State Civil Police authorities issue their own certificates; the two are not interchangeable, and a court document is not a police certificate.
The UK sources we rely on do not state whether a Brazilian applicant must submit a PF certificate, a state certificate or both. Do not buy a second document on the assumption that it is required. A sensible question for the UK decision-maker is: "Is the Brazilian Federal Police certificate sufficient, or do you also require a certificate from the state where I lived?" If the answer names a document, follow it; if it is unclear, ask again before ordering anything else.
How to get the certificate from abroad for the UK
The PF service page says the certificate is issued online and free. The Home Office's Brazil country guidance also names a route for third-party representatives: a friend or relative holding a power of attorney (procuração) can obtain the document on your behalf.
- Check what the UK wants. Confirm that the rule applies and which document is acceptable. This avoids ordering documents that do not answer the actual requirement.
- Use the official PF service. It is free; you do not need a private intermediary to use it. If it cannot issue your certificate, do not assume another document will be accepted.
- Consider a representative. If you cannot do it yourself, the Home Office guidance describes a friend or relative with a procuração. Confirm the form of authorization before sending paperwork. The official guidance consulted does not describe a consular procedure; confirm the applicable channel with the issuing authority before acting.
- Check the certificate against your details. You can validate it. The issuing police authority remains responsible for its content; a private service cannot change it.
- Translate. A Portuguese certificate needs a certified English translation that meets the Home Office requirements.
- Ask about apostille before ordering one; see below.
Apostille and translation for the UK
These are separate steps. An apostille authenticates the origin of a public document; a translation makes it readable in the required language. Having one does not satisfy the rules for the other.
The confirmed UK rule is about language. The Home Office states that a certificate not in English needs a translated copy that meets paragraph 39B(f) of the Immigration Rules, and the Skilled Worker page asks for a certified translation of documents not in English or Welsh. A translation called "sworn" in Brazil does not by itself prove that it meets the UK standard, so verify with the UK authority before commissioning it.
The UK sources we rely on do not require a Hague apostille for the Brazilian certificate. In general Brazilian practice, documents issued in Brazil for use in Hague Convention countries are apostilled at authorized cartórios, but that is not evidence that the Home Office asks for one. Ask the authority whether it wants one and which document it applies to. If it does, see our apostille and international use guide. If it does not, do not buy one.
How recent must the certificate be for the UK?
Brazilian validity. The PF says its certificate is valid for 90 days. This is the issuer's statement, not a promise that the UK will accept it for that long.
UK acceptance. For the applicant's latest country of residence, the certificate must be issued no earlier than 6 months before the date of application. So it matters whether Brazil is your latest country of residence. The sources we rely on give no issue-date rule for other countries, so confirm it with the Home Office. For other procedures, the official sources consulted do not set an acceptance period; confirm it with the responsible authority.
The 12-month and 10-year figures decide which countries need certificates; they do not say how old a certificate may be. Do not treat "90 days" as a universal UK deadline, or "6 months" as an extension of the PF validity.
Mistakes to avoid with UK applications
- Assuming every UK visa needs a Brazilian certificate. The confirmed rule covers specific routes.
- Counting only one stay in Brazil. Separate periods add up toward the 12 months.
- Ordering a state certificate or an apostille before the UK authority has asked for it.
- Using the 90-day PF validity as the UK deadline, or the 6-month UK rule as an extension of the PF validity.
- Submitting a Portuguese certificate without a certified English translation.
- Sending a representative before you have confirmed the form of authorization.
Price in BRL for the UK certificate
| Optional service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Assisted certificate issuance | from R$ 30 |
| Hague apostille assistance (cartório fee excluded) | from R$ 95 |
| Sworn translation | from R$ 110 per page |
The PF certificate is free when requested directly. These are approximate starting prices for private assistance, in Brazilian reais; extra translated pages cost more. We explain the price for your case before payment. Order only the services the UK authority actually requires; the apostille is optional and may not apply to your case. We do not promise delivery time or acceptance.
Need help with your Brazilian certificate for the UK?
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.
We are an independent private service. Only the issuing authorities issue certificates, and the UK authority decides what it accepts.
Sources
- UK Home Office, criminal record certificate requirement: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-record-certificate-requirement/criminal-record-certificate-requirement-accessible
- GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa documents: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/documents-you-must-provide
- UK Home Office, criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Brazil): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants/countries-a-to-f-applying-for-a-criminal-records-check-for-someone-from-overseas
- Brazilian Federal Police, Antecedentes Criminais: https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/antecedentes-criminais
- Itamaraty, apostille of documents: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/legalizacao-de-documentos/apostilamento-de-documentos