A Brazilian criminal record certificate 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: an atestado de antecedentes criminais is a document stating whether a person has criminal records, depending on the issuing service. The PF certificate is online, free, immediate and valid for 90 days; Minas Gerais and Paraná have their own state conditions. Check which authority the recipient named. Our optional help starts from R$ 30.
| Quick answer | |
|---|---|
| What you need | The document the recipient named: federal certificate or state atestado |
| Where to get it | PF online portal; Portal MG; Paraná state portal |
| Time | PF: immediate; Paraná: up to 24 hours; Minas Gerais: not stated in the sources |
| Cost | PF and Paraná: free; our assistance from R$ 30 |
| Apostille | Only if the recipient requires it; ours from R$ 95, notary fee (cartório) extra |
The atestado de antecedentes criminais (criminal record attestation) is a document used to present information on whether or not criminal records exist, depending on the service and the authority responsible for issuing it.
People looking for this document come across different expressions: atestado de antecedentes, certidão de antecedentes criminais (criminal record certificate), federal criminal records, atestado de bons antecedentes (good-conduct attestation) and certidão negativa criminal (negative criminal certificate). Before making the request, it is important to identify which document was asked for and which authority must issue it.
The Federal Police provides issuance of its certificate over the internet, free of charge and immediately. The states also have their own services. In Minas Gerais and Paraná, for example, the public portals set out specific conditions of service.
If you need to use the certificate outside Brazil, we also explain how to request help with the Hague apostille, sworn translation and assisted issuance.
What the atestado de antecedentes means
The atestado de antecedentes criminais is a document related to a person's criminal-record status, according to the information provided by the issuing authority.
See also what criminal records are and how they differ from a certificate and from "nada consta".
In Minas Gerais, for example, the state portal describes the atestado as a document that states whether or not a criminal record exists and shows the applicant's situation at the exact moment of the request.
At the federal level, the Federal Police offers issuance of the criminal record certificate through an electronic service.
Are the atestado and the criminal record certificate the same thing?
The expressions appear in searches and requests related to criminal records, but it is not appropriate to assume that any document presented under these names will be accepted in every situation.
The key point is to identify the origin of the certificate.
One person may be looking for a certificate issued by the Federal Police, while another needs an atestado issued by a state service.
So before requesting the document, try to clarify three points:
- Which document was requested: an atestado, a federal certificate or a state document?
- Is there an indication of which authority must issue the certificate?
- Will the document be presented in Brazil or in another country?
These questions help direct the request without assuming that one certificate automatically replaces another.
To understand the document and its purpose better, see also our page on the criminal record certificate.
How to issue the atestado de antecedentes criminais through the Federal Police
The Federal Police offers issuance of the federal certificate over the internet.
According to the information published on gov.br, the service has three important features:
- Issuance is free.
- The certificate is issued immediately.
- The document is valid for 90 days.
To start the request, open the Federal Police electronic service:
Issue a criminal record certificate through the Federal Police
This is the route for people who want to use the federal service directly.
Free issuance does not depend on hiring a private company. You can open the portal and request the certificate on your own.
If you run into difficulties or need to prepare the document for presentation abroad, you can consider hiring private assistance.
What does "federal criminal records" mean?
The expression antecedentes criminais federal (federal criminal records) refers to a search for the certificate provided by the Federal Police.
The advantage of recognizing this expression is avoiding confusion with the service offered by a state.
If the institution that requested the document specifically named the Federal Police, the starting point is the federal service.
If the requirement mentions a state authority, you will need to check the corresponding service.
Do not assume that the federal certificate automatically meets every request. The issuing authority must be identified before you start the request.
See also the information on the Brazil federal police certificate.
How much does it cost to issue the federal certificate?
Issuance of the criminal record certificate by the Federal Police is free.
This means there is no need to hire private assistance just to use the electronic service provided by the PF.
The amounts charged by private companies refer to additional services, such as help with issuance or document preparation.
At Antecedentes Criminais Brasil, assisted issuance is offered from R$ 30. That amount corresponds to the private service, not to an issuing fee charged by the Federal Police.
Atestado de bons antecedentes: when it is requested
The expression atestado de bons antecedentes (good-conduct attestation) also appears when someone looks for a document related to their criminal-record situation.
See also the guide on the criminal record declaration.
However, this expression alone does not make it possible to determine which certificate is needed.
Is the atestado de bons antecedentes mandatory for working?
In the official content consulted, no general rule was found that makes presenting criminal records mandatory for every job.
So it is not correct to say that all workers must present this document or that the same requirement applies to every hire.
If a company or institution asks for an atestado de bons antecedentes, try to confirm which certificate must be presented.
When there are doubts about the obligation or about the accepted documentation, the information should be checked with the requesting institution and with the responsible authority.
For a general rule applicable to every employment situation, the information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
How to request an atestado de bons antecedentes in Minas Gerais
Portal MG offers an online criminal record atestado service.
According to the information published by the state government, the electronic service is available to people who hold an identity card (carteira de identidade) issued in Minas Gerais, subject to the service condition stated by the portal itself.
The Minas Gerais portal also clarifies the purpose of the document: to state whether or not a criminal record exists at the time of the request.
So when looking for an atestado in Minas Gerais, first check whether you meet the identification condition required for the online service.
Difference between the PF and state services
One of the most common questions when looking for an atestado de antecedentes criminais is the difference between the Federal Police service and the state services.
Both relate to issuing criminal-record documents, but they are provided by different authorities.
The Federal Police has a federal electronic service. The states, in turn, may have their own services and conditions for requests.
The information consulted lets us compare concrete situations of the Federal Police, Minas Gerais and Paraná, without setting a single rule for all Brazilian states.
Federal Police criminal record certificate
The federal certificate is provided by the Federal Police.
According to gov.br, its issuance is free over the internet, happens immediately and the document is valid for 90 days.
Anyone looking for Federal Police criminal records can start directly with the PF issuing portal shown above.
State criminal record atestado
State services must be analyzed according to the rules published by each issuing authority.
In Minas Gerais, the electronic service meets the identification conditions stated by Portal MG. The atestado states whether or not a criminal record exists at the time of the request.
In Paraná, the service has different features: the document is requested over the internet, free of charge, and is ready in up to 24 hours.
These examples show why it is important not to apply one state's rule automatically to another.
The service criteria and times must be checked on the corresponding portal.
To explore this type, see our page on the state criminal record certificate.
Comparison of the services consulted
| Authority | Issuance | Cost | Stated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Police | Over the internet | Free | Immediate |
| Minas Gerais | Online for those who meet the state ID condition | Not stated in the facts consulted | Not stated in the facts consulted |
| Paraná | Over the internet | Free | Up to 24 hours |
The federal certificate has a stated validity of 90 days. The Paraná portal also states a validity of 90 days for its document.
For Minas Gerais, the information used in this guide does not establish a validity period.
It is not appropriate to extend these data automatically to other documents or states.
What does "certidão negativa criminal" mean?
The expression certidão negativa criminal (negative criminal certificate) is among the terms used by people searching for criminal-record documents.
However, this name, on its own, does not identify which authority must issue the requested document.
The Minas Gerais portal states that its atestado shows whether or not a criminal record exists at the time of the request.
How to request it without generalizing requirements
To request an atestado de antecedentes criminais, the first step is to identify the authority responsible for issuing it.
For a complete walkthrough, see how to get a Brazil criminal record.
The route may vary depending on the requested document.
The official information consulted presents services of the Federal Police, Minas Gerais and Paraná, each with its own features.
Step 1: identify which document was requested
Read the requirement you received and try to identify whether it mentions:
- A criminal record certificate from the Federal Police.
- A state criminal record atestado.
- A document identified by another name.
If the requirement does not identify the issuing authority, confirm that before requesting the document.
This step avoids starting a procedure that may not match the request you received.
Step 2: consult the corresponding public service
For the federal certificate, use the Federal Police electronic portal.
Issuance is free and immediate, according to the information published on gov.br.
If the request concerns Minas Gerais, check the identification condition stated on Portal MG.
For Paraná, the state portal says the request is made entirely over the internet, free of charge.
In that state, the certificate is ready in up to 24 hours and is valid for 90 days.
These conditions are specific to the respective services.
Do not assume that all states use the same criteria, times or procedures.
Step 3: check the stated validity
Before presenting a document, check the validity stated for the service used.
The Federal Police states that its certificate is valid for 90 days.
In Paraná, the state portal also states a validity of 90 days.
This information does not mean that every criminal record atestado issued in Brazil necessarily has an identical validity.
Also, these data alone do not show whether a receiving institution requires a specific issue date.
If you have that doubt, confirm directly with whoever will receive the document.
Step 4: check whether the document will be used abroad
People who are outside Brazil, or who need to present a Brazilian certificate in another country, may face an additional step of document preparation.
Depending on the requirement you received, a Hague apostille or sworn translation may be needed.
Do not assume that these services are mandatory for every country or purpose.
The ideal is to first identify the requested document and check what the recipient requires.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers private assistance for situations in which a person needs help with issuance and document preparation.
The services available include:
| Private service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Assisted issuance | From R$ 30 |
| Hague apostille | From R$ 95 |
| Sworn translation | From R$ 110 per page |
The amounts refer to private services. Notary fees (emolumentos cartorários) are charged separately where applicable.
Hiring assistance does not change the fact that the federal certificate can be requested free of charge from the Federal Police.
Nor does it mean that every document will require all three services shown.
To learn more about document preparation related to the Hague apostille for criminal records, see our specific page.
Step 5: ask for guidance if you cannot complete the request
If you do not know which document to request, run into difficulties with issuance or need to prepare the certificate for use abroad, you can contact our team.
The private service is meant to review the need you present and explain the assistance options available.
Before hiring any service, you can tell us which document was requested, which authority was named and where you intend to present it.
With that information, we can review the case and tell you the deadline and price before any payment.
We do not promise a single procedure for every situation, because issuance and documentary requirements depend on the authorities and services involved.
Sources
The information on the public services and their issuing conditions was organized from the following sources:
- Federal Police (Polícia Federal) — Criminal Records: https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/antecedentes-criminais
- Portal MG — Obtain the Criminal Records Atestado: https://www.mg.gov.br/servico/obter-o-atestado-de-antecedentes-criminais
- Paraná Portal — Request the Criminal Records Atestado: https://www.parana.pr.gov.br/servicos/Seguranca/Atestados-e-Certidoes/Solicitar-Atestado-de-Antecedentes-Criminais-eVoG68rb
These sources present specific information on the services consulted. When a condition, requirement or procedure is not documented in these references, we recommend confirming directly with the responsible authority.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil
A Brazilian 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.