A Brazilian criminal record certificate (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais) is issued by the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) 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: a state certificate comes from the Civil Police or portal of the state concerned, and the rules differ by state: Minas Gerais ties online issuance to an ID issued in that state, Paraná is free, online and ready in up to 24 hours, Rio Grande do Sul issues through the Civil Police website. Our optional help starts from R$ 30.
| Quick answer | |
|---|---|
| What you need | The state document the recipient named (not the same as the federal PF certificate) |
| Where to get it | MG: Portal MG; PR: state portal; RS: Civil Police website; other states: the responsible authority |
| Time | Paraná: up to 24 hours; other states: confirm with the authority |
| Cost | Paraná: free; our assistance from R$ 30 |
| Apostille | Only if the recipient requires it; ours from R$ 95, cartório fee extra |
People looking for state criminal records (antecedentes criminais estadual) usually need to identify where to request the document, which authority issues it and whether the procedure can be done over the internet. These answers depend on the state responsible for the service and on the conditions set for each type of service.
It is also important to distinguish the state certificate from the Federal Police criminal record certificate. Although both appear in searches on criminal records, the choice of document must take into account what was requested by the institution that will receive it.
In some states, there is specific information on online issuance, in-person service and whether it is free. In others, you need to consult the responsible authority directly before starting the request.
This guide gathers the confirmed facts for Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, explains how to identify the right route and presents the pages on this site that help you continue your research state by state.
When to go to the Civil Police
What are state criminal records?
When an institution asks for state criminal records, the first step is to identify which document it expects to receive and from which state it must be issued.
The state Civil Police are among the authorities responsible for issuing criminal record certificates. The Federal Police also issues a criminal record certificate, but that does not mean any document can automatically replace another.
For that reason, searching only for "certidão de antecedentes criminais" or "atestado de antecedentes criminais" may not be enough to identify the right service.
Before making the request, try to clarify three points:
- Did the institution ask for a state or a federal document?
- Is a specific state named for issuance?
- Does the request require any feature that needs to be confirmed with the responsible service?
These questions help avoid choosing a route that does not match the documentation requested.
Issuing criminal records in Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais offers an example of how access conditions to a state service can affect the procedure.
According to Portal MG, online issuance of the criminal record atestado is available to people who hold an identity card (carteira de identidade) issued in the state of Minas Gerais itself, under the condition stated by the service.
This means that, before trying to issue it over the internet, the applicant must check whether they meet the identification condition stated by the portal.
The identity document is therefore a relevant point in choosing the type of service in this specific case.
People whose ID was issued by another state should not assume they can use the same online option. Portal MG sets an in-person route for this situation.
If your research is specifically about Minas Gerais, see also the page on the Minas Gerais criminal record certificate.
When is the request state-level and when is it federal?
The fundamental difference for guiding your search is to identify the issuing authority that was requested.
If the requirement expressly mentions a state certificate, look for the instructions of the corresponding state authority. If it mentions Brazil federal police certificate, identify the federal service.
It is not advisable to choose between these routes only because one is easier to issue.
A certificate issued by one authority should not be considered equivalent to another's without confirmation from the receiving institution.
This is especially important when the applicant comes across different names, such as:
- Atestado de antecedentes criminais.
- Certidão de antecedentes criminais.
- Certidão de antecedentes policiais.
- State criminal records.
- Federal criminal records.
These expressions appear in searches for documents, but the name used does not replace the need to identify the responsible authority and the document requested.
Can you request it directly from the issuing authority?
Yes. The certificate can be requested by the person concerned, subject to the conditions of the chosen service.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil does not replace the issuing authorities. Our work is private and focused on guidance about request routes and on complementary services when needed.
For people who can use the procedure offered by the responsible authority, requesting directly may be the right route.
People who have difficulty identifying the correct service can seek guidance before hiring any assistance.
How state routes vary
Are the rules the same in every state?
Do not assume that the issuing conditions found in one state automatically apply to the others.
The confirmed examples show differences in the form of service and in the information published by the state authorities.
In Minas Gerais, there is a condition tied to the state that issued the identity card for using the online service.
In Paraná, the state portal states free issuance over the internet and a time of up to 24 hours for the atestado to be made available.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the Civil Police states that the police-records certificate (certidão de antecedentes policiais) is issued on its website.
These examples serve to guide the research, but they are not a complete survey of all Brazilian states.
Not enough official facts were found to compare all the states in a single table.
For that reason, any nationwide comparison of times, prices, types of service or requirements would need additional information from the corresponding authorities.
Can someone with an ID from another state request the atestado in Minas Gerais?
Portal MG gives specific guidance for this situation.
According to the state service, people who hold an identity card issued by another state must request the criminal record atestado in person in Minas Gerais.
The portal also states that, in this form, no appointment is needed.
So there are two situations that need to be distinguished:
ID issued in Minas Gerais: the applicant can check the online service provided by Portal MG, observing the condition set for the service.
ID issued by another state: Portal MG directs the request to be made in person, with no appointment needed.
It is important not to turn this state rule into nationwide guidance.
The fact that Minas Gerais sets a procedure for holders of IDs from other states does not allow us to conclude that the same requirement exists in Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul or any other state.
And São Paulo criminal records?
People researching documentation specifically related to São Paulo can continue with the page on the São Paulo criminal record certificate.
The confirmed information used in this guide does not establish requirements, times or types of issuance for São Paulo.
So it is not appropriate to apply to the state of São Paulo the conditions presented for Minas Gerais, Paraná or Rio Grande do Sul.
The guidance is to identify the responsible service and confirm its rules directly before requesting the document.
The same care applies to any other state not detailed on this page. For Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, see the pages on the Bahia criminal record certificate and the Rio de Janeiro criminal record certificate.
States with confirmed facts
The information below is limited to the state services for which specific facts were identified in the official content consulted.
It helps answer recurring questions about the criminal record atestado, the state certificate, issuance over the internet and differences in service.
Minas Gerais: who can use online issuance?
Portal MG states that the online criminal record atestado service is available to holders of an identity card issued in Minas Gerais, under the condition set by the portal.
The origin of the ID is thus an important element in determining the request route.
People who hold an ID from another state receive different guidance: issuance must be requested in person in Minas Gerais, with no appointment needed.
Both conditions need to be observed before choosing how to request the atestado.
The facts gathered for this page do not contain enough information to present a full comparison of other features of the Minas Gerais service.
To go deeper on this state, see the Minas Gerais criminal record certificate.
Paraná: free atestado over the internet
In Paraná, the state portal states that the criminal record atestado can be requested entirely over the internet.
See also when it is free at other authorities.
The service is free, and the document is ready in up to 24 hours, according to the information published by the state government.
The content consulted also states a validity of 90 days for the document.
These points answer three common questions about the Paraná atestado: the type of service, the cost of public issuance and the published time for it to be made available.
It is important to read the time correctly: the information is up to 24 hours, not guaranteed immediate issuance for every request.
The stated free service corresponds to the state public service described by the portal. It does not represent the price of any private assistance that may be hired or of complementary services.
If the document will be presented to a specific institution, it is also prudent to confirm whether the format and validity meet the requirement you received.
The official information gathered here does not allow us to say that the same conditions apply to all other states.
To follow the Paraná topic, see the Paraná criminal record certificate.
Rio Grande do Sul: issuance by the Civil Police
In Rio Grande do Sul, the Civil Police states that the Certidão de Antecedentes Policiais is issued on its website.
This information identifies the authority and the channel indicated for obtaining the state document.
People who need criminal records from Rio Grande do Sul should distinguish this service from the issuance of federal documents.
Confirmation of the issuing channel does not, by itself, support conclusions about processing time, any charge or other conditions not described in the facts gathered on this page.
Nor is it appropriate to use the Minas Gerais rules or the Paraná times as an automatic reference for the Rio Grande do Sul service.
For information related to the state, see the Rio Grande do Sul criminal record certificate.
Comparison of the information available
The three states have confirmed information on different aspects of their respective services.
| State | Confirmed information | What to note |
|---|---|---|
| Minas Gerais | Online issuance conditioned on an ID issued in the state | IDs from other states follow in-person service, no appointment |
| Paraná | Free atestado over the internet, ready in up to 24 hours | Document with a stated validity of 90 days |
| Rio Grande do Sul | Police-records certificate issued on the Civil Police website | Confirm the other conditions of the service directly |
This table summarizes only the facts available for these states. It is not a complete comparison of Brazilian state services.
For conditions not described, consult the corresponding issuing authority.
How to choose the right service
To request the atestado in order, see how to get the atestado step by step.
Do I need a state certificate or federal criminal records?
The choice starts with identifying the requested document.
The Federal Police issues the criminal record certificate, while the state Civil Police also offer issuing services for documents of this kind.
However, knowing the issuing authorities does not by itself settle which certificate must be presented.
If the receiving institution expressly asks for state criminal records, you need to identify the state and the corresponding authority.
If the request mentions federal criminal records or the Federal Police, you need to consider the federal route.
If the request is not clear, it is worth asking the institution to specify which issuing authority must appear on the document.
This confirmation avoids deciding only on the basis of a name found in an internet search.
Are the atestado and the criminal record certificate the same thing?
The names used by the services need to be checked in context.
Paraná uses the expression atestado de antecedentes criminais in its state service.
Minas Gerais also presents a criminal record atestado service.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the service identified is called Certidão de Antecedentes Policiais.
These names show how a search can lead to pages with different names.
That, however, does not allow us to say that all documents necessarily have the same purpose or are accepted interchangeably.
The choice must take into account the authority named and the document the recipient requires.
If the goal is to understand the topic more broadly, see the main page on the Brazil criminal background check.
How to identify a reliable request route
For the situations with confirmed information in this guide, use the references of the responsible authority:
- In Minas Gerais, observe the conditions published by Portal MG for online and in-person service.
- In Paraná, consider the information on the state portal about requesting over the internet, being free of charge and availability in up to 24 hours.
- In Rio Grande do Sul, identify the Certidão de Antecedentes Policiais service offered by the Civil Police.
These examples help tell guidance based on public information from a claim without confirmation.
It is also important to know whether you are using the service of the issuing authority or a private assistance site.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil provides private services. We do not issue documents on behalf of the Federal Police or the Civil Police and we do not present ourselves as a government agency.
Our role is to help the person concerned understand the request route and assess additional needs related to the document.
When to seek private help
Hiring assistance is not mandatory just because a private service exists.
People who can identify the right authority and make the request directly can do so on their own.
Assistance can be considered when a person has difficulty identifying the procedure or needs to assess complementary services, especially for using the document outside Brazil.
The services Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers include assisted issuance, the Hague apostille and sworn translation.
The need for each service must be analyzed according to the person's situation and the requirements of the receiving institution.
Private assistance does not change the conditions set by the public authorities responsible for issuance.
Can I request a state certificate while living abroad?
For people outside Brazil, the first question remains correctly identifying the document and the issuing authority.
The state conditions confirmed on this page do not allow us to set a single procedure for requesting from abroad.
In the case of Minas Gerais, for example, Portal MG states the in-person service requirement for holders of an ID issued by another state. That fact should not be ignored just because the person is outside the country.
For other aspects of requesting from abroad, you need to confirm the conditions that apply to the specific service.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers assisted issuance for people abroad, but whether we can help and which steps are needed depend on a review of each case.
Use abroad
What to check before using state criminal records in another country
People who intend to present a Brazilian certificate abroad should start by identifying exactly which document was requested.
It is important to confirm whether the receiving institution expects a state certificate, a Federal Police document or some specific documentation.
Then you should clarify whether there are additional requirements related to how the document is presented.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers help with issuance, with the Hague apostille for criminal records and with sworn translation, but the existence of these services does not mean all of them are mandatory in every situation.
The need for an apostille or translation must be confirmed according to the intended use.
It is not appropriate to hire complementary services just because they appear associated with searches on criminal records.
Does the state certificate need an apostille?
The Hague apostille is one of the services Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers for documents meant for use abroad.
However, the official facts gathered for this page do not establish a general rule on the need to apostille every state certificate.
The requirement must be checked according to the institution that will receive the document and the context of use.
When an apostille is requested, you can consider hiring the corresponding private service.
The stated price for the Hague apostille service starts from R$ 95, with the notary fee (emolumento cartorário) charged separately where applicable.
This amount should not be read as a single guaranteed price for every procedure.
Before hiring, ask for confirmation of the service needed and the applicable prices.
When is a sworn translation needed?
Sworn translation (tradução juramentada) is also among the private services Antecedentes Criminais Brasil provides.
Whether it is needed depends on the requirements of the recipient of the document.
The set of facts provided for this page does not contain enough information to establish that every state certificate used abroad must necessarily be translated.
For that reason, it is important to confirm the language and the conditions of presentation required by the institution that will receive the certificate.
The sworn translation service is offered from R$ 110 per page.
The per-page indication matters for understanding how the starting price of the service is presented.
Hiring should happen after identifying the documentation and checking whether the translation is actually needed.
How much does private assistance cost?
The starting prices published by Antecedentes Criminais Brasil are:
| Private service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Assisted issuance | From R$ 30 |
| Hague apostille | From R$ 95 |
| Sworn translation | From R$ 110 per page |
The amounts shown refer to private services. The notary fee is charged separately where applicable.
These prices should not be confused with issuing costs set by the public authorities.
In Paraná, for example, the state portal states that the criminal record atestado is free.
Hiring assisted issuance is a private service option and does not change that information about the free Paraná public service.
Nor is it correct to assume that every certificate request will need all three services in the table.
The need for assisted issuance, apostille and translation must be assessed individually.
Is there a single rule for issuing state certificates meant for use abroad?
The facts gathered for this page contain no official information sufficient to present a single national procedure covering all states and all situations of international use.
The confirmed information concerns specific issuing conditions in Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.
It does not establish complete rules on the international use of those states' documents or on any requirements of foreign institutions.
The information was not found in the official content consulted; confirm directly on the portal of the responsible authority.
This caveat is especially important when the research involves a state not included among the confirmed examples.
Do not use a time published by Paraná as a forecast for other states, or apply the ID condition set by Minas Gerais to requests made across the country.
Each piece of information must be tied to the service for which it was published.
What to do if I cannot complete the request
If you had difficulty obtaining state criminal records, first organize the information about the requested document.
Identify the state, the authority named by the receiving institution and the difficulty you met during the request.
If the certificate will be used abroad, it is also important to clarify whether complementary services such as the Hague apostille or sworn translation were requested.
With that information, the case can be presented for a private-assistance review.
This is not a guarantee of issuance, acceptance or a specific deadline. The review serves to identify the need presented and to state the conditions of the service before any payment.
Ask for a review of your case
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.
Leave your contact through the form to explain what you need.
If you prefer to get to know the service before asking for help, see the about and contact pages.
Sources
The information on state services on this page is based on the following sources:
- Portal MG — Obtain the Criminal Records Atestado. Conditions for online issuance for holders of an ID issued in Minas Gerais and in-person service for IDs from other states.
https://www.mg.gov.br/servico/obter-o-atestado-de-antecedentes-criminais
- Paraná Government Portal — Request the Criminal Records Atestado. Information on service entirely over the internet, free of charge, a time of up to 24 hours and validity of 90 days.
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. Information on issuing the certificate on the state Civil Police website.
https://www.pc.rs.gov.br/emitir-certidao-de-antecedentes-policiais
Conditions not confirmed in the sources gathered must be checked directly with the responsible authority. This page does not replace the instructions of the issuing service.
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil — Private service
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.