The Brazilian criminal record certificate (certidão de antecedentes criminais) is issued by the Federal Police and by the state Civil Police forces, 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.
The Rio de Janeiro Criminal Record Certificate (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais do Rio de Janeiro) is issued by the Félix Pacheco Identification Institute (Instituto de Identificação Félix Pacheco, IIFP), a body of the state Civil Police. Issuance is free, and the online request (Rio Simples) serves people with an RG or CIN issued in Rio de Janeiro by Detran-RJ or the IIFP. People with an RG from another state and foreign nationals follow a different route. The document states that no criminal record exists up to the date of issuance.
Which route applies to your case in Rio de Janeiro
| Your situation | What to request | How |
|---|---|---|
| RG or CIN issued in RJ by Detran-RJ or the IIFP | Criminal Record Certificate (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais) | Online, on Rio Simples |
| RG from another state | Civil and Criminal Records Statement (Declaração de Assentamentos Civis e Criminais) | As directed by Rio Simples |
| Foreign national | Civil and Criminal Records Statement | In person at the IIFP |
Who issues it in Rio de Janeiro
The certificate is issued by the Félix Pacheco Identification Institute (IIFP), a body of the Rio de Janeiro State Civil Police Secretariat (SEPOL). The electronic request is made in the Rio Simples environment, at the Detran-RJ address for certificates, and the gov.br portal has a state service page that also identifies the Félix Pacheco Institute as the responsible body. The address used to request does not change who issues: it is the IIFP.
State certificate and criminal record certificate
Before requesting, confirm which document the receiving institution requires. The Rio de Janeiro certificate is a specific state document, issued by the IIFP. To understand the difference, see our guide to the state criminal record certificate. If the requirement mentions only a criminal record certificate, without the issuing authority, clarify that before requesting, so that you do not ask for a state certificate when another document is expected.
Where to find the service
The Rio Simples address is under Sources, at the end of the page. The service is also registered on the gov.br portal. Check that you are on the Félix Pacheco Identification Institute service and read the conditions before filling in anything.
How to request online (Rio Simples)
Rio Simples lets you request the Criminal Record Certificate issued by the IIFP. But the online route is meant for citizens with a state identity card or a National Identity Card (Carteira de Identidade Nacional, CIN) issued in the state of Rio de Janeiro by Detran-RJ or the IIFP.
Who can use the electronic request?
The criterion is where the document was issued, not just having an RG or a CIN:
- RG issued in RJ by Detran-RJ or the IIFP;
- CIN issued in RJ by one of these bodies.
If your identity card was issued in another state, Rio Simples directs you to another document: the Civil and Criminal Records Statement (Declaração de Assentamentos Civis e Criminais).
Step by step
- Check your document. See whether the RG or CIN was issued in RJ by Detran-RJ or the IIFP.
- Open Rio Simples, at the address given in Sources, and read the information about the document and the eligibility criteria.
- Follow the system's instructions. The details of the steps should be checked on the portal itself, as they may be updated.
- Wait for release. The stated time is up to 5 days for release for printing.
- Check the document. The certificate has a validation code in the footer, which confirms authenticity.
What if I cannot complete the request?
First confirm that your identity card meets the criteria of the online service. Difficulty with Rio Simples does not, in itself, mean there is criminal information about you. If the document is from another state or you are a foreign national, see the next section before insisting on the same route.
RG from another state and foreign nationals
People who need a document from Rio de Janeiro but do not hold an identity card issued by Detran-RJ or the IIFP have their own guidance. According to Rio Simples, foreign nationals and holders of an RG from other states must request the Civil and Criminal Records Statement.
I have an RG from another state. Can I request the Rio de Janeiro certificate online?
The online certificate described by Rio Simples is for people with an RG or CIN issued in RJ by the bodies indicated. For an RG from other states, the published guidance is to request the Civil and Criminal Records Statement. If the receiving institution specifically requires the Rio de Janeiro certificate, confirm with the responsible body whether the statement meets the purpose.
I am a foreign national. How do I request?
The guidance is to request the Civil and Criminal Records Statement. The service's entry on the gov.br portal says foreign nationals must appear in person at the IIFP:
Félix Pacheco Identification Institute (IIFP) Rua Frei Caneca, No. 505, Estácio, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
The content consulted gives no list of documents for this visit; for that reason we do not present a mandatory list without confirmation from the body. Before going, check the state service page indicated in Sources.
Is the Civil and Criminal Records Statement the same as the certificate?
Rio Simples presents it as the document to request for foreign nationals and for people with an identity card issued outside RJ. It cannot be assumed that the two documents are equivalent for every purpose: note which document the body directs you to request and which the recipient requires.
See also the guide to the criminal record declaration.
What if I have more than one identification document?
The requirement for the online request is to hold an RG or CIN issued in RJ by Detran-RJ or the IIFP. If in doubt about how it applies to your documents, check with the issuing body before starting or repeating requests.
Checklist before requesting in Rio de Janeiro
- Confirm which document the receiving institution requires: the IIFP certificate, a statement or another certificate.
- Check who issued your RG or CIN and where: Detran-RJ or the IIFP, in Rio de Janeiro, determines whether the online request works for you.
- If the RG is from another state or you are a foreign national, the document to request is the Civil and Criminal Records Statement.
- Foreign nationals: attendance is in person, at the IIFP, Rua Frei Caneca, No. 505, Estácio.
- Allow up to 5 days for release and 90 days of validity from release.
- If the destination is abroad, ask the recipient whether it requires a Hague apostille or sworn translation.
Common mistakes when requesting a Rio de Janeiro criminal record certificate
- Using Rio Simples with an RG from another state. The online request is for an identity card issued in RJ; for an RG from another state, the guidance is the statement.
- Thinking the certificate comes out on the spot. The stated time is up to 5 days for release.
- Taking the statement for the certificate. They are distinct documents in the service; confirm what the recipient accepts.
- Requesting too early. The 90-day validity counts from release, so a certificate obtained too far ahead may expire before presentation.
- Expecting a "record exists" certificate. If there is a final criminal conviction, the certificate is not provided.
- Assuming acceptance abroad. Issuance, apostille and translation do not guarantee that the recipient will accept the document.
Free issuance, timing and validity
Rio Simples says that the certificate issuance service is free. This refers to issuance by the public body and does not apply to private assistance, translation or apostille services, which have their own costs.
How much does it cost to issue a Rio de Janeiro criminal record certificate?
Issuance through the public service is free and you can make the request yourself, if you meet the criteria. Our assisted issuance, a private and optional service, starts at R$ 30; that amount is not a fee of the issuing body.
How long until the certificate is ready?
The stated time is up to 5 days for release for printing. It is not immediate issuance, and the time should not be applied automatically to the Civil and Criminal Records Statement, or to apostille and translation, without confirming the conditions of each service. If you have a date by which to present the document, factor in this interval.
What is the validity?
According to Rio Simples, validity is 90 days from release by the IIFP, or at the discretion of the issuing body. If you request in advance, count the 90 days from release. Validity does not guarantee that the recipient will accept the document: check its requirements, especially for use abroad.
How do I check authenticity?
The certificate has a validation code in the footer, and Rio Simples says authenticity can be confirmed through it. Use the guidance of the responsible service for the check, without relying only on the appearance of the document.
What the certificate states
According to Rio Simples, the document states that no criminal record exists against the applicant up to the date of its issuance. It should be read within that scope: it is not a generic statement about any legal situation, nor an automatic substitute for other certificates an institution may ask for.
When is the certificate not provided?
Rio Simples establishes that the certificate will not be provided if the applicant has a final criminal conviction (sentença penal condenatória com trânsito em julgado) against them. In this route there is no "record exists" certificate. The rule applies in the context of the IIFP service and does not allow conclusions about individual cases; if in doubt, seek clarification from the competent body.
Does the certificate replace other certificates?
Do not assume so. The institution may indicate which authority must issue the document; identifying the recipient and the purpose is as important as knowing where to request.
State legislation
Which state law, decree or ordinance regulates the Rio de Janeiro certificate? The information was not found in the official content consulted; please confirm directly on the website of the responsible authority. The sources for this page identify the IIFP as the issuer and give conditions, free issuance, timing, validity and authentication, but do not allow us to indicate a regulatory act with confidence. If you need to cite the legal basis in a procedure, consult the responsible body.
Use abroad: apostille and translation
If the certificate will be presented outside Brazil, issuance is only one step. Depending on the recipient, a Hague apostille or sworn translation may be needed; confirm before hiring.
See what the Hague apostille is to understand the process.
How do I know whether I need a Hague apostille?
Check which document the foreign authority asks for (the Rio de Janeiro certificate or another) and whether it requires an apostille. Our content on the Hague apostille for criminal records explains the subject. Do not hire an apostille just because the document is going abroad.
When is a sworn translation needed?
When the recipient requires the document in another language. Confirm the language and whether a Brazilian sworn translation is actually requested. Having the translation done does not guarantee acceptance.
How much do private services cost?
Antecedentes Criminais Brasil offers private assistance. Starting prices:
| Private service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Assisted issuance | from R$ 30 |
| Hague apostille | from R$ 95 |
| Sworn translation | from R$ 110 per page |
1-page certificate: sworn translation from R$ 110. The notary office (cartório) fee is charged separately where applicable. Public issuance of the Rio de Janeiro certificate remains free and our assistance is optional. Before any payment, we state the timing and price.
I am outside Brazil. Where do I start?
Identify the document required by the recipient and check whether your RG or CIN meets Rio Simples. If your identity card is from another state or you are a foreign national, follow the guidance for the Civil and Criminal Records Statement. Then see whether an apostille and translation are needed. Our service can help review the request, with no guarantee of issuance, acceptance or outcome by the authorities.
Sources
- Rio Simples, Criminal Record Certificate (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais), Detran-RJ / IIFP: https://atestadodic.detran.rj.gov.br/Apresentacao.aspx
- gov.br, Rio de Janeiro state service, Criminal Record Certificate (Félix Pacheco Institute): https://www.gov.br/en/state-services/servico_estadual?id=17717
- gov.br, Rio de Janeiro state service, guidance for foreign nationals and attendance at the IIFP: https://www.gov.br/en/state-services/servico_estadual?id=17743