Updated October 2026 · Legal review: Isadora Rizzi, lawyer (OAB/PR 75.878)
Marriages celebrated abroad can have legal effect in Brazil, but some formalities apply. The route depends on whether the spouses are Brazilian or foreign.
If one spouse is Brazilian
A Brazilian’s marriage abroad must be registered in Brazil to have effect here. There are two routes:
- Registration at the Brazilian consulate where the marriage took place and then transcription at the 1st Civil Registry Office of the place of domicile in Brazil (or the Federal District).
- Direct transcription at the Brazilian registry office, with the foreign certificate apostilled or legalized and translated by a sworn translator.
If both spouses are foreign
To use the marriage in Brazil (for example, in a family reunion application or a property purchase), it is usually enough to present the foreign certificate apostilled and with a sworn translation. Registration at a Brazilian registry office may be required in some situations.
What about the property regime?
Under the Law of Introduction to the Norms of Brazilian Law (art. 7, § 4), the property regime follows the law of the country of the couple’s first domicile. This matters for property purchases, inheritance and divorce in Brazil.
Divorce granted abroad
A foreign judgment of simple consensual divorce can be registered directly at the registry office. In other cases, recognition by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) is required.
Learn about our document services →
Legal basis
- Law No. 6,015/1973 (Public Records), art. 32.
- Decree-Law No. 4,657/1942 (LINDB), art. 7.
- Code of Civil Procedure, art. 961.
Frequently asked questions
I married a Brazilian in Portugal. Do I need to register it in Brazil?
Yes. For the marriage to have effect in Brazil, it must be transcribed at a Brazilian registry office.
Does the foreign certificate need a translation?
Yes, by a sworn translator, in addition to the apostille or legalization.
Is a stable union made abroad valid in Brazil?
It can be, as long as the document is apostilled and translated. Each case should be reviewed.