Processing Documents: how it works in Brazil — first-hand

The procedure is as follows: 1. Change name/surname in your country of citizenship, then apply for Brazilian temporary residency (Visto Temporário) with new documents. 2. Apply for Brazilian temporary residency with your current name/surname, undergo naturalization, obtain Brazilian citizenship, then change your name/surname as a Brazilian citizen. Changes in Russia are not required if you become Brazilian. Changing name/surname in your country of citizenship before applying for Brazilian residency will not cause problems. For children born in Brazil, parents can choose the surname of the father or mother; a third option is not allowed. As a Brazilian citizen, you can change your first name to any arbitrary choice or add a double name. Changing a surname is more complex and requires a stated reason (e.g., difficult pronunciation, negative associations in native language). Surname changes are more expensive than name changes.

A criminal record check issued by the RF Consulate in Brazil is often accepted by local police but may be rejected by the Ministry of Justice during the final processing stages. It is highly recommended to apostille original documents in the home country before travel.

These can be requested online via the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) and state justice department websites. Search terms should include 'justiça estadual' to find the correct judicial documents rather than generic police records.

This typically includes apostilled documents, even for copies of passports. All submitted documents must be translated into Portuguese by a certified translator. Apostilles are usually obtained in the country of residence (e.g., Sweden), while translations are performed in Brazil by a certified translator.

While ordering such documents online through Gosuslugi is possible, the physically issued document from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) is often required, and the electronic version alone might be rejected.

During submission at the Federal Police (Polícia Federal), officers usually inspect the translation and the original, returning the original documents back to the applicant.

Certificates issued by the Consulate are processed in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, or Brasília. It is not possible to obtain them in Recife.