Power of attorney at the Brazilian consulate
A public power of attorney is recorded in the consulate's own register and is done in person only, by appointment through e-Consular, according to the Washington consulate.
The fee is US$ 20 per grantor, or US$ 5 when the power of attorney is only to collect or stop INSS benefits, pensions and retirement payments, in the Los Angeles, Miami and Washington fee tables.
Who can do it
Washington explains that the consulate only draws up powers of attorney for Brazilians aged 18 or over (or emancipated) with a valid Brazilian ID, and for foreigners with a CRNM (the former RNE). The CPF number is mandatory.
And the consulate only proceeds if it can confirm from the ID photo that you are who you say you are.
The text of the power of attorney
The powers are written in the e-Consular form itself, and Washington publishes templates. First, ask the body where it will be used whether it must be public: Brazilian law requires that in some cases.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| General power of attorney | US$ 20 per grantor |
| INSS and pensions only | US$ 5 |
| For marriage | valid 90 days |
| For uncontested divorce | valid 30 days |
- e-Consular request with the text of the powers
- Valid Brazilian ID document
- CPF number
- Marriage certificate, for a joint power of attorney
Validity, married couples and revocation
The grantor sets the term, with legal exceptions: a power of attorney for marriage is valid for 90 days and for an uncontested divorce, 30. With no term written in, it lasts indefinitely, until revoked.
Married people should check whether the spouse must also grant it; if both are Brazilian, it can be a joint one, with a single fee, on showing the marriage certificate.
Revoking also takes an in-person deed. If the attorney does not attend, the grantor has to notify them, for instance through a registry of deeds in Brazil.
The alternative without the consulate
For private documents, such as a power of attorney in English, the Houston consulate advises signing before a notary public and having it apostilled by the Secretary of State; then it is translated by a sworn translator in Brazil.
Online power of attorney, straight from the registry office
The Consulate in Houston notes another route: making the power of attorney directly at a registry office (cartório) in Brazil, by video call and digital signature, on the e-Notariado platform.
According to Houston, it can be faster and cheaper than the consulate, because it needs no paper, no mail and no sending of the document to Brazil.
There is a catch the consulate itself reports: from what it has heard from the community, some registry offices only do online powers of attorney for people who already have a signature on file at that office.
Before taking this route, ask the registry office where the power of attorney will be used whether it accepts it, with what requirements and at what cost, explaining the purpose: it may work for a property sale or an estate but not for another use.
A power of attorney in English for use in Brazil
If a private power of attorney is signed in English before a notary public, Washington lists the steps for it to work in Brazil: an apostille from the US authority, translation in Brazil by a sworn public translator and registration at a deeds and documents registry.
Some powers of attorney only count if they are public: check first with whoever will receive it.
With no term written in, the power of attorney lasts until revoked.Details verified on 4 October 2026.
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We gather what gov.br publishes and flag it when its own pages disagree. Confirm with the consulate before you go.