Registering a child born in the US as Brazilian
A child of a Brazilian parent born in the United States becomes a natural-born Brazilian through birth registration at the consulate, according to the Washington consulate, and the service is free in the Los Angeles, Miami and Washington fee tables.
For under-18s, the child's CPF is issued together with the certificate.
The alternative, registering directly at a registry office in Brazil, has a hidden cost: in that case the child only secures the nationality through an option for nationality before the Federal Courts, after turning 18.
Who has to go to the consulate on the day
Washington splits it by age. For children under 12, the Brazilian parent alone is enough; the foreign parent and the child need not attend. Between 12 and 18, the teenager, the Brazilian parent and two witnesses, preferably Brazilian, attend. Adults over 18 go with two witnesses.
The documents
The basis is the US birth certificate in long form, plus proof of the Brazilian parent's nationality and identity. Washington offers on e-Consular a combined request for registration and first passport for children under 12.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | free |
| Under 12 | the Brazilian parent attends |
| 12 to 18 | teenager, parent and 2 witnesses |
| Transcription | 1st Civil Registry Office in Brazil |
- Request on e-Consular
- US birth certificate in long form
- Proof of the Brazilian parent’s nationality
- The Brazilian parent’s ID document
Marriage before birth
If the parents are married and want the certificate to carry their married names, Washington recommends registering the marriage at the consulate first. Without it, the birth record comes out without that information.
After the consulate: the registry office in Brazil
To take effect in Brazil, the consular certificate has to be transcribed at the 1st Civil Registry Office (1º OfÃcio) of the place of residence in Brazil or, with no residence there, at the 1º OfÃcio of the Federal District.
And nothing is registered twice: if the birth is already registered at a registry office or another consulate, the consulate will not register it again, and a double registration can amount to the crime of false statement, Washington warns.
The foreign parent, witnesses and certificates from another country
The Washington list also asks for the other parent's documents.
If they are foreign, a valid passport or ID and a birth certificate, or another official document, showing parentage are enough.
To register someone over 12, add a local ID for the person being registered, such as a US passport, and the two witnesses bring a Brazilian passport or another official ID with a photo and signature.
If the child was born outside the United States, the foreign certificate must be apostilled in the country of origin or legalized at the Brazilian consulate with jurisdiction over the place of issue, and translated if it is not in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish.
Digital certificates signed electronically need no original on the day. Questions about registration go to regist.cgwashington@itamaraty.gov.br.
The right request on e-Consular
Washington's e-Consular has one request type per age: under 12, the combined one with a first passport, 12 to under 16, 16 to under 18, and over 18. Choosing the wrong type sends the request back, and Washington warns it may ask for other documents.
Registration at the consulate is free and the child's CPF comes with it.Details verified on 4 October 2026.
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