Sworn Portuguese Translation (Tradução Juramentada)

Witness swearing on the bible telling the truth in the court room

A sworn Portuguese translation is an official translation that carries legal validity before public authorities in Brazil. In Portuguese it is called a tradução juramentada, and in Brazil it is the only kind of translation that courts, notary offices (cartórios), universities, and immigration authorities will accept for a foreign-language document. Whether you are sending documents to Brazil or presenting Brazilian documents abroad, knowing when you need a sworn translation, and when a U.S. certified translation is enough, will save you time, money, and rejected filings.

The Translation Company produces sworn and certified Portuguese translations in both directions: tradução juramentada with full legal effect in Brazil, and certified Brazilian Portuguese translations accepted by USCIS, U.S. courts, universities, and licensing boards. This page explains how sworn translation works in Brazil, how it differs from certified translation in the United States, and how we manage the entire process for you.

Need a sworn Portuguese translation? Request a free quote and we will confirm whether your document needs a Brazilian tradução juramentada or a U.S. certified translation.

What Is a Sworn Portuguese Translation?

A sworn translation (tradução juramentada) is produced by a tradutor público e intérprete comercial (TPIC), commonly called a tradutor juramentado, or sworn translator. In Brazil, these professionals pass a competitive public examination (concurso público) and are commissioned and registered by the state Board of Trade (Junta Comercial) where they practice. Their translations are treated as faithful, official renderings of the original and are recognized throughout Brazil.

Under Brazilian law (Decree 13.609/1943), no foreign-language document has legal effect before federal, state, or municipal bodies in Brazil unless it is accompanied by a sworn translation. That includes anything filed with a court, registered at a cartório, submitted to a public university, or presented to the Federal Police for a visa or residency application. An ordinary translation, however accurate, will not be accepted in these settings.

Sworn Translation in Brazil vs. Certified Translation in the United States

The two systems come from different legal traditions, and confusing them is the most common mistake we see. Brazil follows a civil-law model in which the state appoints and regulates sworn translators. The United States follows a common-law model with no sworn-translator registry; instead, U.S. authorities rely on a certified translation, meaning a complete translation accompanied by a signed statement of accuracy from the translator or agency.

Which one you need depends on direction:

Documents going to Brazil (a U.S. birth certificate, diploma, power of attorney, or corporate record) generally require a tradução juramentada to be accepted by Brazilian authorities.
Brazilian documents used in the United States (a Brazilian birth certificate for USCIS, academic transcripts for a university, a marriage certificate for a name change) require a U.S. certified translation, not a juramentada.

We provide both, and we will tell you up front which one your situation calls for, so you never pay for a level of certification you do not need. For general U.S. filings, see our certified Portuguese translation service, or our broader certified translation services in other languages.

Who Can Produce a Sworn Translation

Only a tradutor público commissioned by a Junta Comercial may issue a sworn translation in Brazil. Each sworn translator holds a registration number (matrícula) and appears in the public register of the Board of Trade for their state, such as JUCESP in São Paulo or JUCERJA in Rio de Janeiro. Anyone can verify a sworn translator’s credentials directly with the relevant Junta Comercial.

Because the role is a personal, state-granted commission, no company can itself “be” a sworn translator. The Translation Company works with tradutores públicos registered across Brazilian states to produce juramentada translations, and we manage sourcing, quality control, formatting, and delivery so the finished document carries full legal validity. When your documents are bound only for the United States, our own Portuguese translators issue certified translations that are signed and accepted without a Brazilian commission.

When You Need a Sworn (Juramentada) Translation

You will typically need a sworn Portuguese translation whenever a Brazilian authority must give legal effect to a foreign-language document. Common situations include:

Immigration and residency in Brazil — visas, residency permits, and RNM or CPF applications filed with the Federal Police.
Dual citizenship and civil registration — transcribing foreign birth, marriage, and death certificates at a Brazilian cartório.
Academic recognition (revalidação) — validating foreign diplomas and transcripts at a Brazilian university.
Business and corporate filings — contracts, articles of incorporation, powers of attorney, and financial statements registered with a Junta Comercial.
Litigation and court proceedings — evidence, judgments, and pleadings submitted to Brazilian courts.
Marriage, adoption, and estate matters handled through Brazilian notaries and courts.

The Sworn Translation Process

We handle a sworn Brazilian translation from start to finish:

Review. We confirm the destination authority and whether a sworn translation, a certified translation, or an apostille is actually required.
Apostille first, where needed. Public documents often must be apostilled before the sworn translation is prepared, so the sequence matters.
Sworn translation. A registered tradutor público translates the document, applying the required legal formulas, matrícula number, signature, and seal.
Quality control and formatting. We proofread against the source and format the translation to match the original layout.
Delivery. You receive a digitally signed original where accepted, or a printed and sealed copy when a physical document is required.

Format and Legal Requirements of a Tradução Juramentada

A sworn translation is more than the translated text. To be valid, it must open with a standard formula identifying the sworn translator and their matrícula, faithfully reproduce the content of the source (including stamps, seals, and signatures, which are described in brackets), and close with a formula attesting to the accuracy of the translation. It is signed and sealed by the tradutor público and bound to a copy of the original document. Sworn translation in Brazil is traditionally priced by lauda, a standard page measured in characters, using emolument tables referenced by each state Board of Trade.

Apostille and Legalization for Brazil

Brazil joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force since August 14, 2016. Foreign public documents usually need an apostille in their country of origin before a sworn translation is prepared in Brazil, and Brazilian public documents used abroad are apostilled at a Brazilian cartório. We coordinate apostille handling so the order of operations is correct and your document is not rejected on a technicality.

Sworn Portuguese Translation for Portugal

Portugal does not maintain a sworn-translator registry like Brazil’s. For use in Portugal, a Portuguese translation is normally certified through a notary, lawyer, solicitador, or chamber of commerce, which attaches a declaration of accuracy to the translation. If your documents are bound for Portugal rather than Brazil, we prepare a certified and, where required, notarized European Portuguese translation that meets local requirements.

How The Translation Company Helps

We are a single point of contact for sworn and certified Portuguese translation in both directions. We coordinate tradução juramentada through registered Brazilian sworn translators, provide certified Brazilian Portuguese translations accepted across the United States, and distinguish carefully between European and Brazilian Portuguese so your document reads correctly for its destination. We coordinate apostilles, protect confidential material, and offer rush turnaround when a deadline is tight. Start with our Portuguese translation services or request a quote and tell us where the document is going, and we will confirm exactly what you need.

Why Choose The Translation Company for Sworn Portuguese Translation

Sworn and certified work leaves no room for error, and we back it with the right people and the right process:

Legally valid in Brazil. We coordinate translations through sworn translators (tradutores públicos) registered with Brazilian state Boards of Trade, so your tradução juramentada is accepted by courts, cartórios, universities, and public authorities.
Accepted in the United States. Our certified translations ship with a signed Certificate of Accuracy accepted by USCIS, U.S. courts, universities, and licensing boards.
Native Brazilian and European Portuguese linguists, matched to your document’s destination so terminology and formatting are correct for Brazil or Portugal.
Confidential by default. Sensitive civil, academic, and corporate documents are handled under NDA on request.
Apostille coordination, so the order of legalization and translation is right the first time.
Fast turnaround, with rush options when you are up against a filing deadline.
One accountable point of contact from quote to delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sworn Portuguese translation?

A sworn Portuguese translation, or traducao juramentada, is an official translation produced by a state-commissioned sworn translator (tradutor publico) that carries legal validity before courts, notaries, universities, and public authorities in Brazil. Ordinary translations are not accepted for official purposes in Brazil.

Is a sworn translation the same as a certified translation?

No. A sworn translation is a Brazilian legal instrument issued by a translator commissioned by a state Board of Trade. A certified translation is the U.S. equivalent: a complete translation with a signed statement of accuracy. Brazil requires the sworn version; the United States requires a certified one.

Do I need a sworn translation for USCIS or a U.S. court?

No. U.S. authorities such as USCIS, courts, and universities accept a certified translation, not a Brazilian juramentada. For Brazilian Portuguese documents used in the United States, we provide certified translations accepted nationwide.

How much does a sworn (juramentada) translation cost?

Sworn translation in Brazil is priced by lauda, a standard page measured in characters, using fee tables historically set by each state Board of Trade. Cost depends on document length, language pair, and urgency. We quote the exact price before starting.

Can a sworn translation be delivered digitally?

Yes. Many Brazilian authorities now accept sworn translations signed with a qualified digital certificate (ICP-Brasil). We deliver digital originals where accepted and printed, sealed copies when a physical document is required.

How long does a sworn Portuguese translation take?

Standard documents such as certificates are usually ready within a few business days. Longer contracts, court files, and academic records take longer. Rush service is available; tell us your deadline and we will confirm turnaround with your quote.

Ready to start? Get your sworn Portuguese translation quote, or use the calendar below to book a call with our team.