Brazil operates a tradutor juramentado (sworn translator) system that is among the most regulated in the Americas. The official designation is tradutor público e intérprete comercial (public translator and commercial interpreter). Originally established by Decreto nº 13.609 of 21 October 1943, the profession is now governed by Lei nº 14.195 of 26 August 2021, Chapter VII (Articles 18-27), which modernized the regulatory framework while preserving the core concurso público requirement.
To become a tradutor juramentado, a candidate must pass a concurso público (competitive public examination) administered by the Junta Comercial (Commercial Board) of their state. These examinations are notoriously infrequent — historically occurring at intervals of approximately 20 years — and consist of written translation tests in both directions (Portuguese to foreign language and vice versa) plus an oral interpretation component. Test materials typically include powers of attorney, notarial deeds, certificates, and legal documents. Under the 2021 reform, candidates who hold C2-level proficiency certification on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) may qualify for an exemption from the concurso.
Once approved, the tradutor juramentado is registered with the state Junta Comercial and their translations carry a legal presumption of faithfulness and accuracy (fé pública). Only tradutores juramentados may translate documents for presentation before Brazilian public entities, courts, and notarial services — this is mandated by Article 192 of the Código de Processo Civil (CPC). DoVisa provides certified translations for international use. Our certified translations are accepted by immigration authorities in the US (USCIS), UK (Home Office), Canada (IRCC), and Australia (DHA) — countries that do not require the Brazilian sworn translator system. For documents being submitted to Brazilian domestic authorities, a tradução juramentada by a registered tradutor público is required.
