Naturalization
Portuguese for naturalization and the Celpe-Bras exam
To become Brazilian you have to show you can communicate in Portuguese. The Ministry of Justice lists the documents that prove it, and Celpe-Bras is the one most people use.
In short
To naturalize as a Brazilian you must be able to communicate in Portuguese. You prove it with one document from the Ministry of Justice's list, most often a Celpe-Bras certificate at any level; INEP holds the exam twice a year in Brazil and abroad. Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries don't need a proof.
- Rule
- Communicate in Portuguese, as the Migration Law requires
- Proof
- One document from the Ministry of Justice's list
- Celpe-Bras
- Twice a year, in Brazil and abroad
- Exempt
- Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries
Documents that prove your Portuguese
- A Celpe-Bras certificate.
- A Brazilian undergraduate or postgraduate degree from an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education.
- A pass in the OAB bar exam.
- A Portuguese course for immigrants at an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education.
- An ENCCEJA certificate.
- Appointment as a professor, technician or scientist after a public university's selection exam.
- Brazilian school records (ensino fundamental, médio or supletivo).
- A medical degree revalidated after passing Revalida.
How it works
- Check whether you need a proof at all: nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries don't.
- If you already hold one of the documents on the list, use it. If not, Celpe-Bras is the usual route.
- Register for Celpe-Bras when INEP opens an edition. It is held twice a year at accredited universities, embassies, consulates and cultural centres, in Brazil and abroad.
- Any certificate counts: the Ministry's list sets no minimum level, and every certificate is at least Intermediário (then Intermediário Superior, Avançado and Avançado Superior).
- Attach the proof to your naturalization request with the rest of your documents.
Find the Federal Police unit for where you live →
Documents
- Your Celpe-Bras certificate, or another document from the list
- Your CRNM
- The other naturalization documents (see the naturalization guide)
The Ministry of Justice can still question the document you present. A disability is taken into account when the Portuguese requirement is assessed. INEP sets no expiry date for Celpe-Bras certificates; each body that receives one decides.
Have a lawyer handle your naturalization
An OAB-registered lawyer who works on immigration cases checks your Portuguese proof and the rest of your file, then files your naturalization request. You choose them from Emigro's directory of independent lawyers.
See lawyers who handle naturalization cases Or talk to a lawyer firstRather talk to an immigration lawyer first?
Send a short note to an independent immigration lawyer who uses Emigro. If they offer a paid call, you can pick a time on their calendar right away; otherwise they reply by email.
Official sources
Ordinance MJSP 623/2020 (proof of Portuguese), Ministry of Justice ↗
Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017), art. 65 ↗
Checked against official sources on October 25, 2026. Emigro gives preliminary guidance, not legal advice. Emigro is a private company, not affiliated with the Brazilian government, the Federal Police, Itamaraty, the Ministry of Justice or the Receita Federal. Emigro is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. Lawyers listed are independent, registered with the OAB, and solely responsible for their advice.
Common questions
What Celpe-Bras level do I need for Brazilian naturalization?
The Ministry of Justice's ordinance sets no minimum level: it accepts a Celpe-Bras certificate, and every certificate is at least Intermediário.
Does a Celpe-Bras certificate expire?
INEP sets no expiry date. Each body that receives the certificate decides whether it has one, and the naturalization ordinance sets none.
Do Portuguese or Angolan nationals need Celpe-Bras to naturalize?
No. Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries don't have to prove Portuguese.
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