Portuguese Language Certificate for Brazilian Naturalization — Updated Guide

✳️ What is a Portuguese language certificate for Brazilian naturalization?

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One of the main requirements demanded by the Federal Police for a foreigner who wishes to become a Brazilian citizen is to prove that they can communicate in Portuguese - that they have mastery of the Portuguese language.

As stipulated in Migration Law number 13.445/2017 and its regulation, Decree number 9.199/2017, this constitutes the legal requirement to be able to communicate in Portuguese to obtain Brazilian nationality through naturalization.

This is a basic proficiency for everyday life in society; the foreigner does not need to have a Brazilian accent. Brazilian law requires the "ability to communicate in the Portuguese language," which means a minimum knowledge of the language to apply for Brazilian citizenship through naturalization.

We serve clients from anywhere in the world online, ensuring your process is handled quickly and without bureaucracy. Contact us on Whatsapp (31) 98339-1533 and find out if you meet the requirements to obtain Brazilian naturalization.

Proof that the applicant for naturalization can communicate in Portuguese is provided by the Certificate of Proficiency in Portuguese for Foreigners, a document that is mandatory in the application for Brazilian naturalization.

👉 Tip: without this certificate, your naturalization request may be denied/refused.

🧩 Why is the certificate mandatory?

This requirement is legally mandated, as mentioned above (Migration Law 13.445/2017), and the foreigner must be proficient in Portuguese if they wish to become a naturalized citizen.

This will allow the new Brazilian citizen to live fully in Brazil, understanding the country's history, rights, duties, norms, and culture, and thus be active in the country's social and professional life.

The only officially recognized way to prove the ability to communicate in Portuguese is with a valid Portuguese language certificate, which must be issued by an institution recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC) and accepted by the Federal Police.

🧠 Who needs to present the certificate?

Which foreigners are required to take the Portuguese proficiency exam?

✅ Required

• Those who have never studied in Brazilian schools

• Foreigners who do not come from a country where the official language is Portuguese (Example: Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, etc.).

• Foreigners who do not have a Portuguese proficiency diploma recognized by the MEC (Brazilian Ministry of Education)

🚫 Exempt

• Foreigners who are nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries

• Foreigners who have proof, through a medical report, that it is impossible to take the exam

• Foreigners who studied in Brazil (Example: elementary, secondary or higher education)

🧾 Where can I get a Portuguese language certificate for naturalization?

Currently, Serian Vistos offers two main ways to obtain the certificate, which is accepted by the MEC (Brazilian Ministry of Education), the Federal Police, and the Ministry of Justice.

📌OPTION 01: Portuguese language test in São Paulo (Capital) that takes place once a month, every month of the year!

• Serian Vistos has an agreement with an educational institution in São Paulo - SP - Barra Funda neighborhood, where the foreigner will take an in-person exam lasting approximately 2 hours. This exam will consist of an oral component (an oral conversation between the instructor and the foreigner) and a written component at the end.
  
  
  

• The foreigner doesn't need to worry, as they will receive assistance from the instructor administering the exam. This assistance is fully permitted by Brazilian law and regulations, since the evaluation focuses on the foreigner's ability to communicate in Portuguese.

• The certification does not expire.
  
  

• The foreigner will receive the certificate in PDF format and the original diploma by mail, 10 days after the exam date in São Paulo - SP.

• The documents required to take this in-person exam are: - RNM or Passport (from the country of origin) - Recent proof of address - Profession, Marital Status, Email, Telephone.
  
  
• The foreigner sends the documentation to Serian Vistos via WhatsApp or to the official SV email, and after making the payment for this significant investment, the foreigner is registered to take the exam.

📌OPTION 02: Online Portuguese course with an in-person exam at the end of the course.

• Serian Vistos is affiliated with an educational institution that offers an online course via the Meet app. Classes are taught online, with live sessions where the instructor interacts with students during the class. The classes are not recorded! Student attendance is mandatory.
  
• The course will last 30 days, and classes will be held from Monday to Friday. Classes will take place in two shifts; students can choose the time that best suits them: mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
  
  
• At the end of the course, the student must take an in-person exam, which takes place in the following cities:
  
  - RS - Porto Alegre
  - ⁠PR - Curitiba 
  - ⁠PR - Toledo
  - ⁠SP - São Paulo
  - ⁠RJ - Duque Caxias
  - ⁠MG - Juiz de Fora 
  - ⁠DF - Brasília 
  - ⁠PE - Recife
  
  
• The student will choose one of these cities to take the in-person exam.
  
  
• The certificate will be sent 30 days after passing the in-person exam, along with the in-person exam declaration, which are mandatory and fundamental documents for the Brazilian Naturalization process handled by Serian Vistos.

🧾Official Celpe-Bras exam, you don't need to take this exam.

It is extremely important to emphasize that the Celpe-Bras exam is not the only way to prove proficiency in Portuguese for naturalization purposes in Brazil.

⚠️Brazilian law provides other ways for naturalization applicants to demonstrate their ability to communicate in the Portuguese language, in addition to cases where proof is waived (such as the example given for countries that have Portuguese as their native language).

• According to Interministerial Decree No. 623/2020 of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the ability to communicate in Portuguese can be proven by means other than the Celpre-Bras certificate (Intermediate or higher level).
  
  
• Serian Vistos presents in this article, for example, two alternatives by which the naturalization applicant can obtain a Portuguese language certificate that will be recognized by the MEC (Ministry of Education) and accepted by the Federal Police.

🧾Disadvantages of the Celpe-Bras Exam

⚠️Celpe-Bras is a very complex assessment because it is subjective in nature, which implies a long correction time and can allow for some subjectivity, since the assessment is done through integrated tasks (for example, writing an essay based on audio or video), which also makes it difficult for evaluators to identify correct and incorrect answers as well as skill and proficiency in Portuguese.

• Difficulty in Diagnosing Skills: As mentioned above, these are integrated tasks, making it difficult to identify strengths and weaknesses in isolated skills.
  
  
• Logistical Problems and Cancellations: This exam has faced several logistical problems and cancellations over the years, causing disruption for candidates who depend on the certificate. There have been cancellations of entire editions, system problems during registration, difficulties administering the exam (such as delays), incorrect information, and a lack of supervisors during the procedure, as already reported on Reclame Aqui (a Brazilian consumer complaint website). There have also been problems with inadequate logistics for choosing exam locations, forcing candidates to travel long distances from their homes.
  
  
• Pressure and Required Level: The Celpe-Bras exam is recognized for demanding a very high level of proficiency—both from Brazilians and foreigners. If the candidate does not achieve the minimum stipulated performance, they must retake the entire exam to obtain the certificate. According to Migration Law 13.445/2017, it is only necessary for the naturalization applicant to be able to communicate in Portuguese. And national legislation does not require this proof to be obtained through an exam as complex as the Celpe-Bras to demonstrate basic communication skills.

✳️Need help with your Portuguese certificate?

Serian Vistos specializes in Brazilian naturalization and Portuguese language proficiency certification. We will guide you step-by-step, from course enrollment or exam preparation to the exam itself and certificate delivery, which will be in PDF format (digital) and also physically delivered to your home by mail.

👉 Contact Serian Vistos now and take the first step towards obtaining your Brazilian citizenship safely!

⚠️ Common mistakes that lead to the denial of naturalization

Unfortunately, many foreigners have their naturalization applications denied due to simple errors related to their Portuguese language certificate.

Here are some of the most frequent mistakes:

• Using certificates that are not recognized by the MEC (Brazilian Ministry of Education) and accepted by the Federal Police
  
  
• Presenting certificates from Portuguese courses taken exclusively online and that do not include in-person activities
  
  
• Failing to present a declaration stating that you had an in-person assessment or activity related to the course taken
  
  
• Failing to present the original Portuguese certificate to the Federal Police
  
  
• Presenting a Portuguese certificate that contains information different from the applicant's personal document
  

👉 Before submitting your Brazilian naturalization application, contact Serian Vistos and verify if your certificate will be accepted, as this prevents your application from being denied or delayed.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💰 How much does the Portuguese course or exam offered by Serian Vistos cost?

Currently, the amount corresponds to R$ 700.00

🎓 I studied in Brazil, do I need to present my certificate?

No. Those who have completed high school or higher education in Brazil are exempt from proficiency verification.

🌍 Can I use an online course certificate?

You can only use it if the institution is recognized by the MEC (Brazilian Ministry of Education) and the certificate must demonstrate proof of proficiency in the Portuguese language and must include a statement that a test or in-person activity was completed.

✳️ CTA — Need help with your Portuguese certificate?

Serian Vistos has expertise in Brazilian naturalization and Portuguese language proficiency certification. We will guide you from enrollment for the exam or online course (with an in-person test at the end) to the submission of your naturalization application and the analysis of your Portuguese certificate during the process and at the time of biometrics at the Federal Police.

👉 Speak with our experts now and take the first step towards obtaining your Brazilian citizenship safely!

📲 Contact Serian Vistos  | 🌐www.serianvistos.com