How to get your passport application witnessed

Witnessing your passport application in Brazil

The information below is intended only as a general guide. Please read all the instructions that accompany the application form for detailed advice on the documents required in your particular case.

Identification (Section 9 of your application form)
Consent of parents/guardians (Section 7 of your application form)
Lost, stolen or damaged passports (Section 6 of your application form)

Identification

A member of one of the professions listed below, who is not retired and works in Brazil can witness your passport application form as long as they are satisfied as to your identity and that your four photos are a true likeness of you. Make sure you bring photo identification with you and be aware that the witness may ask you for more proof of identification - this is at their discretion.

Police office
Member of clergy
Medical doctor
Lawyer
Bank manager/assistant bank manager (Please note that only Branch managers/their Deputies, not an account or relationship manager, are entitled to witness the form)
Elected public representative
Peace commissioner
School principal/vice principal
Accountant
Teacher
Dentist
Vet
Nurse
Physiotherapist
Lectura
Speech Therapist
Chartered engineer

You must:

Sign Section 9 of the form in the presence of the witness. Everyone aged seven and over must sign their own form.

The witness must:

Complete Section 9 of the form, including a work landline phone number - mobile phone numbers will not be accepted.
Insert the form number from Section 9 on the back of two of your four photos.
Sign and stamp the back of those two photos.

Remember...

Your application form is only valid for six months from the date your witness signs Section 9.

Consent of parents or guardians

This is an additional requirement for children. Everyone under the age of 18 must have the consent of both their parents/guardians to get a passport and this consent must be witnessed.

The only exception to this is if the applicant is married.

Parents/guardians must:

Fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the passport application form in the presence of a listed witness.
Find out what to do if both parents/guardians are unable to sign Section 7.
This is the same witness list as the Section 9 identification requirement.

The witness must:

Complete, sign and stamp Section 7, including a work landline telephone number - mobile telephone numbers are not acceptable.
Sign each column separately if they witness both parents/guardians' signatures.

Lost/stolen and damaged passports

If your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged, you must:

Complete Section 6 of the application form, explaining how your previous passport was lost, stolen or damaged.
Have it witnessed and stamped by the same person who witnessed Section 9 of your application.

Read our full guide on what to do if your passport is lost or stolen in Brazil.

If you lose two or more passports, it may restrict the period of validity for your next passport and it may delay processing of your passport.