Brazilian Certificate Number Validator

How does the validation work?

Three things get checked: whether the number really has 32 numeric digits, whether the state code (positions 17-18) falls between 01 and 28, and whether the two final check digits match the other fields, following the CNJ algorithm.

The whole check happens inside your browser.

Civil-registry certificates and the CNJ unified format

Brazilian civil-registry certificates — birth, marriage and death — are issued by civil-registry offices (cartorios de registro civil das pessoas naturais) under the umbrella of the Lei dos Registros Publicos (Law 6.015/1973). Until 2016, each cartorio applied its own internal numbering, with no national standard: a birth certificate could read as "Livro 132, fls. 27, termo 4567" with no central registry to cross-reference.

The CNJ Provimento 46/2015, effective May 2016, mandated a unified 32-digit identifier — the matricula — for every certificate issued from that date onward. The matricula resolves three problems at once: (i) it lets federal databases (INSS, SUS, Receita Federal) cross-link records without resorting to name matching; (ii) it enables online second-copy issuance via the CRC Nacional (Central de Informacoes do Registro Civil); (iii) it embeds enough metadata (cartorio, year, type, book/page/term) to reconstruct the physical entry without consulting the paper archive.

Anatomy of the 32-digit matricula

The canonical mask is CCCCCC.NN.AA.AAAA.D.NNNNN.NNN-DD. Decomposition:

• Positions 1-6 (CCCCCC): codigo da serventia, the 6-digit cartorio code assigned by the CNJ's national table.
• Positions 7-8 (NN): acervo, distinguishing 01 (acervo proprio) from 02-99 (acervos absorvidos de cartorios extintos).
• Positions 9-10 (AA): tipo de servico: 55 birth (nascimento), 57 marriage (casamento), 58 death (obito), with codes also reserved for emancipation, interdition and similar acts.
• Positions 11-14 (AAAA): 4-digit year of the registration.
• Position 15 (D): numero do livro compacted to a single digit (livro letter A = 1, B = 2, ..., F = 6 — the encoding maps the alphabetic livro identifier).
• Positions 16-20 (NNNNN): 5-digit folha (page).
• Positions 21-23 (NNN): 3-digit termo (entry number within the page).
• Positions 24-32 (NN at end, with internal padding): 2 digitos verificadores calculated by modulo 11 with weights 1-9 cycling.

CRC Nacional and online second-copy issuance

The Central de Informacoes do Registro Civil (CRC), run by ARPEN Brasil, federates over 7.500 civil-registry offices. Citizens can request a digital second copy through CRC Web (registrocivil.org.br), paying a state-regulated emolument. The PDF returned bears a verification QR code and a digital signature compliant with ICP-Brasil (ITI's PKI), legally equivalent to the paper certificate under Law 14.063/2020 on electronic signatures.

For certificates issued before May 2016 (no matricula), CRC Web still works but the search is by name, date and parents — slower because it depends on the cartorio digitizing the legacy book. In some states, full digitization is still in progress; in those cases, the citizen must go to the cartorio of origin.

Where civil certificates are required

A current civil certificate (typically less than 90 days old) is required for:

• School and university enrollment.
• INSS benefits (retirement, pension, sickness leave).
• Marriage process at the cartorio.
• Inheritance proceedings and succession lawsuits.
• Civil and family litigation.
• CPF issuance for newborns (since 2018, automatic with the birth certificate).
• Naturalization, dual citizenship, Hague Apostille and overseas registration.
• Title transfer of real estate inherited from deceased relatives.

Inteiro Teor vs Breve Relato: two flavors of certificate

Civil-registry certificates come in two formats:

• Breve Relato: the short form — name, date, parents, place of registration. Sufficient for most administrative procedures.
• Inteiro Teor: the full transcription, including all averbacoes (marriage, divorce, name changes, paternity recognition, gender rectification). Required for inheritance, complex litigation and overseas use.

The matricula is the same in both formats. The difference is the level of detail returned by the cartorio. Inteiro Teor is more expensive and may take longer to issue if the cartorio needs to compile multiple averbacoes from different books.

International use: Hague Apostille and sworn translation

Brazil joined the Hague Apostille Convention in August 2016. To present a Brazilian civil certificate abroad (in any of the 120+ signatory countries), the document must be apostilled at a notary public authorized by the CNJ — apostilhamento replaced the older consular legalization chain. Apostille is single-step: a stamped attachment confirms the authenticity of the cartorio's signature.

For non-Portuguese-speaking destinations, the certificate also needs a traducao juramentada by a sworn translator registered at the relevant Junta Comercial. Some countries (Italy, Portugal, Spain) accept the digital version with QR code verification; others (US, Canada, UK) still demand the paper apostilled copy plus translation.

FAQ

Is my old certificate (pre-2016) still valid?

Yes, indefinitely, for its original content. But many institutions require a current certificate (often within 90 days) to reflect later averbacoes. You can request a fresh second copy with the new matricula format.

Can I check the matricula online?

Yes. CRC Web (registrocivil.org.br) lets you enter the matricula and validate authenticity. Several cartorios also publish a verification page where the QR code from the certificate resolves.

How much does a second copy cost?

The emolument is set per state by the respective Tribunal de Justica; expect R$ 30 to R$ 120 for digital second copies. Citizens declared hyposufficient can request gratuity under Law 9.265/1996.

What is the e-Civil system?

e-Civil is the operational platform behind CRC Nacional, hosting electronic signatures via ICP-Brasil. It enables cartorios to register, share averbacoes and issue digital certificates that institutions can validate machine-to-machine.

Do I need an apostille for overseas use?

Yes, for Hague-signatory countries. For non-signatories, the older consular legalization chain still applies (notary -> Ministry of Foreign Affairs -> destination consulate). Sworn translation is mandatory for non-Portuguese languages.