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Many Brazilians realize their passport is about to expire only when a trip or some other paperwork is right around the corner, and the consulate can't see you overnight. The good news: everything up to the appointment happens online, and since June 2026 it costs less.
To renew your Brazilian passport in the United States, fill out the electronic application form, submit your documents through e-Consular and, once they're approved, go to your appointment at the consulate that covers where you live or, if your consulate allows it, apply by mail. The form's confirmation number (protocolo) on its own is not enough.
How does Brazilian passport renewal work from the United States?
In Brazil, the regular passport is called the passaporte comum. Outside Brazil, it's issued by the Brazilian consulate with jurisdiction over where you live (for example, Boston serves Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and New York serves New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania).
The process has five steps. The first two are separate procedures, and you need to complete both:
- Fill out the electronic passport application form (formulário eletrônico).
- Log in to e-Consular, the Brazilian government's online consular system, request the service and upload images of your documents.
- Wait for the consulate to approve your request: only then will e-Consular let you book an appointment (or, at some consulates, send your application by mail). In New York, for example, every application goes through an online document review first.
- Go to the consulate with your original documents and pay the fee, or mail them in if your consulate allows it.
- Pick up your passport when it's ready.
Some Brazilian consulates in the United States, such as New York and Washington, also accept passport renewals by mail, but in New York, for example, a first passport is always processed in person. A Los Angeles consulate page also lists a maximum of 60 days to complete your appointment booking, so don't leave it until the last minute.
What documents do you need for a Brazilian passport, and how much does it cost?
Documents Brazilian consulates in the US ask for
Consulates require original documents. Copies are not accepted, even if they're certified by a US notary public. If you're renewing, bring your previous passport, whether it's still valid or expired. If it was lost or stolen, you'll need to file a police report and submit the corresponding form. An expired passport is processed as a new passport, and you present the expired one.
The Washington and New York consulates also ask for your CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas, Brazil's individual taxpayer number), which has been required for every passport since January 2024; the Certidão de Quitação Eleitoral (proof that you're up to date with your Brazilian voting obligations) if you're between 18 and 69; and a military service document if you're a man between 18 and 45. Check your consulate's full list before you go.
Brazilian passport fee: what changed on June 1, 2026
Portaria MRE nº 664/2026, an ordinance from Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cut in half the passport fee that embassies and consulates charge in foreign currency, effective June 1, 2026. The Consulate General of Brazil in Washington reports that since that date, the fee for adults (18 and older) is $60. Before the cut, New York and Orlando charged adults $120.
According to Itamaraty (the common name for Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the reduction is also meant to make it easier to keep documents up to date for children born abroad.
Confirm the current fee with your consulate before you pay, because some consulate pages still show amounts from before the cut, and the fee for minors varies.
How to pay for your passport at Brazilian consulates in the US
The New York, Washington and Orlando consulates accept only USPS postal money orders (one per service). They don't take cash, checks or credit cards. If you're served by a different consulate, check its payments page.
How long is a Brazilian passport valid, and how long does it take to arrive?
An adult passport is valid for 10 years, and its validity can't be extended. If you can't turn in a passport that's still valid (for example, because you lost it), the new one may be limited to 4 years.
On timing, the Washington consulate's 2026 update says: if you apply in person, processing takes 30 to 60 days, plus up to 60 days for printing (at the Casa da Moeda, Brazil's national mint) and delivery. If you apply by mail, processing takes up to 20 days, plus up to 60 days for printing and delivery. Your passport is not handed to you at the appointment. Other consulates may have different timelines, and appointment availability changes, so check with yours.
Consulates recommend starting the process at least 6 months before your passport expires.
Brazilian passports for minors: how the process changes for children and teens
For children under 16 (under 18 at some consulates), both parents or legal guardians must sign the form or the authorization, and the child must attend the appointment. The exact details depend on your consulate.
What can you do if you need to travel without a valid Brazilian passport?
Some consulates offer the Autorização de Retorno ao Brasil (ARB, an authorization to return to Brazil), a free document valid only for a single trip to Brazil. It requires a police report and a travel ticket. In New York, for example, the ARB is listed among the e-Consular services, but ask your consulate directly to confirm the requirements.
If you also need to sort out your ID card, read how to get a Brazilian national ID card (CIN) from the US. To learn what each office does, check out the differences between an embassy and a consulate. And if you want to know more about the community, read about Brazilians in the United States or explore more resources for Brazilians.
Good to know if you're sending money to Brazil
To sign up for Félix, you can use your passport, a national ID, a consular ID card (matrícula consular) or a US driver's license, plus a selfie. You don't need a Social Security number to send money.
Sources
Government of Brazil (official sources)
- gov.br: Obter passaporte brasileiro no exterior (General process: application form and e-Consular.)
- Consulate in Washington: Passaporte (Validity, timelines and the fee reported since June 2026.)
- Consulate in New York: Passaporte comum (In-person appointment and prior review in e-Consular.)
- Consulate in Los Angeles: Passaporte comum (Original documents and appointment booking deadline.)
- Itamaraty: redução dos valores de passaportes emitidos no exterior (Portaria MRE nº 664/2026.)
- Consulate in New York: passport fee (Fees before the reduction.)
- Consulate in Washington: payment of consular services and fees (Payment by USPS money order.)
- Consulate in Orlando: Passaporte (Adult fee before the reduction.)
Last verified: October 16, 2026. This article describes procedures and is not legal advice: always confirm requirements and fees with your consulate.
More Félix resources for Brazilians renewing their passport in the US
