So you married a Brazilian in the US, but now you want your marriage recognized in Brazil as well. After doing your homework, you go to the right Consulate and get it registered. So your marriage is valid in both countries, right? Not quite.

Even after your marriage is registered with the Brazilian Consulate, there’s another step to complete in Brazil. It’s called transcrição and is handled by a Brazilian notary office or Registro Civil. Read this article if you want to learn more about the different types of notary offices in Brazil.

But you can’t just go to any Registro Civil. The transcrição is completed in the 1º Registro Civil where the Brazilian spouse resides. Alternatively, the 1º Registro Civil in Brasília will do the trick (even if neither spouse resides in Brazil).

You’ll be asked for a handful of documents. For example, you’ll need the original certificate issued by the Brazilian Consulate. A copy of the Brazilian spouse’s birth certificate, or in the case of divorce, the prior marriage certificate annotated with the divorce, will also be required.

If you didn’t start the process at the Brazilian Consulate, you can go directly to the notary. However, this will require an additional form as well as the original foreign marriage certificate notarized, apostilled, and translated to Portuguese by a Brazilian certified translator.

Once you finish the process, you’ll be all set. You’ll get a document from the Brazilian notary office that officially registers your marriage in Brazil.