Does high school diploma prove Portuguese?

Feb 15, 2026

One of the biggest questions for those applying for Brazilian naturalization is whether they need to take the CELPE-BRAS exam to prove knowledge of the Portuguese language.

The answer is: not always.

According to current legislation, completing high school at a Brazilian institution can be used as proof of Portuguese language proficiency. That is, if you studied and completed high school in Brazil, it is generally not necessary to present a language exam certificate.

However, this does not mean that any certificate will be automatically accepted.

Which document does this route require?

For this route, Article 5 IV of Portaria 623/2020 provides for a school transcript (histórico escolar) or equivalent document showing completion of elementary, secondary or supplementary school education at a Brazilian institution recognized by the competent Secretaria de Educação (education authority). Check the requirements for the relevant educational category; this does not mean that any certificate is automatically accepted.

In some cases, the Ministry of Justice may request additional documents or not accept provisional declarations. Therefore, it is important to verify that the certificate presented meets the requirements before submitting the application.