Step-by-Step: What Documents You Need for Surgery in Brazil — and Which Require sworn translation

Planning to have surgery in Brazil? Whether you're coming for elective procedures, medical tourism, or necessary treatments, it’s essential to prepare the right documentation. Brazil is internationally known for its high-quality healthcare services, but if your original documents are in another language, certified (sworn) translation into Portuguese is often required to ensure they are legally valid and accepted by Brazilian hospitals and medical professionals. At Idiomatic Brasil, we guide you through the process and provide the official translations you need — quickly, accurately, and confidentially.

Step-by-Step: Required Documents for Medical Procedures in Brazil

Here’s what most hospitals and clinics in Brazil typically require from international patients planning to undergo surgery:

1. Valid Passport
   
   

2. Medical History Report (including chronic conditions, allergies, previous surgeries)
   
   

3. Referral Letter or Recommendation from Your Doctor
   
   

4. Lab Test Results (blood work, imaging exams, etc.)
   
   

5. Current Prescriptions or Medication List
   
   

6. Psychiatric or Psychological Evaluations (if required for certain procedures, such as bariatric or gender-affirming surgery)
   
   

7. Health Insurance Documents (if applicable)
   
   

8. Proof of Legal Stay or Medical Visa
   
   

Which Documents Require Certified Translation?

To be legally accepted in Brazil, especially in public or private hospitals and before health authorities, the following foreign documents usually need to be translated by a sworn translator accredited by the Junta Comercial:

• Medical history reports
  
  

• Lab test results and imaging reports
  
  

• Doctor’s referrals and surgical recommendations
  
  

• Psychiatric/psychological reports (if applicable)
  
  

• Health insurance policies and coverage proof
  
  

• Consent forms or legal authorizations from other countries
  
  

Important: Foreign documents may also need to be legalized or apostilled before translation, depending on the country of origin.

Trust Idiomatic Brasil for Certified Medical Translations

At Idiomatic Brasil, we specialize in sworn translations of medical documents, ensuring they are fully compliant with Brazilian legal and healthcare standards. We work with certified translators experienced in medical terminology to deliver translations that are accurate, confidential, and accepted by healthcare institutions throughout Brazil.

Request a Free Quote

Need to translate medical documents for surgery in Brazil? Send us your scanned files and get a free, no-obligation quote today. Our team is ready to assist you every step of the way — with professionalism, speed, and full confidentiality.