e-CRODA Brazil: How to Get a Consular Report of Death Abroad

The electronic Consular Report of Death Abroad — e-CRODA, formally Form DS-2060 — is a primary US proof of death for settling a deceased American's affairs back in the United States. It supports probate, insurance, and benefits workflows, although individual institutions may have their own submission requirements. Here's exactly how to get one from Brazil.

What the e-CRODA Is and Why It Matters

The e-CRODA is a digitally signed and sealed PDF document issued by the American Citizens Services (ACS) unit at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate in Brazil. It serves as the official US proof of death — the functional equivalent of a state-issued death certificate, but for Americans who die overseas.

The e-CRODA serves as primary proof of death in the United States. It is commonly used by:

• Probate courts use it to support estate proceedings and will administration
• Life insurance companies use it to process death benefit claims
• The IRS uses it for the deceased's final tax return and the estate's Form 1041
• Banks and financial institutions use it to support account closure and funds-release requests
• The Social Security Administration uses it to process survivor benefit applications
• Credit bureaus use it when processing requests to freeze the deceased's credit profile

The e-CRODA can serve as the primary US proof of death without a separate state-level death certificate, but confirm each institution's submission requirements.

Which Consular Posts Issue It in Brazil

All US consular posts in Brazil issue the e-CRODA electronically:

• US Embassy, Brasília
• Consulate General, São Paulo
• Consulate General, Rio de Janeiro
• Consulate General, Recife
• Consulate General, Porto Alegre

You apply at the consular post nearest to where the death occurred. The application goes through the ACS Navigator portal — the online scheduling and document submission system.

Required Documents

The consulate needs the following to issue an e-CRODA:

1. The original apostilled Brazilian Certidão de Óbito. This is the official civil death certificate from the Cartório de Registro Civil — not the hospital's medical declaration (Declaração de Óbito), which is a different document. The Certidão de Óbito must carry a Hague apostille obtained at an authorized Brazilian Cartório.

2. The deceased's original US passport. The consulate invalidates the passport as part of the process, then returns it to the family. If the passport is unavailable (lost, held by police), bring whatever identification you have and explain the circumstances.

3. Completed Form DS-2060 biographical questionnaire. This collects the deceased's personal details — full legal name, date and place of birth, Social Security Number, last US address, and next-of-kin information.

4. Proof of relationship or legal authority. The person applying must prove they have standing — a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or letters of administration from a probate court. These documents should be originals or certified copies.

5. A certified English translation of the Certidão de Óbito, prepared by a licensed tradutor público juramentado (sworn public translator) in Brazil.

How to Apply: The ACS Navigator Process

The application is submitted through the ACS Navigator, the online portal that US Consulates in Brazil use for scheduling appointments and receiving documents.

Step 1: Contact the nearest consular post's ACS unit by phone or email to open a consular death case as soon as possible after securing the body and notifying the local authorities.

Step 2: Upload or deliver the required documents through the ACS Navigator portal. The consular officer reviews them and may request additional information — particularly if the cause of death was unnatural and a police investigation is ongoing.

Step 3: The consular officer prepares and digitally signs the e-CRODA. The finished document — a secured PDF with the Department of State's digital seal — is emailed directly to the next-of-kin.

Processing time depends on the completeness of the submitted documents and the consular post's caseload. Allow 2–4 weeks after document submission for standard retrieval. If the death involved a forensic investigation or the package is incomplete, the process may take longer.

Common Mistakes That Delay the e-CRODA

Submitting the Declaração de Óbito instead of the Certidão de Óbito. The medical declaration from the hospital or IML is not a death certificate. The consulate requires the civil registration document from the Cartório.

Missing the apostille. The Certidão de Óbito must be apostilled before the consulate will accept it. Brazil and the US are both Hague Convention members, so the apostille process is straightforward — but the family (or their local funeral director) must physically obtain it at an authorized Cartório. The US Consulate cannot provide apostilles.

No sworn translation. The consulate needs the death certificate in English. Only a translation prepared by a tradutor público juramentado — licensed by the state's Board of Trade (Junta Comercial) — counts as certified. A bilingual friend's translation won't be accepted.

Passport already surrendered to police. If the Civil Police or IML retained the passport during a forensic investigation, inform the consular officer. They can work around a temporarily unavailable passport, but they need to know about it upfront rather than discovering it when the document package is incomplete.

What Happens After You Receive the e-CRODA

With the e-CRODA in hand, the executor or next-of-kin can begin the US-side settlement process immediately:

• File it with the probate court in the deceased's county of residence
• Submit it to life insurance carriers, pension administrators, and financial institutions as requested
• Use it to notify the SSA and apply for survivor benefits (surviving spouses must call 1-800-772-1213 — survivor claims can't be filed online)
• Present it to credit bureaus to freeze the deceased's credit
• Use it for IRS final return filing and estate tax purposes

The e-CRODA is the primary US proof of death for the estate and benefits workflows described here. Individual states and institutions may still specify additional submission requirements.

The American Dies in Brazil Family Emergency Guide includes the complete document sequence — from the initial hospital notification through the Cartório registration, apostille, translation, and e-CRODA application — with timelines and agency contact information for each step.