Well, the WHOLE process took about 18 months. It started with the Federal Police and got moved to the MTE because MTE handles situations that include união estavel. Civil marriages stay within the realm of the Policia Federal. The MTE asked for a lot of documents including some that I had already provided to the PF -but- that is apparently pretty normal -and- we started the process to get the união estavel recognized right when we discovered that the process had moved to MTE (which we only discovered by asking at the PF). There is no special trick to it all. It is just a very proceduralized thing to get all of the paperwork that they need for your case. They'll send requests for additional info if they need it.

I was a bit surprised by the length of time it all took but have heard of very short turn around times for folks that have civil marriages.

The PF were great in that they knew that it would all take time so they set me up with a memo that I used to get a temporary work permit.

I still am awaiting my ID card - have heard those also take a while.

I think all of the delays are caused by the large number of Brazilians and their children returning to Brazil. Hard to say.

Good to have a competent lawyer to help you through the process.....

I was surprised as another fellow here with a civil marriage got his process completed (not the final RNE still to be delivered) in 4 months. I thought that I was on the 4 month track (as did the folks at the PF) until the process was redirected to the MTE in Brasilia.

Tangential question to an alemão - do you guys get better beer options there in MG because here in PB it is AWFUL. I have a choice of about 4 [barely] palatable beers OR some "imports" from S Brazil that run about R$14/bottle. I'm a Wisconsin guy and beer is, well, not optional!!! (probably needs a new forum thread thread......

Karis - are you in Scotland or Brazil? Hopefully you are doing this all while in Brazil.

[I'm NOT a legal expert at this - opinion and experience follow]

I think that all união estavel processes go through the MTE (Ministério de Trabalho & Emprego). I think that you apply directly to the PF regardless. My local PF thought it would be easy too BUT that was because I was the first união estavel they had seen - civil marriages ARE much simpler and stay under the control of the PF.

For N Americans we are supposed to obtain clear criminal records from our cities (nothing at the local consulates) and they must be newer than 90 days from issue. I was not required to translate mine but that could be that it was a copy of a previous one that I supplied that WAS translated - my point is that if they don't ASK for a translated version then you probably don't need to. I had to obtain updated copies because by the time my process got to the MTE my original police record was older than 90 days.

Don't know about applying AFTER expiration of the tourist visa.

Proving relationship is because there are people that try to get residency improperly and the rest of us end up paying for their inability to follow the rule of law. Get proof of the relationship by having witnesses stand up for you in front of a judge. You need witnesses from Brazil, not Scotland.

-CPFs are issued by the Receita Federal - not the post office - are you sure that you have a CPF?
-If you did a união estavel (and did it here in Brazil) you had to register it at a cartório. Therefore the person at the cartório had to witness the contract and should have signed it. If your união estavel is from Scotland - well, you need to find other folks that have done this all outside of Brazil - quite probably yet another process altogether and your orientation would then be from the nearest Brazilian Consulate.
 

Excellent that you are here. I'd go with what they say about having witnesses signed statements. Have good reliable witnesses. 

You need good witnesses here to attest to the fact that you are a couple. "Good" means it is better if they are people of the community with some community standing. If you and your partner are friends with local business owners, people who have been a participating part of the community for a long time. The folks at the PF are trying to figure out if you are just scamming a way to stay or if you are really interested in staying legitimately.