Brazilian Vaccination Record: Translation for School & USCIS

Why Brazilian vaccination records aren’t accepted as-is in the U.S.

A vaccination record issued in Portuguese is an official, recognized document in Brazil — but in the United States, all documentation submitted to schools, government agencies, and healthcare providers must be in English. This doesn’t mean the vaccines you received in Brazil don’t count. It means the records need to be understandable to the people reviewing them. Without a clear, reliable translation, a school simply cannot verify which doses were given, on what dates, or for which diseases. The practical result: the document gets sent back, and enrollment or the immigration process comes to a standstill.

Beyond the language barrier, Brazil’s immunization schedule uses different terminology than the one used in the U.S. — which makes it even more important that the translation be done by someone who understands the medical context and knows how to present the information in a way the American system expects.

School enrollment: what states like New Jersey require from immunization records

In New Jersey — and in most U.S. states — proof of up-to-date vaccination is required to complete school enrollment. Schools typically request records before or at the time of registration, and some allow a short grace period (usually a few business days), but a child may be barred from attending classes until the paperwork is in order.

If your child received all their vaccines in Brazil, that may be sufficient in terms of doses — as long as those vaccines align with the ones required by the American schedule. But here’s the catch: without a translation, the school has no way to confirm that. Don’t wait until enrollment day to get the translation done — the sooner, the better.

If any vaccines are missing according to the local schedule, the school or healthcare provider will guide you on how to complete the immunization series. You can visit the Brazilian Ministry of Health portal to review which doses appear on the Brazilian vaccination card.

Civil surgeon and Form I-693: how vaccination records factor into the green card process

Anyone applying for lawful permanent residence (a green card) in the U.S. must undergo a medical examination performed by a USCIS-designated physician known as a civil surgeon. The results are recorded on Form I-693, which includes a mandatory vaccination section. The civil surgeon must review the applicant’s immunization history and may require missing doses to be administered at the appointment itself.

The key point: the civil surgeon does not translate your vaccination record during the visit. They need to receive the records already in English in order to review them properly and complete the I-693. Arriving at the appointment with a record only in Portuguese can lead to delays, unnecessary repeat vaccinations, or even complications in your case. Under the eCFR regulations governing immigration medical examinations, vaccination history is an essential component of the evaluation.

Which vaccines tend to come up: Brazil vs. the U.S. immunization schedule

Brazil’s immunization schedule is quite comprehensive and includes vaccines such as hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), varicella, meningococcal, and others. The U.S. schedule is equally broad but uses different names and combinations — for instance, the DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) may appear under different terminology in Brazilian records.

Beyond naming differences, recommended doses and intervals can also vary. That’s why a technically accurate, contextualized translation is essential for the civil surgeon or the school to understand exactly what was administered.

What makes a medical document translation valid in the U.S.

In the U.S., USCIS and most institutions accept translations prepared by a competent translator who certifies in writing that the translation is complete and accurate. Not just anyone can do this credibly — the translator must have a strong command of medical terminology and an understanding of the legal context involved. An informal translation done by a friend or generated automatically by an app is rarely accepted and can actually harm your case.

To better understand what separates an accepted translation from one that may be rejected, read our post on certified translation in the U.S. and our guide on which documents to translate when starting your process in the U.S.

How Pontal Brazil translates your vaccination record — quickly and accurately

Pontal Brazil provides medical document translation, including vaccination records, with speed and careful attention to the technical vocabulary needed for your document to be accepted by a school, a civil surgeon, or USCIS. Our team speaks Portuguese and Spanish, understands the nuances of Brazilian documents, and knows exactly what each American institution expects to receive.

Don’t let paperwork delays hold up your child’s school enrollment or your green card process. Reach out to our team — we’re ready to help you move forward with confidence.

Sources

• USCIS — Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record — official form page confirming the vaccination history requirement and that the applicant supplies the documentation.
• CDC — Vaccination guidance for civil surgeons — the technical instructions state that the responsibility lies with the applicant to provide reliable English translations of all records.
• eCFR — Title 42, Part 34: medical examination of aliens — the federal rule governing immigration medical exams and the role of vaccination history in the evaluation.