Qualification documents: the complete list and where to get them

Every certificate required in public tenders, who issues each one and its typical validity.

Updated Oct 23, 2026 · Busca Licitações

This text was written for companies registered in Brazil. Foreign suppliers should also read how foreign companies can bid in Brazilian public tenders.

Qualification (habilitação) is the stage where the agency checks whether the winning company can actually contract with the government. The list below covers what appears in most tender notices (editais). Build the folder once and keep it updated — that's what lets you answer any tender notice without a rush.

Legal qualification

• Consolidated articles of association and amendments (or the business registration form, for an individual microentrepreneur, MEI);
• Up-to-date CNPJ card (company tax ID);
• ID document and CPF (individual taxpayer number) of the managing partners;
• Power of attorney, when the signatory is not the manager.

Tax and labor good standing

• Joint federal certificate (Receita Federal + PGFN) — valid for 180 days, issued online for free;
• FGTS CRF (Caixa; FGTS is the severance fund) — valid for 30 days;
• CNDT (Labor Courts) — valid for 180 days;
• State tax certificate, from your state's Finance Department;
• Municipal tax certificate, from the city government where the company is based.

Micro and small businesses (ME/EPP) may submit a certificate showing issues and regularize after being declared the winner, within the legal deadline — but the document must still be attached.

Economic and financial qualification

• Balance sheet and financial statements for the last fiscal year, registered;
• Accounting ratios (general liquidity, current liquidity and general solvency), usually required above 1.0;
• Clearance certificate for bankruptcy and judicial and extrajudicial reorganization;
• In some tender notices, proof of minimum share capital or net worth (up to 10% of the estimated value).

A company opened in the same fiscal year submits an opening balance sheet. This is what most often blocks new companies — talk to your accountant before competing for large contracts.

Technical qualification

• Technical capacity certificate (atestado de capacidade técnica) from a public or private client, proving supply similar to the object;
• Registration with the professional council (CREA, CAU, CRM, CRF, etc.), when the activity requires it;
• Specific licenses — health, environmental, authorization from ANVISA, the Army or ANATEL, depending on the product.

Standard declarations

Signed by the representative, they usually include: no child labor, no impeding facts, compliance with the job quota for people with disabilities, ME/EPP status and independent preparation of the bid. The template comes in the tender notice's annexes.

How to keep it current

Create a spreadsheet with each certificate's name, issue date, expiration date and issuing link. Set a reminder fifteen days before each expiration. Renewing takes minutes when the company is in good standing; it takes weeks when an unexpected issue appears — and it always appears the day before the session.

With the folder ready, the next step is finding the right tender notice: see what's open now.