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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Papiloscopista Policial Federal Exam

120 Items

Total Objective Exam Items

Edital Concurso Polícia Federal

4h 30min

Exam Duration (Objective + Discursive)

Edital Oficial — Cebraspe / DPF

R$ 180,00

Registration Fee

Edital Polícia Federal

48.00 Points

Minimum Net Passing Score

Regulamento do Concurso Cebraspe

Lei 12.037/2009

Criminal Identification Statute

Presidência da República do Brasil

Arts. 158-A a 158-F CPP

Chain of Custody Legal Framework

Código de Processo Penal / Lei 13.964/2019

Sistema Vucetich

Official Brazilian Dactyloscopy Standard

Polícia Federal / Instituto Nacional de Identificação (INI)

ABIS / AFIS

National Biometric Database Standard

Diretoria Técnico-Científica (DITEC/PF)

The PF Papiloscopista contest is a 120-item + discursive federal police examination evaluating Papiloscopy & Vucetich Dactyloscopy (30%), Applied Forensic Chemistry/Biology/Physics (25%), IT & Biometric AFIS Systems (15%), Public & Criminal Law (15%), and Portuguese & Logic (15%).

Sample Papiloscopista Policial Federal Practice Questions

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1In forensic dactyloscopy, which biological principle establishes that papillary ridge patterns form between the 3rd and 4th months of intrauterine life and remain morphologically unchanged throughout an individual's lifetime and post-mortem until total tissue putrefaction?

A.Perenidade (Perennity / Permanence) and Imutabilidade (Immutability).

B.Variabilidade (Variability) and Classificabilidade (Classifiability).

C.Praticabilidade (Practicability) and Convergência (Convergence).

D.Inalterabilidade química (Chemical Inalterability) and Unilateralidade (Unilaterality).

Explanation: Perenidade (perennity) dictates that papillary friction ridges persist from intrauterine formation until biological decomposition, while Imutabilidade (immutability) guarantees that their anatomical configurations, bifurcations, and ridge flow do not undergo spontaneous morphological change throughout life. Together with Variabilidade (infinite diversity across individuals and fingers) and Classificabilidade (systematic taxonomy), they form the bedrock of human biometric identification.

2During the embryological development and histological maintenance of friction ridge skin, which anatomical layer directly molds the dermal papillae and generates the outer epidermal ridges (cristas papilares)?

A.Stratum corneum (camada córnea) of the epidermis.

B.Stratum basale / germinativum (camada basal) situated at the dermo-epidermal junction.

C.Subcutaneous hypodermis (tecido adiposo subcutâneo).

D.Reticular dermis (camada reticular profunda da derme).

Explanation: The stratum basale (camada germinativa) is the primary proliferating layer at the dermo-epidermal junction. Mitotic cell division in the basal layer replicates the exact undulating topography of the underlying dermal papillae (papilas dérmicas), projecting identical friction ridges onto the skin surface even after superficial epidermal abrasion.

3In the Juan Vucetich dactyloscopic classification system adopted officially in Brazil, what are the four fundamental pattern types and their corresponding capital letter symbols for thumbs (polegares)?

A.Arco (A), Presilha Sinistra (S), Presilha Dextra (D), and Espiral (E).

B.Simples (S), Deltóide (D), Composto (C), and Anômalo (A).

C.Arco (A), Presilha Interna (I), Presilha Externa (E), and Verticilo (V).

D.Adéltico (A), Monodéltico (M), Bidéltico (B), and Polidéltico (P).

Explanation: Juan Vucetich categorized all human friction ridge patterns into four fundamental types: Arco (represented by letter 'A' on thumbs and number '1' on other fingers), Presilha Interna ('I' on thumbs, '2' on other fingers), Presilha Externa ('E' on thumbs, '3' on other fingers), and Verticilo ('V' on thumbs, '4' on other fingers).

4In dactyloscopic morphology, what is the anatomical definition and distinction between a 'delta preto' (black delta) and a 'delta branco' (white delta)?

A.A delta preto occurs only in Verticilos, whereas a delta branco occurs exclusively in Arcos.

B.A delta preto is formed by the convergence of three sweat pores, whereas a delta branco is formed by an epidermal scar.

C.A delta preto is formed by three diverging white furrow lines, whereas a delta branco is formed by a single isolated black dot.

D.A delta preto is formed by the bifurcation or confluence of dark papillary ridges, whereas a delta branco is a triangular white space formed by the divergence of limiting ridges.

Explanation: In dactyloscopy, a delta preto (black delta) is formed directly by the angular junction or bifurcation of dark friction ridges entering from marginal, nuclear, and basilar systems. A delta branco (white delta) is a triangular white furrow area formed at the divergence point of the limiting ridge lines, containing the dactyloscopic focal point (ponto déltico).

5Which of the following characteristics accurately defines a 'Presilha Interna' (Internal Loop) in Juan Vucetich's dactyloscopic taxonomy?

A.It is a monodéltico pattern with a single delta located on the right side of the observer, while the nuclear looping ridges enter, re-curve, and open toward the left.

B.It is an adéltico pattern devoid of deltas, featuring uniform horizontal ridges traversing the fingerprint card.

C.It is a bidéltico pattern featuring two deltas and a circular concentric central whorl.

D.It is a monodéltico pattern with a single delta on the left side of the observer, while nuclear ridges open toward the right.

Explanation: In the Vucetich system, a Presilha Interna is a monodeltic pattern possessing exactly one delta positioned to the right of the observer. The central looping ridges (núcleo) enter from the left side of the impression, curve across the core, and exit back toward the left side.

6A forensic examiner analyzing an impression on a right index finger notes a single delta located on the left side of the impression, with loop ridges flowing toward the right. Under the Vucetich classification system, what is the primary pattern type and its symbolic designation on a non-thumb finger?

A.Presilha Interna, designated by symbol '2'.

B.Presilha Externa, designated by symbol '3'.

C.Verticilo, designated by symbol '4'.

D.Arco, designated by symbol '1'.

Explanation: A pattern with a single delta on the observer's left and core ridges flowing and opening toward the right is a Presilha Externa. Under the Vucetich system, non-thumb fingers (indicador, médio, anelar, mínimo) use numeric notations, where Presilha Externa is designated by the number '3' (while thumbs use the letter 'E').

7Which structural feature is mandatory for classifying a fingerprint pattern as a 'Verticilo' (Whorl) under the Vucetich dactyloscopic system?

A.Complete absence of deltas and a continuous transversal ridge line.

B.Exactly one delta on the right side and an open ulnar loop.

C.Presence of at least two deltas (bidéltico or polidéltico) and a central core composed of spiral, circular, or elliptical ridges.

D.A single triradius located directly inside the distal flexion crease without nuclear recurvature.

Explanation: A Verticilo (Whorl) is defined by the presence of at least two deltas (bidéltico or multidéltico/polidéltico) with limiting ridges enclosing a core pattern (núcleo) of circular, spiral, elliptical, or double-loop configurations.

8What morphological characteristic distinguishes an 'Arco' (Arch) from the other three fundamental dactyloscopic types in the Vucetich system?

A.It contains two symmetrical deltas positioned along the basilar ridge margin.

B.It features a central loop with a minimum count of five Galton line crossings.

C.It possesses a closed circular core isolated by two divergent diretrizes.

D.It is adéltico (lacks deltas completely), with papillary ridges traversing from one side of the pattern to the other, curving slightly upward in the center.

Explanation: Arcos are adéltico patterns, meaning they have zero deltas. The papillary ridges enter from one lateral margin, traverse across the fingertip with a gentle upward central convex curve (or tented elevation in Arco Pinheiriforme / Tented Arch), and exit along the opposite lateral margin without looping back.

9In generating the complete 'Individual Datiloscópica' (dactyloscopic formula) for a tenprint card under the Vucetich system, how are the right and left hands structured and notated?

A.The right hand forms the numerator called 'Série' (Fundamental for thumb + Divisão for fingers 2–5), and the left hand forms the denominator called 'Seção' (Subclassificação for thumb + Subdivisão for fingers 7–10).

B.The left hand is notated in letters and placed on top, while the right hand is notated in Roman numerals and placed below.

C.All ten fingers are combined into a single 10-digit number without fractional separation.

D.Thumbs are completely omitted from the formula, which records only the eight non-thumb fingers.

Explanation: The Individual Datiloscópica is written as a fractional formula: the numerator represents the right hand (called 'Série', containing the Fundamental [letter for right thumb] followed by the Divisão [four digits for right index, middle, ring, and little fingers]), while the denominator represents the left hand (called 'Seção', containing the Subclassificação [letter for left thumb] followed by the Subdivisão [four digits for left index, middle, ring, and little fingers]).

10When a tenprint card is processed for an individual whose right thumb was amputated and whose left index finger exhibits a permanent severe scar obliterating all central papillary ridges, which symbols must be recorded in their respective positions in the Vucetich formula?

A.'X' for the right thumb and '0' for the left index finger.

B.'0' (zero) for the right thumb and 'X' for the left index finger.

C.'A' for the right thumb and 'S' for the left index finger.

D.'N/A' for the right thumb and '?' for the left index finger.

Explanation: In the Vucetich classification system, total amputation (or congenital adactylia/absence of a digit) is represented by the symbol '0' (zero), while permanent scars, mutilations, or severe anomalies that prevent pattern identification are represented by the letter 'X'. Thus, the right thumb receives '0' and the left index receives 'X'.

About the Papiloscopista Policial Federal Exam

The Concurso para Papiloscopista Policial Federal is one of the most specialized federal police careers in Brazil, organized by the Departamento de Polícia Federal (DPF) and administered by Cebraspe. Papiloscopistas Policiais Federais are forensic identification experts tasked with scientific human identification through friction ridge analysis (dactyloscopy, chiroscopy, podoscopy), crime scene latent print detection, chemical and optical evidence development, necropapiloscopy (cadaveric identification in homicides, accidents, and mass disasters / DVI), and administration of the national Automated Biometric Identification System (AFIS/ABIS). The official entry competition tests candidates across a rigorous multidisciplinary syllabus including Forensic Papiloscopy, Vucetich Classification, Chemistry and Physics of Print Development, Forensic Biology, Database & Biometric IT, Constitutional, Administrative, and Criminal Law (notably Lei nº 12.037/2009 on Criminal Identification and CPP Chain of Custody), Portuguese Language, and Formal Logic.

Assessment

Primeira etapa: (P1) prova objetiva de 120 itens CERTO/ERRADO — Bloco I 60 itens, Bloco II 36 itens (Informática), Bloco III 24 itens (Biologia, Física e Química) — e (P2) prova discursiva (texto dissertativo de até 30 linhas), aplicadas em 4h30; seguidas de exame de aptidão física (TAF), avaliação médica, avaliação psicológica e investigação social. Segunda etapa: Curso de Formação Profissional na Academia Nacional de Polícia (ANP).

Time Limit

4 hours 30 minutes (270 minutes)

Passing Score

48.00 pontos líquidos no conjunto dos três blocos (mínimos: 6.00 no Bloco I, 3.00 no Bloco II, 2.00 no Bloco III)

Exam Fee

R$ 180,00 (Polícia Federal (PF) / Cebraspe)

Papiloscopista Policial Federal Exam Content Outline

30%

Papiloscopia Forense, Datiloscopia, Necropapiloscopia e Sistema Vucetich

Biological fundamentals of papillary friction skin: perennity (perenidade), immutability (imutabilidade), variability (variabilidade), individuality, and classifiability. Histological anatomy of the skin: epidermis (stratum corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum, basale/germinativum), dermis (papillary dermis, reticular dermis, dermal papillae), sweat glands (eccrine, sebaceous, apocrine). The Juan Vucetich Dactyloscopic Classification System: the four fundamental types (Arco - A/1, Presilha Interna - I/2, Presilha Externa - E/3, Verticilo - V/4), anomalous prints (anomalias congênitas e adquiridas: anquilose, amputação - 0, cicatriz/defeito - X), dactyloscopic formula (individual datiloscópica: fundamental, divisão, subdivisão), core types (núcleos), deltas (delta branco, delta preto, ponto déltico, diretrizes), Galton minutiae (pontos característicos: bifurcação, terminação, ilhota, encerro, ponto, cortada, forquilha, agulha, desvio, arpão). Chiroscopy (palmar prints) and Podoscopy (plantar prints). Necropapiloscopy: forensic cadaver identification, post-mortem phenomena (algor mortis, livor mortis, rigor mortis, putrefaction phases, mummification, saponification, maceration), dermal glove recovery (luva epidérmica), rehydration solutions, and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) protocols.

25%

Ciências Forenses: Biologia, Química e Física Aplicada à Revelação de Impressões

Biochemical composition of latent fingerprint residue: water (98-99%), inorganic salts (chlorides), amino acids, proteins, urea, fatty acids, triglycerides, squalene, and sterols. Substrate categorization: porous (paper, cardboard, raw wood), semi-porous (glossy paper, varnished wood), non-porous (glass, metals, plastics, ceramic). Mechanical/physical development: carbon black, magnetic powders, fluorescent powders. Chemical development: ninhydrin (reaction with alpha-amino acids producing Ruhemann's purple), DFO (1,8-diazafluoren-9-one) and 1,2-indanedione (fluorescent amino acid detection), cyanoacrylate ester fuming (ethyl cyanoacrylate vapor catalyzed by moisture and bases, polycyanoacrylate white deposit), fluorescent dye staining (rhodamine 6G, basic yellow 40, RAM), physical developer (redox reaction with silver ions on porous surfaces), vacuum metal deposition (VMD: gold and zinc), iodine fuming (lipid absorption), silver nitrate (chloride precipitation). Blood enhancement reagents: amido black (acid black 1), leucocrystal violet (LCV), DAB, Hungarian red, and luminol chemiluminescence. Forensic optics and physics: Alternate Light Sources (ALS), ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra, Stokes shift, barrier filters, and specialized forensic digital photography.

15%

Informática, Bancos de Dados Biométricos e Sistema AFIS

Architecture of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) and Automated Biometric Identification Systems (ABIS); image acquisition (flat, rolled, palm, latent prints), biometric quality assessment (NFIQ), image pre-processing, binarization, ridge skeletonization, minutiae extraction (ridge endings, bifurcations, coordinates, orientations), and spatial/topological matching algorithms. ANSI/NIST-ITL standards for biometric data interchange, FBI/NIST WSQ (Wavelet Scalar Quantization) compression standard for 500/1000 ppi friction ridge images. Database management systems: relational models, tables, primary/foreign keys, normalization, SQL queries (SELECT, JOIN, WHERE, GROUP BY, indexes). Fundamentals of computer networks, TCP/IP stack, encryption, digital certificates, hash functions (SHA-256), and biometric personal data protection under the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (Lei nº 13.709/2018 - LGPD).

15%

Noções de Direito (Constitucional, Administrativo, Penal, Processual Penal e Legislação Especial)

Constitutional foundations: fundamental rights and individual guarantees (Art. 5º CF/88: inviolability of home, privacy, bodily integrity, right to remain silent / nemo tenetur se detegere), constitutional public security structure (Art. 144 CF/88, institutional mission and jurisdiction of the Polícia Federal). Administrative Law: principles of public administration (LIMPE), administrative acts (attributes, elements, revocation, annulment), federal civil service statute (Lei nº 8.112/1990: duties, prohibitions, disciplinary liability). Criminal Law: concept of crime, typicality, culpability, crimes against public administration (peculato, corrupção passiva, prevaricação, concussão, condescendência criminosa). Criminal Procedure: expert evidence (prova pericial, exame de corpo de delito, Arts. 158-184 CPP), chain of custody regime (cadeia de custódia: rastreabilidade, isolamento, fixação, coleta, acondicionamento, transporte, recebimento, processamento, fixação de resultados / laudo, armazenamento, descarte, Arts. 158-A a 158-F CPP). Criminal Identification Law (Lei nº 12.037/2009: conditions under which civilly identified persons may undergo criminal identification, dactyloscopic and genetic profile collection, rights of the identified person).

15%

Língua Portuguesa e Raciocínio Lógico

Portuguese language proficiency: reading comprehension, argument structure, cohesive elements, word classes, verbal and nominal agreement (concordância verbal e nominal), verbal and nominal regency (regência), crasis (crase), punctuation rules, syntax of compound sentences (orações coordenadas e subordinadas), and pronoun placement (próclise, ênclise, mesóclise). Formal logic and mathematical reasoning: propositional logic, truth values, logical connectives (conjunção, disjunção inclusiva/exclusiva, condicional, bicondicional), truth tables, tautology, contradiction, contingency, logical equivalences and De Morgan's laws, valid deductive arguments, syllogisms, negation of quantified statements (todo, nenhum, algum), combinatorial analysis (permutations, combinations), and probability fundamentals.

How to Pass the Papiloscopista Policial Federal Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 48.00 pontos líquidos no conjunto dos três blocos (mínimos: 6.00 no Bloco I, 3.00 no Bloco II, 2.00 no Bloco III)
Assessment: Primeira etapa: (P1) prova objetiva de 120 itens CERTO/ERRADO — Bloco I 60 itens, Bloco II 36 itens (Informática), Bloco III 24 itens (Biologia, Física e Química) — e (P2) prova discursiva (texto dissertativo de até 30 linhas), aplicadas em 4h30; seguidas de exame de aptidão física (TAF), avaliação médica, avaliação psicológica e investigação social. Segunda etapa: Curso de Formação Profissional na Academia Nacional de Polícia (ANP).
Time limit: 4 hours 30 minutes (270 minutes)
Exam fee: R$ 180,00

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Papiloscopista Policial Federal Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the Vucetich Classification Formula: Memorize the letters for thumbs (A, I, E, V) and numbers for index, middle, ring, and little fingers (1, 2, 3, 4), alongside special symbols (0 for amputations, X for severe scars/anomalies). Practice generating the full Individual Datiloscópica (Fundamental / Divisão).

2Understand Latent Print Chemical Pathways: Map out chemical reagents by substrate porosity. For porous items (paper): Ninhydrin (amino acids -> Ruhemann's purple), DFO (amino acids -> fluorescence), Physical Developer (lipids/salts). For non-porous items (glass/plastics): Cyanoacrylate fuming (catalytic polymerization) followed by fluorescent dye staining (Rhodamine 6G, RAM).

3Learn AFIS/ABIS and Biometric Processing: Deeply understand minutiae extraction (ridge endings vs. bifurcations), ANSI/NIST-ITL standards, WSQ compression rationale (wavelet transform avoids 8x8 block artifacts common to JPEG), and SQL queries for biometric database management.

4Review Criminal Law and CPP Chain of Custody: Memorize the 10 stages of the chain of custody (Art. 158-B CPP), expert evidence rules (Arts. 158-184 CPP), and all exception clauses of the Criminal Identification Law (Lei nº 12.037/2009).

5Practice High-Yield Propositional Logic and Cebraspe Grammar: Master conditional equivalences (p -> q == ~q -> ~p == ~p v q), De Morgan's laws (~(p ^ q) == ~p v ~q), pronoun placement rules (proclisis attraction factors), and punctuation around subordinate clauses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary role of a Papiloscopista Policial Federal in the Brazilian Federal Police?

A Papiloscopista Policial Federal is a specialized forensic law enforcement officer responsible for technical-scientific biometric identification, including processing crime scene latent prints, applying chemical and optical development reagents, classifying friction ridge impressions via the Vucetich system, operating the national AFIS/ABIS database, conducting necropapiloscopic identification of deceased victims, and issuing official papiloscopic expert reports (Laudos Papiloscópicos).

What educational and licensing qualifications are required to apply for PF Papiloscopista?

Candidates must hold an undergraduate higher education degree (Nível Superior — Bacharelado, Licenciatura, or Tecnólogo) in any area of study recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC), along with a valid National Driver's License (Carteira Nacional de Habilitação - CNH) in category 'B' or higher.

How is the written examination scored under the Cebraspe format?

The official test consists of 120 Certo/Errado objective items where each correct answer awards +1 point, each incorrect answer deducts 1 point (-1 point penalty), and blank/double-marked items score 0 points. Candidates must obtain a minimum net score of 48.00 points across all blocks combined, while meeting minimum score thresholds in individual blocks, in addition to passing the written discursive exam.

What are the four fundamental patterns in Juan Vucetich's dactyloscopic classification system?

Vucetich categorized all fingerprints into four primary patterns: 1) Arco (represented by 'A' on thumbs and '1' on other fingers), which has no delta (adéltico); 2) Presilha Interna ('I' on thumbs, '2' on other fingers), having one delta on the right with ridges looping to the left; 3) Presilha Externa ('E' on thumbs, '3' on other fingers), having one delta on the left with ridges looping to the right; and 4) Verticilo ('V' on thumbs, '4' on other fingers), having at least two deltas and a spiral/circular central whorl.

What is the significance of Lei nº 12.037/2009 for forensic papiloscopy?

Lei nº 12.037/2009 regulates the constitutional principle (Art. 5º, LVIII, CF/88) that a person who is already civilly identified shall not be subjected to criminal identification, except under specific statutory exceptions (e.g., questionable or damaged documents, multiple identities, identification essential to criminal investigation, or when the civil document does not allow unambiguous identity verification). It establishes standard protocols for dactyloscopic and photographic collection and the national DNA genetic profile database.

How does the chain of custody (cadeia de custódia) in the CPP apply to latent print evidence?

Under Arts. 158-A to 158-F of the CPP (enacted by Lei nº 13.964/2019), the chain of custody establishes the mandatory, unbroken chronological documentation and physical tracking of forensic evidence across 10 defined stages: isolamento, fixação, coleta, acondicionamento, transporte, recebimento, processamento, fixação de resultados / laudo, armazenamento, and descarte. Any failure in chain of custody can compromise the legal admissibility and probative value of the latent print evidence in court.