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Is the word legalizar the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

No

While the spelling, grammar, and core meaning of "legalizar" (to make legal) are identical in both dialects, there is a difference in typical usage. In Brazilian Portuguese, "legalizar" is the standard, broad term used both for making something lawful (such as a new law) and for making something compliant or "regular" (such as a property, a car, or a tax situation). In Continental Portuguese, "legalizar" is primarily reserved for the official creation of laws or rights, whereas "regularizar" is the much more natural and frequent choice when referring to administrative, bureaucratic, or tax-related compliance.

Brazilian Portuguese Usage

  1. Eu preciso legalizar meu carro novo. (I need to legalize my new car.)
  2. Eles vão legalizar a construção da casa. (They are going to legalize the construction of the house.)
  3. É muito difícil legalizar documentos estrangeiros no Brasil. (It is very difficult to legalize foreign documents in Brazil.)
  4. Ela está tentando legalizar o visto dela. (She is trying to legalize her visa.)
  5. Precisamos legalizar nossa situação com o fisco. (We need to legalize our situation with the tax authorities.)

Continental Portuguese Usage

  1. Eu preciso de regularizar o meu carro novo. (I need to regularize my new car.)
  2. Eles vão regularizar a construção da casa. (They are going to regularize the construction of the house.)
  3. É muito difícil regularizar documentos estrangeiros. (It is very difficult to regularize foreign documents.)
  4. Ela está a tentar regularizar o seu visto. (She is trying to regularize her visa.)
  5. Precisamos de regularizar a nossa situação nas Finanças. (We need to regularize our situation with the Tax Authority.)