Resumo. Sapindus saponaria L. (Sapindaceae) is a species native to Brazil used in the recovery of degraded areas and has medicinal properties, but the dormancy of its seeds affects negatively the germination and fast obtaining of seedlings. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different methods for overcoming dormancy of Sapindus saponaria seeds. The treatments to overcome the seeds dormancy were: control - intact seeds; immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid (96% H2SO4 P.A) for 60, 70, 80 and 90 minutes; immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid for 60, 70, 80 and 90 minutes followed by immersion in distilled water at room temperature for 12, 24 and 36 hours; immersion in water at 70 °C for 10 to 15 minutes followed by exposure in a refrigerator (6 °C) for 30 minutes; immersion in water at 70 °C for 10 to 15 minutes followed by exposure in a freezer (-18 °C) for 30 minutes; heat shock by exposing the seeds in a forced air circulation oven regulated at 70 °C for 5, 10 and 15 minutes followed by the transference to refrigerator and freezer for 30 minutes. For comparison between treatments were evaluated emergence percentage, speed and first counting of emergence, shoot length and primary root, dry matter of shoots and roots. The immersion of the seeds in sulfuric acid for 80 minutes followed by imbibition in water for 24 hours is efficient to overcome the dormancy, to accelerate and to promote the emergence and growth of Sapindus saponaria.