Attesting Portuguese Documents (FAQs)

Yes - Portugal is a member of the Apostille Convention.

Portuguese documents can be legalized for use abroad with an Apostille Stamp from the office of the Attorney General when destined for other signatory countries without additional certification by the destination country.

When Portuguese documents are required for non-apostille countries, they need to be legalized by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then attested by the accredited embassy of the destination country (Qatar embassy in Lisbon, embassy of Vietnam in Paris).

For further information see:
Portugal Apostille Services

Submission within the European Union
Certain Portuguese documents do not require Apostilles when they are presented to authorities of other European Union countries (the receiving authority should accept the original or a certified copy).

When applying for certain public documents, a multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Portuguese authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority to understand a public document which is in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.
See: EU Multilingual standard forms

Portuguese documents not requiring Apostilles include birth, death, marriage certificates, absence of a criminal record (a clean criminal record of a Portuguese citizen), certificates of nationality and residence:
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/1191

Other Portuguese documents, including academic certificates, still require Apostille certification and certified translation to be valid in other EU countries.

Multilingual certificates of no impediment to marriage
Portuguese certificates of no impediment to marriage are exempt from any formality for submission to the following countries (Munich CIEC Convention):
Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey

Apostille Stamps in Portugal can be obtained from the office of the Attorney General (Procuradoria Geral da República) to authenticate documents issued by Portuguese public officials (Ministries, local authorities, courts, public education institutions, registry offices and documents certified by a notary or solicitor).

• Birth, death and marriage certificates
• Criminal record certificates (Registo Criminal)
• Portuguese university degrees (diplomas and transcripts).
• School Certificates
• Cort judgements and divorce decrees
• Notarized powers of attorney and affidavits
• Company Registration Certificates (certidão permanente)

To confirm whether your document is eligible for apostille authentication in Portugal, please contact us and we’ll check your document free of charge. For further information about our Portuguese apostille services and for assistance obtaining official copies of Portuguese documents, see:
Portugal Apostille Services

Portuguese birth, death and marriage certificates can be authenticated with an Apostille stamp from the office of the Attorney General (Secretária-Geral da Procuradoria-Geral da República). Apostilles can be obtained for online certificates and paper certificates (including multilingual certificates). Certificates must be issued within the last 3 months.

Submission within the European Union
Portuguese certificates of civil status (marriage, death and birth certificates) do not require an Apostille stamp when required for submission in another Member State of the European Union. For further information, see:
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191

Portuguese Criminal Record Certificates (Registo Criminal) can be requested online (Portuguese nationals only with Digital Mobile Key or Citizen Card). Foreign nationals must apply in person or through an authorized representative at a Court or Criminal Identification Service (in Portuguese) (Balcões dos serviços de identificação criminal).

Applications may also be submitted by mail (applicants residing outside Portugal only) and through a Portuguese Consulate (in Portuguese) overseas.

The Criminal Record Certificate is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

Apostilles to authenticate Portuguese Company Registration Certificates (certidão permanente) can be obtained from the office of the Attorney General (Secretária-Geral da Procuradoria-Geral da República). Apostilles are issued for digital certificates with an online verification code.

Apostilles in Portugal are normally obtained in 1-2 working days

To obtain an Apostille on a Portuguese birth, death or marriage certificate, a digital certificate or original paper certificate is required. The certificate must have been issued within the last 3 months.

Certificates and diplomas issued by public universities and schools can be submitted directly to the Attorney General's office for apostille authentication.
Certificates issued by private higher education establishments require pre-certification by Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior.

Certificates issued in Portugal by primary and secondary private schools require pre-certification by Direção-Geral dos Estabelecimentos Escolares. Certificates issued by public schools be submitted directly to the Attorney General's office for apostille authentication.

A Power of Attorney signed in Portugal can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the office of the Attorney General. The Power of Attorney must be certified by a Portuguese notary or solicitor.

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Portuguese birth, death and marriage certificates are available as paper certificates or digital certificates (available for consultation for six months). Any individual can request a birth certificate. Paper certificates (including multilingual certificates) can be requested at any Civil Registry Office (in Portuguese) or Citizen Shop in Portugal or at any Portuguese Consulate (in Portuguese) overseas.

• Request a birth certificate online
• Request a marriage certificate online
• Request a death certificate online

Portuguese university diplomas required for submission to the authorities of the United Arab Emirates or in support of UAE visa applications must be legalized by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon. Certificates issued by private higher education establishments require pre-certification by Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior.

After being legalized by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomas are submitted directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. Attestation by a UAE embassy is not required.

Portuguese university diplomas required for submission to the authorities of Vietnam must be legalized by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon. Certificates issued by private higher education establishments require pre-certification by Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior.

After being legalized by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomas are submitted for attestation by the Vietnamese embassy in Paris. Diplomas in Portuguese will require a certified translation also legalized by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Portuguese university diplomas required for submission to the authorities of Saudi Arabia can be legalized in Portugal with an Apostille Stamp issued by the office of the Attorney General (Certificates issued by private higher education establishments require pre-certification by Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior).

Since Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention, attestation by the Saudi Embassy and Cultural Bureau is no longer required.

Portuguese university diplomas required for submission to the authorities of China can be legalized in Portugal with an Apostille Stamp issued by the office of the Attorney General (Certificates issued by private higher education establishments require pre-certification by Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior).

Since China joined the Apostille Convention, attestation by the Chinese Embassy is no longer required.

Apostilles are not required when submitting Portuguese certificates of marital status to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union.

A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Portuguese authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Apostilles are not required when submitting Portuguese Multilingual certificates of no impediment to marriage issued to the authorities of a country that has acceded to the Munich CIEC Convention. Members of the Munich CIEC Convention are as follows:
Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey.

Apostilles are not required when submitting Portuguese Criminal Record Certificates to another Member State of the European Union when the certificate is issued to a Portuguese national and when the criminal record is clean (no convictions). In other cases, the recipient Member State may require an Apostille.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Apostilles are not required when submitting Portuguese birth, death and marriage certificates to the authorities of another Member State of the European Union. A multilingual standard form may be requested to accompany the original. A multilingual standard form must always be issued and signed by a Portuguese authority, providing a translation aid designed to help the receiving authority understand the certificate when in a language not accepted by the receiving EU country.

EU Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
See: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (EU GDPR)

Portuguese Criminal Record Certificates are valid for 3 months from the date of issue.