Certified translation in Portugal:
what AIMA, IRN
and the courts accept
Portugal has no sworn translators. What AIMA, IRN, courts and universities accept is a certified translation: a professional translation that the translator declares faithful, on their honour and in person, before a lawyer, a solicitador (a regulated Portuguese legal professional) or a notary. We translate, certify and deliver, in Portugal or anywhere in the world, without you ever needing to be here.
- 1Ana Ribeiro, advogada, portadora da cédula profissional 44xxL, certifico que, nesta data (02/09/2026), compareceu perante mim
- 2Sofia Carvalho Neves, tradutora, com domicílio profissional na Avenida Dom João III, Edifício 2002, Entrada A, 3.º Andar, Fração BC, 2400-164 Leiria, cuja identidade verifiquei por exibição de documento de identificação (CC 1588xxxx x ZYx, válido até 14/03/2031).
- 3A comparecente apresentou-me certidão de nascimento, n.º 2140, de Inês Duarte Lopes, datada de 11 de agosto de 2026, constituída por uma página, um exemplar na língua inglesa e outro traduzido para a língua portuguesa. Documentos que anexo (duas páginas).
- 4Alegou haver feito a tradução do citado documento, afirmando sob compromisso de honra, que prestou perante mim, ser fiel a referida tradução, e que está conforme o original.
- Leiria, 02 de setembro de 2026
- 5A AdvogadaAna RibeiroANA RIBEIRO · ADVOGADA
RUA DA COOPERATIVA 12 · LEIRIA
CÉD. PROF. 44xxL · NIF 2xx xxx xxx
- 6Registo Online: Registo n.º 44xxL_/0871, Registo Online da Ordem dos Advogados (art.º 38.º do Decreto-Lei n.º 76-A/2006, de 29 de março, e Portaria n.º 657-B/2006, de 29 de junho).
Rua da Cooperativa, n.º 12 · 2415-386 Leiria
Illustrative example, fictitious data
TRANSLATION
· SMARTIDIOM ·
What is a certified translation in Portugal?
A certified translation in Portugal is a professional translation with legal value: the translator declares, on their honour and in person before a lawyer, solicitador or notary, that the translation is faithful to the original, and that professional certifies the declaration.Portuguese law gives that certificate the same evidential force as a notarial act.(Decree-Law 237/2001, article 6; Decree-Law 76-A/2006, article 38)
Portugal has no sworn translators, unlike Spain, France, Germany or Brazil: what gives a translation legal value here is the certification, case by case. The words also mean different things in different countries. A UK or US 'certified translation' is usually a translator's signed statement, with no notary; a 'notarised translation' is the closest equivalent to what Portugal requires.
If someone abroad told you to get a 'sworn translation for Portugal', this certified translation is what they mean.
When do you need a certified translation for AIMA, IRN or a Portuguese court?
Three rules apply to almost every case. The apostille always comes from the country that issued the document. Documents from another EU country may need nothing at all. Documents in English, French or Spanish are often accepted without translation, but the receiving entity has the final word.
The documents we see most often, and what each Portuguese entity expects:
| DOCUMENT | WHO ASKS FOR IT | APOSTILLE? | CERTIFIED TRANSLATION? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth, marriage and death certificates | AIMA (immigration), IRN (civil registry), notaries | Yes if issued outside the EU; no if from an EU country | Yes, unless in English, French or Spanish (often waived; confirm). From an EU country, the multilingual standard form issued with the certificate normally replaces the translation |
| Criminal record certificate | AIMA, IRN, professional bodies, employers | Yes (FBI, ACRO, RCMP and similar); EU citizens: no, if it is a certificate of no criminal record issued by your country of nationality | Yes, unless in English, French or Spanish; valid for about three months in practice |
| Degrees, diplomas and transcripts | Universities, DGES (degree recognition), professional bodies | Almost always, EU included | Yes, unless in English, French or Spanish; universities vary |
| Powers of attorney and contracts | Notaries, banks, land registry | Yes, on the notarial act: a foreign notary certifies the signature (or draws up the deed) and that country apostilles it. Alternative with no apostille: sign it at a Portuguese consulate, which acts as a Portuguese notary | Yes; bilingual originals avoid it |
| Company documents (good standing, articles, board resolutions) | Commercial registry, banks, public tenders | Yes in practice, EU included: EU Regulation 2016/1191 does not cover company documents, so the registry normally asks for an apostille (or legalisation). Board resolutions and other private documents are apostilled after a notary certifies the signatures | Usually; the registry may accept English, French or Spanish if the registrar knows the language. Confirm with the registry before ordering |
| Court judgments (divorce, custody, debt) | Court of Appeal (recognition), civil registry | Outside the EU, yes; inside the EU, no: the EU regulations on judgments waive it (Regulation 1215/2012, article 61; Regulation 2019/1111, article 90) | Yes for non-EU judgments; EU judgments come with a standard certificate and the court may still ask for a translation |
| Bank statements, tax returns, payslips | Consulates, AIMA, banks | Usually no | Only if the entity insists; English is usually accepted |
| Medical reports and vaccination records | Schools, insurers, courts | Rarely | For insurers and courts, yes |
Find out what your case needs
Answer five questions. The result tells you where to get the apostille or legalisation, whether a translation is needed, who certifies it and what you pay.
1WHAT DOCUMENT DO YOU HAVE?
2WHERE WAS IT ISSUED?
3WHERE WILL IT BE USED?
4WHICH ENTITY WILL RECEIVE IT?
5WHAT LANGUAGE IS IT IN?
Certified translation
Countries and territories where the Apostille Convention applies (130 contracting parties as at 11 September 2026; Hong Kong and Macau apply it through China)
Apostille (Hague Convention): Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam.
Outside the Convention (consular legalisation): Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The Convention has been in force for Vietnam since 11 September 2026. Thailand does not join until 28 February 2027; until then, documents for Thailand still require consular legalisation. Taiwan is a special case: it is not a party to the Convention, and Portugal has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, so legalisation does not follow the usual consular route. Talk to us before you start. These lists cover the destinations we are asked about most and are not exhaustive: if your country is in neither list, tell us and we will confirm.
Leaving Portugal with a Portuguese document?
Then the process runs the other way: choose 'In another country' above and the calculator switches direction. Chapter 08 explains what your destination accepts.How does a certified translation work in Portugal?
The original is apostilled in the issuing country. A SMARTIDIOM translator specialised in the field translates it, a second linguist revises it, and the translator declares it faithful before a lawyer, solicitador or notary, who certifies the declaration. You receive a signed PDF or the paper original by registered post, anywhere in the world.
Apostille or legalisation abroad
Before anything else, the original is apostilled (or legalised) in the country that issued it. We tell you exactly which office does it in your country.
Translation
A SMARTIDIOM translator who specialises in the field of the document translates it into their native language.
Revision
A second linguist, who did not translate the text, checks everything: errors, omissions, typos, inconsistencies.
Certification
The translator declares, on their honour, that the translation is faithful to the original. A lawyer, solicitador or notary certifies that declaration: this is what gives the document legal value. SMARTIDIOM arranges the appointment.
Portuguese apostille or consular legalisation
Apostille from the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) for the countries and territories of the Hague Convention (130 contracting parties); consular legalisation (foreign ministry, then the destination's consulate) for the rest. Within the EU, civil-status certificates and, for EU citizens, the criminal record certificate issued by their country of nationality are exempt. Chapter 08 explains it.
Delivery
- On paper:
- Collection from our offices in Leiria or Porto
- Registered post with acknowledgement of receipt, to any country
- Digital (PDF), with a qualified electronic signature, if the entity accepts the digital format
What a Portuguese certified translation looks like
Three parts stapled together: the translation, the original (or a copy of it) and the certificate.
- 1Ana Ribeiro, advogada, portadora da cédula profissional 44xxL, certifico que, nesta data (02/09/2026), compareceu perante mim
- 2Sofia Carvalho Neves, tradutora, com domicílio profissional na Avenida Dom João III, Edifício 2002, Entrada A, 3.º Andar, Fração BC, 2400-164 Leiria, cuja identidade verifiquei por exibição de documento de identificação (CC 1588xxxx x ZYx, válido até 14/03/2031).
- 3A comparecente apresentou-me certidão de nascimento, n.º 2140, de Inês Duarte Lopes, datada de 11 de agosto de 2026, constituída por uma página, um exemplar na língua inglesa e outro traduzido para a língua portuguesa. Documentos que anexo (duas páginas).
- 4Alegou haver feito a tradução do citado documento, afirmando sob compromisso de honra, que prestou perante mim, ser fiel a referida tradução, e que está conforme o original.
- Leiria, 02 de setembro de 2026
- 5A AdvogadaAna RibeiroANA RIBEIRO · ADVOGADA
RUA DA COOPERATIVA 12 · LEIRIA
CÉD. PROF. 44xxL · NIF 2xx xxx xxx
- 6Registo Online: Registo n.º 44xxL_/0871, Registo Online da Ordem dos Advogados (art.º 38.º do Decreto-Lei n.º 76-A/2006, de 29 de março, e Portaria n.º 657-B/2006, de 29 de junho).
Rua da Cooperativa, n.º 12 · 2415-386 Leiria
Illustrative example, fictitious data
What the Hague Apostille looks like on a certified translation
The apostille is a standard form, identical in every country of the Hague Convention, with ten numbered fields. Whoever issues it, from the FCDO in the UK to a Secretary of State in the US, it looks like this. The example below is a Portuguese one, issued by the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) and stapled to a certified translation.
- 1País/Pays/Country: Portugal
Este documento público / Le présent acte public / This public document - 2Foi assinado por / a été signé par / has been signed by Ana Ribeiro
- 3Agindo na qualidade de / agissant en qualité de / acting in the capacity of Advogada 44xxL
- 4E tem o carimbo de / est revêtu du timbre de / bears the stamp of Ana Ribeiro
- Reconhecido / Attesté / Certified
- 5Em / à / at Lisboa
- 6A / le / the 4 de setembro de 2026
- 7Pelo Procurador-Geral da República / par le Procureur général de la République / by the Prosecutor General
- 8Sob o n.º / sous le n.º / N.º 19 992-2026
- 9Carimbo / timbre / stamp
- 10Assinatura / signature / signature M. Vidal
A presente Apostila apenas certifica a assinatura, a qualidade em que o signatário do ato atuou e o selo/carimbo que consta do ato. Não certifica o conteúdo do documento para o qual foi emitida.
Illustrative example, fictitious data
Can I get a certified translation online, from outside Portugal?
Yes, from anywhere in the world. Whether you receive a PDF or paper depends on the entity that receives the document.
Yes. Everything runs from a legible scan. When the receiving entity accepts digital documents, you receive a PDF with a qualified electronic signature, valid across the EU under the eIDAS Regulation. When it requires paper, we send the original by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt to any country.
A qualified electronic signature (eIDAS Regulation), with the same legal value as a handwritten one across the EU. Once certified, you receive the PDF within minutes: no paper, no post. Accepted by most universities, banks and employers; confirm with AIMA before ordering.
Consulates, foreign courts and some registry offices require paper. We deliver by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt to any country, or you collect it in Leiria or Porto.
Translation, certification, the Portuguese apostille when needed and shipping: SMARTIDIOM handles everything remotely, wherever you are.
Does the apostille come before or after the translation?
Many files are refused on timing, not on translation. Four rules keep you safe.
Before. The apostille goes on the original, in the country that issued it, and only then is the document translated: we translate the document and the apostille together and the translation is certified in Portugal. An apostille on a photocopy or on a translation done abroad is routinely refused. See how the Hague Apostille works in Portugal.
The apostille goes on the original, in the issuing country, before anything is translated. We then translate the document and the apostille together, and certify the translation in Portugal.
Portuguese entities treat criminal record certificates as valid for about three months, and consulates set their own limit, often 90 days. Request them close to your appointment.
An apostille only certifies the signature on the document it is attached to. On a notarised photocopy it proves the notary's signature, not the document, and most Portuguese entities will not accept it. Get a fresh original, or a certified copy from the issuing authority, when you cannot part with yours.
English, French and Spanish documents are frequently accepted without translation, but each entity, and sometimes each clerk, decides. Ask in writing; if they insist, we certify within days.
What changes depending on the country that issued your document?
Only the first step. Countries in the Hague Convention issue an apostille (the FCDO in the UK, the Secretary of State or the US Department of State in the US); countries outside it use consular legalisation. EU civil-status certificates need neither. The translation and certification in Portugal are the same for everyone.
UKUnited Kingdom, after Brexit
USUnited States
CACanada
AUAustralia, New Zealand, South Africa, India
BRBrazil
AOAngola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and Timor-Leste
EUEuropean Union (27 member states)
OUTSIDEUnited Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Nigeria
DATESVietnam, Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Macau: what changed, and when
Do you need a sworn translation for a Portuguese document going abroad?
For Portuguese citizens moving abroad and residents leaving, the process runs the other way, and we handle all of it.
Sometimes. The UK Home Office and USCIS accept a Portuguese certified translation with a translator's certificate of accuracy. Canada's IRCC requires a certified translator or, failing that, a sworn affidavit before a notary or commissioner of oaths, and our certification before a Portuguese lawyer or notary is built for that second route. Some countries prefer their own sworn translators for certain acts but accept a Portuguese certified translation with a PGR apostille for many others. We tell you which applies to your destination before you pay.
Portuguese certificates, criminal records, degrees and notarial deeds are apostilled by the Prosecutor General's Office or its regional offices. We obtain it for you, on the original and, when required, on the certified translation.
The UK Home Office and USCIS accept lighter formats, such as a translator's certificate of accuracy. Canada's IRCC asks for a certified translator or a sworn affidavit. Spain, France, Germany and Italy may insist on their own sworn translators for some acts, and accept a Portuguese certified translation with an apostille for others. Brazil needs no translation at all: Portuguese documents travel with the apostille only. We tell you which applies.
Portuguese civil-status certificates travel to other EU countries without an apostille, and IRN can issue multilingual certificates that need no translation. Confirm with the receiving entity before you pay for anything.
Certified translation, sworn translation, apostille or legalisation: what is the difference?
Four terms that sound alike and mean four different things.
| WHAT IT IS | WHO DOES IT | WHEN YOU NEED IT |
|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | The translator declares on their honour before a lawyer, solicitador or notary, in Portugal | Whenever a document has to produce legal effects in another language. It is what works in Portugal |
| Sworn translation | A state-appointed translator with their own stamp | Does not exist in Portugal. Only when an entity in another country demands it, and then we advise you on the route |
| Apostille | The Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) for Portuguese documents; the issuing country for foreign documents | When the document goes to, or comes from, a country of the Hague Convention |
| Consular legalisation | The foreign ministry and then the consulate of the destination country | When the country is not in the Hague Convention |
How much does a certified translation cost, and how do I get a quote?
Email us a legible scan, tell us which Portuguese entity will receive it and where you are. That is all.
Your quote states the exact VAT treatment for your country and status before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Q1I've been told I need a 'sworn translator' in Portugal. Where do I find one?
Q2My documents are in English. Do I still need a translation for AIMA or IRN?
Q3Do I need an apostille, and where do I get it?
Q4My document was issued in another EU country. Do I need anything at all?
Q5My country is not in the Apostille Convention. What then?
Q6I already have a translation certified in my country. Will Portugal accept it?
Q7How long does it take, and how long is it valid?
Q8Is a certified translation valid in a Portuguese court?
Q9How much does it cost, and what about VAT?
Q10I need more than one copy. Is that possible?
Q11We're a law firm, relocation company or translation agency with recurring work. How do you handle that?
Q12Which documents do I need translated for Portuguese residency or nationality?
What a client of 14 years says about us
An international translation agency has trusted us with its biggest client's certified translations since 2012. Every month we receive the documents, translate, certify, obtain the apostille and ship by registered post: to the agency, or straight to the end client in the destination country.
We turn to SMARTIDIOM practically every month because we have a large international client who frequently needs certified translations valid abroad, with notarial certification and apostille included. They reply on the same day, meet tight deadlines and send the documents by post, to us or straight to our client.
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