Getting a Criminal Record Certificate in Portugal
A certificado de registo criminal (criminal record certificate) is required for many official processes in Portugal: residency permit applications, citizenship, certain jobs, and adopting children. You may also need a criminal record from your home country, apostilled.
Request online via the justice portal
Portuguese criminal record certificates can be requested online at the Ministry of Justice website. Costs 5 EUR for a standard certificate. You need your NIF and Chave Movel Digital or digital certificate.
Request in person
Visit any Loja do Cidadao or Conservatoria do Registo Criminal. Bring your ID and NIF. The certificate is usually issued immediately.
For home country criminal record
Contact your embassy or consulate in Portugal, or request from your home country's authorities. The certificate must be apostilled (Hague Convention countries) or legalized. If not in Portuguese, get a certified translation.
Use for the right purpose
Different types exist: general use, employment, working with minors. Specify the correct type when requesting. Certificates are typically valid for 3 months from the issue date.
Watch out
- ●Criminal record certificates expire after 3 months — don't request too early
- ●Some employers require the 'working with minors' version even if the role doesn't obviously involve children
- ●The home country certificate must be apostilled AND translated — both steps take time
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