Dealing with a Death in Portugal
Dealing with a death in Portugal as an expat involves a different set of procedures than most home countries. From notifying the authorities to handling inheritance and potentially repatriating remains, this guide covers the essential steps.
Get a medical certificate of death
A doctor must certify the death. If it occurs at home, call 112 for the emergency services or the local health center. In a hospital, the attending doctor issues the certificate.
Register the death at the Conservatoria
The death must be registered at the Conservatoria do Registo Civil within 48 hours. The funeral home usually handles this. You'll receive the death certificate (certidao de obito).
Documents needed
- Medical certificate of death
- Deceased's ID/passport
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Notify the relevant authorities
Inform: Financas (tax authority), Seguranca Social, bank(s), insurance companies, embassy/consulate of the deceased's nationality, AIMA if they had a residence permit, and any pension providers.
Handle inheritance and Imposto de Selo
There is no inheritance tax in Portugal, but Imposto de Selo (stamp duty) of 10% applies to Portuguese assets inherited by non-exempt beneficiaries. Exempt beneficiaries: spouse, descendants, and ascendants. File the inheritance declaration (Modelo 1 do Imposto de Selo) at Financas within 3 months.
Obtain habilitacao de herdeiros
This notarial deed establishes who the legal heirs are. Done at a Cartorio Notarial. Required to access bank accounts, transfer property, and close affairs.
Documents needed
- Death certificate
- Will (if exists)
- Birth/marriage certificates of heirs
- IDs of all heirs
Repatriate remains (if applicable)
Contact the deceased's embassy for assistance. You'll need: embalming certificate, zinc-lined coffin for international transport, flight authorization from DGS (health authority), and coordination with a funeral home experienced in international repatriation. Costs can be 5,000-15,000 EUR.
Watch out
- ●The 48-hour registration deadline is strict — the funeral home usually manages this
- ●Bank accounts are frozen immediately upon death notification. Ensure bills won't bounce
- ●Repatriation of remains is expensive and bureaucratic — consider travel insurance that covers this
Track this in the app
Get this as an interactive checklist with deadline alerts — personalized to your situation.
Start Free