Do you need a Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate while living outside Portugal?
Our law office is based in Portugal and assists clients abroad who need to obtain a criminal record certificate from Portugal. We can handle the process on your behalf when legally permitted, so you do not need to travel to Portugal simply to obtain the document.
We can also arrange the Apostille and provide a certified translation of your Portuguese criminal record. If required, the original documents can be sent to you by international courier.
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Obtain Your Criminal Record Certificate from Portugal
A Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate may be required for immigration procedures, visa applications, employment, citizenship applications, residence permits, professional registration or other official purposes.
The document is officially known in Portugal as the Certificado do Registo Criminal.
If you are searching for a Portugal criminal record certificate, Portuguese criminal record, criminal record check in Portugal or Portuguese police clearance certificate, we can assist you with obtaining the document in Portugal.
Portuguese Police Clearance Certificate
In many countries, a criminal record certificate is also referred to as a Police Clearance Certificate, Police Certificate or Criminal Record Check.
Therefore, if an authority has requested a Portuguese Police Clearance Certificate or a Police Clearance Certificate from Portugal, it may be referring to the Portuguese criminal record document.
We assist clients living abroad who need to obtain this document for use in another country.
How to Get a Portuguese Criminal Record from Abroad
If you are outside Portugal, the process can be handled remotely in many cases.
You provide the required personal information and identification documents. We verify the applicable requirements and, when legally possible, request the Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate on your behalf.
Once the certificate has been obtained, we can provide a digital copy and arrange international delivery of the original document if required.
Apostille for a Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate
If you need to use your Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate abroad, the receiving authority may require the document to have an Apostille.
Our office can arrange the Apostille in Portugal after obtaining the criminal record certificate.
We can therefore provide a complete service:
- Obtain your Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate;
- Arrange the Apostille in Portugal;
- Translate the document into English, when required;
- Provide a certified translation;
- Send the original documents internationally.
This allows clients living abroad to obtain their Portuguese criminal record, Apostille and translation without travelling to Portugal.
Certified Translation of a Portuguese Criminal Record
We can also provide a certified English translation of your Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate.
In Portugal, lawyers are legally authorised to certify translations. The lawyer certifies the translation of the Portuguese document for presentation to the relevant authority.
Therefore, if you need your Portuguese criminal record translated into English, we can obtain the certificate, arrange the Apostille and provide the certified translation as part of the same service.
Depending on the terminology used in the country where the document will be presented, this type of service may also be searched for as a sworn translation. However, the certification is performed in Portugal in accordance with Portuguese law.
Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate with Apostille and Translation
If the authority receiving your document requires both an Apostille and an English translation, we can manage the entire process in Portugal.
The service may include:
Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate → Apostille → Certified Translation → International Delivery
You can therefore request the complete service from abroad and receive the documents at your address.
Who May Need a Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate?
A Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate or Portuguese Police Clearance Certificate may be requested for several purposes, including:
- Immigration applications;
- Visa applications;
- Citizenship or nationality procedures;
- Residence permits;
- Employment abroad;
- Professional registration;
- Criminal background checks;
- Government procedures;
- Other administrative or legal proceedings.
The exact requirements depend on the country and authority requesting the document. You should always confirm whether an Apostille and certified translation are required for your particular procedure.
International Delivery of the Original Documents
After obtaining the document and completing any requested Apostille or certified translation, we can arrange international delivery of the originals.
This service is particularly useful for clients who live outside Portugal and need the original Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate for submission to an authority abroad.
Request Your Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate
If you are abroad and need a Portuguese Criminal Record Certificate, contact us and provide your personal details and the country where the document will be used.
We will confirm the applicable requirements, costs and estimated processing time before proceeding.
Our law office is located in Portugal. We provide private legal assistance and are not a Portuguese government authority.
Adriano Martins Pinheiro, Lawyer in Portugal
