Document Translation Requirements in Portugal
Official bodies in Portugal generally require a notarized translation of foreign-language documents, and many documents also need an apostille or legalization before they are translated. Below: who can translate, when an apostille is needed, and where the official rules are published.
Portugal requirements at a glance
| Translation standard | Notarized translation (Notarised) |
|---|---|
| Who can translate | Any competent translator, provided the signature is officially certified |
| Apostille | Often required for foreign documents, depending on country of origin |
| Accepted languages | Portuguese |
| Responsible authority | Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) |
Who can translate documents for use in Portugal?
What makes a translation official in Portugal?
How does Portugal treat documents from abroad?
Legal basis
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Translating Portuguese documents for the U.S.?
Portuguese birth certificates, diplomas, and transcripts submitted to USCIS, universities, or credential evaluators need a certified English translation — that is exactly what we do, with a 100% USCIS acceptance guarantee.
Sending U.S. documents to Portugal?
U.S.-issued documents usually need an apostille before they can be used in Portugal — and the apostille should be obtained before the translation, so the certificate itself gets translated too. We offer e-apostille processing as an add-on to any order.
Popular certified translations
The Portuguese documents we translate most often — each with its own pricing and requirements page.
Real Portuguese translation cases we've handled
Anonymized Portuguese-to-English orders. Each case shows the exact translation problem and how we solved it for the receiving authority.
RecentMay 2026apostille-bindingBrazilBound CNJ Digital Apostille on a Brazilian Birth Certificate
A Brazilian Certidão de Nascimento arrived bound to a CNJ digital apostille on its second page. The Brazilian CNJ apostille birth certificate translation had to paginate the same way as the source. We kept page-1 stamps on page 1, page-2 apostille and matrícula explainer on page 2, and verified every FID security code digit by digit. The certified translation was delivered for the client's USCIS filing.
Handled by Natalia Vega, Senior Certified Translation ReviewerUSCISRead case →
RecentMay 2026Handwriting & Scribal ConventionsBrazilA 'Digo' Scribal Correction on a 1964 Brazilian Birth Certificate
A 1964 handwritten Brazilian birth certificate from the 17.º Subdistrito - Bela Vista cartório in São Paulo opened with 'Talão 929 IMPAR, digo Talão 929 par' — a registrar's inline self-correction using the Portuguese formula 'digo' (literally 'I say') in place of a strikethrough. We rendered the corrected value 'Stub 929 EVEN' and marked the formula as 'digo (correction)', then added a Translator's Note explaining the cartório convention. The certified translation was delivered for the client's USCIS filing.
Handled by Natalia Vega, Iberian & Latin American Legal TranslatorUSCISRead case →
RecentMay 2026System Printouts, Stamps & Authenticity SignalsBrazilWhen a Brazilian Vaccination Record Has No Stamp or Signature
A client submitted a Brazilian municipal vaccination printout — Londrina's Hygia health system — for USCIS. The page had no stamps, signatures, or letterhead, and seventeen vaccine rows used Brazilian SUS shorthand (TRIPLICE, ANTIPOLIO, TRIP VIRAL, BCG). We mirrored the layout, translated the shorthand into English vaccine names a US civil surgeon recognizes (DTP, Polio, MMR, Yellow Fever, BCG), and added a Translator's Note documenting the source as a system-generated printout. The certified translation was delivered for USCIS.
Handled by Natalia Vega, Iberian & Latin American Legal TranslatorUSCISRead case →
Portugal translation requirements — FAQ
What type of translation does Portugal require?
Portugal follows the notarized translation standard for official documents. Translations should be completed by: any competent translator, provided the signature is officially certified.
Is an apostille required for foreign documents in Portugal?
Often required for foreign documents, depending on country of origin
What languages do Portuguese authorities accept?
Official authorities in Portugal accept documents in: Portuguese. Documents in any other language need a notarized translation before submission.
Can CertTranslate help with documents for Portugal?
If you are submitting Portuguese documents to U.S. authorities (USCIS, universities, credential evaluators), yes — our certified translations are accepted nationwide. For official use inside Portugal, authorities generally expect a notarized translation; check the official guidelines linked on this page. We can also advise on apostille requirements for U.S.-issued documents.
Requirements in related countries
Neighbors and countries with a similar translation standard.
Sources
- Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) – Official portalOfficial guidelines
Information verified against official sources. Last verified June 2026.
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