Documents Required for Portuguese Nationality

Before You Start

Document gathering is often the most time-consuming part of a nationality application. Start collecting your documents well before you plan to submit your application. Some documents take weeks or months to obtain, especially from foreign countries.

Documents Common to All Routes

Regardless of which nationality route you are following, you will generally need:

• Birth certificate — Your original birth certificate from your country of origin, with apostille or consular legalisation and certified Portuguese translation
• Valid passport or travel document — Original and certified copy of your current passport
• Criminal record certificate from Portugal — Obtained from the Ministry of Justice (Ministério da Justiça) online or in person
• Criminal record certificate from your country of origin — And from every country where you have resided since reaching the age of criminal responsibility (typically 16). Each requires apostille and certified Portuguese translation
• Declaration form — The specific application or declaration form for your route, available from the IRN or ePortugal
• Proof of payment — Payment of the applicable fee

Additional Documents: Naturalisation by Residency

If you are applying for nationality through legal residence (naturalisation), you will also need:

• Proof of legal residence — Copies of your residence permits (autorização de residência) covering the full required period (7 years for CPLP/EU nationals, 10 years for others, since 19 May 2026)
• Proof of Portuguese language knowledge — Historically at A2 level or higher (CIPLE, PLA certificate, or equivalent). The 2026 law describes the requirement as "sufficient knowledge." See our Language & Integration Requirements Guide
• NIF (tax number) document — Your Portuguese tax identification number
• Proof of connection to the community — Tax returns, employment contracts, school enrolment certificates, parish registration, utility bills, or other evidence of ties to Portugal
• Proof of integration — Under the 2026 law, additional evidence of knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, national symbols, and democratic principles may be required. Consult the IRN for current assessment requirements

Additional Documents: Marriage or De Facto Union

If you are applying through marriage or de facto union, you will also need:

• Marriage certificate — If the marriage was celebrated outside Portugal, the foreign certificate must be transcribed in the Portuguese civil registry. If already registered in Portugal, a Portuguese marriage certificate is sufficient
• Birth certificate of the Portuguese spouse — Proving the spouse's Portuguese nationality
• Proof of connection to the Portuguese community — Evidence that you meet one of the connection presumptions (6 years of marriage, or 5 years plus language, or other qualifying criteria)
• For de facto union: Court judgment (sentença judicial) recognising the union, plus a recent declaration (issued within the last 3 months) from the Portuguese partner confirming the union continues

Additional Documents: Birth in Portugal

If you are declaring nationality for a child born in Portugal to foreign parents:

• Child's Portuguese birth certificate — Issued by the civil registry office where the birth was registered
• Parent's residence permit — Showing at least 5 years of legal residence in Portugal at the time of the child's birth (since 19 May 2026)
• Parent's birth certificate — With apostille and certified Portuguese translation
• Parent's criminal record certificates — From Portugal and the country of origin

Additional Documents: Descent (Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren)

If you are applying through Portuguese ancestry:

Grandchildren

• Grandparent's birth certificate — Proving they were Portuguese of origin (Portuguese from birth)
• Parent's birth certificate — Establishing the generational link
• Proof of connection to the Portuguese community — Evidence of ties to Portugal
• Proof of Portuguese language knowledge — Historically at A2 level or higher (see Language & Integration Requirements)
• Evidence of cultural knowledge — Proof of knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols (format may depend on current implementing regulations)

Great-Grandchildren

• All documents for grandchildren, plus:
• Great-grandparent's birth certificate — Plus all intervening birth certificates establishing the complete generational chain
• Proof of legal residence in Portugal for the applicable period (7 years for CPLP/EU nationals, 10 years for others under the general naturalisation regime — confirm with the IRN)
• Proof of financial means
• Proof of full integration (language, culture, history, symbols, democratic principles)

Translation and Legalisation

Foreign documents submitted for nationality applications generally need to be both legalised and translated:

Legalisation (Apostille or Consular Certification)

• Hague Convention countries: If your country is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, you need an apostille stamp from the competent authority in your country. This certifies the document for international use
• Non-Hague countries: Documents from countries that are not signatories must be certified by the Portuguese consulate in that country, or legalised through diplomatic channels

Certified Translation

• All documents not in Portuguese must be accompanied by a certified translation into Portuguese
• Translations must be done by a certified translator (tradutor certificado) or a sworn translator (tradutor ajuramentado)
• In some cases, translations certified by the Portuguese consulate may also be accepted

Document Validity Periods

Some documents have limited validity periods. If a document expires before you submit your application, you will need to obtain a new one. Common validity periods include:

• Criminal record certificates: Typically valid for 3 to 6 months, depending on the issuing country
• Portuguese criminal record: Usually valid for 3 months
• Birth certificates: Generally do not expire, though some registries may require recent copies
• Marriage certificates: Generally do not expire
• Language certificates: Check the validity period specified by the issuing institution
• De facto union partner declaration: Must be issued within the last 3 months

Where to Obtain Key Documents

• Portuguese criminal record: Online at identificacao.justica.gov.pt or in person at the Ministry of Justice
• Foreign criminal record: Through your country's embassy or consulate in Portugal, or from the relevant authority in your home country
• Birth certificate (foreign): Through your country's civil registry authority or embassy/consulate
• Apostille: From the competent authority designated by your country under the Hague Convention (varies by country)
• Portuguese language certificate (CIPLE): Through authorised CAPLE examination centres. See our Language Requirement Guide
• NIF: At any Finanças (tax office) or online through the Portal das Finanças. See our NIF Guide

EU Public Documents Regulation

Under EU Regulation 2016/1191 (the EU Public Documents Regulation), certain public documents issued by EU Member States can be presented in another Member State without apostille or legalisation. Additionally, multilingual standard forms may be attached to eliminate the need for translation in certain cases.

This regulation covers specific document types, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and certificates of no criminal record, when they are issued by one EU Member State and presented in another. If your documents originate from another EU country, check whether this regulation applies to reduce your translation and legalisation requirements.

Common Questions

How long does it take to gather all documents?

Allow at least 2 to 4 months for document collection, especially if you need documents from abroad. Criminal records from some countries can take several weeks. Apostilles and translations add further time. Starting early is essential.

Can I submit photocopies instead of originals?

Generally, the IRN requires original documents or certified copies. Uncertified photocopies are not accepted. Some registries may accept certified copies made by a notary. Check with the specific office where you plan to submit your application.

My country does not issue criminal record certificates. What do I do?

If your country of origin does not issue criminal record certificates, you may be able to provide a declaration from the competent authority stating that such certificates are not issued, along with whatever alternative documentation the IRN accepts. Consult the IRN or ePortugal for guidance on your specific situation.

Do I need translations for documents in English?

Officially, all foreign-language documents must be translated into Portuguese. While there is a discretionary provision allowing registrars to accept documents in English, French, or Spanish without translation, this cannot be guaranteed. It is safest to have certified Portuguese translations for all documents.

What happens if a document expires before my application is processed?

If a document expires after you have submitted your application, the IRN may request an updated version. To minimise this risk, submit your application as soon as possible after collecting all time-sensitive documents.