Using a Notary and Certifying Documents in Portugal
Who can certify, authenticate, or witness your documents in Portugal, what a notary alone can do, and what each service costs.
Last verified: September 2026.
Who this is for
- You need a signature recognised, a copy certified, or a contract authenticated for a Portuguese bank or office.
- You are buying, selling, inheriting, or making a will and want to know who can do the paperwork.
- You live in Portugal or abroad, and you are an EU or non-EU citizen.
Not for you if: you need someone to act for you. Read "Granting a Power of Attorney (Procuração) in Portugal". For a foreign document, read "Getting an Apostille or Consular Legalisation in Portugal".
Updated September 2026. From 1 October 2026, every deed or contract that transfers a building must state whether it has its planning title.
A Portuguese notary (notário) is a private lawyer who performs a public function. Documents a notary draws up are "authentic": courts presume them true. You rarely need a notary, though. Lawyers, solicitadores, registry offices, and chambers of commerce can recognise signatures, certify copies, and authenticate contracts with the same legal force. A signature recognition costs about €12 at a registry office. A notarial power of attorney costs about €31 plus VAT. Most acts take one short appointment. This guide explains who can do what, what each costs, and when only a notary will do.
This is general information, not legal advice. For a large transaction, ask a lawyer or solicitador to check your case.
Who can do what
Portugal split the old notarial monopoly in two. A notary still performs "authentic acts", such as public deeds and public wills. For most everyday certification, you can choose from several professionals. The law gives their work the same evidential force as a notary's.
| Service | Notary | Lawyer (advogado) or solicitador | Registry office (conservatória) | Chamber of commerce | Portuguese consulate abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognise a signature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certify a photocopy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certify a translation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Authenticate a private contract (DPA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public deed (escritura pública) | Yes | No | Some property and inheritance acts | No | Yes |
| Public or closed will | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
A lawyer, solicitador, or chamber of commerce must record each act in their professional body's online system at the moment they perform it. An act that is not recorded there is not valid, so ask for the record reference.
For what a solicitador does beyond this, read "What a Solicitador Does in Portugal".
When you need a notary
You need a notary, or a consulate abroad, for a small set of acts. The main ones for foreign residents are:
- A public will (testamento público). The notary writes it and keeps the original. Portugal's ordinary will forms both involve a notary, so a handwritten will made in Portugal is not valid here. See "Making a Will and Handling an Inheritance in Portugal".
- Approving a closed will (testamento cerrado). You write it; the notary seals and records it.
- An irrevocable power of attorney. A power granted also in the interest of the attorney or someone else must be a notarial public instrument. See "Granting a Power of Attorney (Procuração) in Portugal".
- A public deed, when the parties choose one. Property sales, gifts, and mortgages can be done by public deed at a notary. They can also be done by an authenticated private document or at a Casa Pronta registry counter.
A prenuptial agreement (convenção antenupcial) can be signed before a notary or at a civil registry office. A declaration of heirs can be done at a notary or at a registry office. See "Getting a Declaration of Heirs (Habilitação de Herdeiros)".
A notary does not celebrate civil marriages in Portugal. The civil registry does, and it can hold the ceremony outside its office. See "Marrying in Portugal as a Foreigner".
The authenticated private document (DPA)
The documento particular autenticado (DPA, authenticated private document) is the main alternative to a notarial deed. It is a written contract the parties sign. A lawyer, solicitador, notary, registry officer, or chamber of commerce then adds a formal statement (termo de autenticação). It confirms that the parties read the contract, understood it, and signed it before them.
For property, a DPA can transfer, gift, or mortgage a home with the same effect as a public deed. Here is how it works:
- The professional checks the property's registry and tax records, and that any property transfer tax (IMT) and stamp duty are paid.
- The parties sign the contract in front of the professional, who adds the authentication statement.
- The professional deposits the document electronically on the official property registry platform. For a property act, the authentication is only valid once this deposit is made.
- The professional, or you, then applies to register the new owner.
Notaries set their own fee for deeds, and lawyers and solicitadores set their own fee for a DPA. Ask for a written quote that lists fees, VAT, registry charges, and taxes separately.
The third route for a simple home purchase is Casa Pronta, a one-stop counter at the property registry. See "Using Casa Pronta to Buy or Sell a Home in Portugal". For the full buying and selling process, see "Buying Property in Portugal as a Foreigner" and "Selling Your House in Portugal".
From 1 October 2026, any deed or DPA that transfers a building, or land for building, must state one of three things. Either the planning title (título urbanístico, such as the use licence) was shown, or the seller says they have it, or the seller says there is none. If the document leaves this out, the sale can be challenged for three years.
Signature recognition
A signature recognition (reconhecimento de assinatura) confirms that a signature on a document is really yours. Banks, schools, landlords, and some public offices ask for one. There are three kinds:
- Simple recognition. The professional compares your signature with the one on your ID document.
- In-person recognition (reconhecimento presencial). You sign in front of the professional. This is the kind needed for most powers of attorney.
- Recognition with a special mention. The professional also confirms a fact about you, such as your role as a company manager.
Bring your passport, residence card, or Portuguese Citizen Card. Do not sign the document beforehand if the recognition must be in person.
Certified copies and translations
A certified copy (fotocópia certificada) confirms that a copy matches the original you show. Notaries, lawyers, solicitadores, registry offices, and chambers of commerce can all certify copies. Parish councils (juntas de freguesia) can also certify photocopies. Bring the original document.
Before you pay, ask whether the office really needs a certified copy. Some public counters will accept a plain copy if you show the original.
Portugal has no sworn translators. A translation becomes "certified" when a notary, lawyer, solicitador, registry office, chamber of commerce, or consulate certifies it. The same applies to foreign-language documents you bring to a notary. See "Getting a Certified Translation in Portugal".
A foreign public document usually also needs an apostille or consular legalisation before a Portuguese notary will use it. A Portuguese notarial document you want to use abroad may need one too. See "Getting an Apostille or Consular Legalisation in Portugal".
What it costs
Registry offices charge fixed, published fees. Notaries charge a fixed maximum for some acts and set their own price for the rest. Lawyers and solicitadores set their own fees. Notary, lawyer, and solicitador fees carry VAT, at 23% on the mainland. Registry office fees do not.
| Service | Registry office | Notary |
|---|---|---|
| Recognising one signature | €12 | Set by each notary, often around €10 to €15 plus VAT |
| Recognition with a special mention | €16.50 | Set by each notary |
| Authentication statement, one signer | €24 | Set by each notary |
| Power of attorney (public instrument) | Not offered | Up to €31.09 plus VAT, plus €10 for each extra person |
| Public will | Not offered | Up to €113.45 plus VAT |
| Deed of sale | Casa Pronta fees apply | Set by each notary |
At a Portuguese consulate the fees are also fixed. For example, the consular table lists €20 per signature recognition, €40 for an authentication statement, and €50 for a power of attorney.
Registry and tax costs are separate. On a property deal you also pay property transfer tax (IMT), stamp duty, and registration fees, whichever route you use.
How to book and what to bring
Most acts take one appointment of 15 to 60 minutes.
- Decide which service you need, using the tables above. If a bank or office asked for the document, ask them to confirm the exact form in writing.
- Find a professional. The Ordem dos Notários lists every notary at ordem.notarios.pt/notarios. Registry offices are listed by IRN. Lawyers and solicitadores are listed by their professional bodies.
- Book by phone, email, or online. Ask for the price and the document list at the same time.
- Send any draft text in advance. The notary or lawyer can check it before the day.
- Attend with everything on the list. A notary will refuse to proceed if a document is missing.
Bring:
- a valid passport, Portuguese residence card, or Citizen Card for each person signing
- your NIF (tax number) for any act involving property, money, or a company; see "Getting a NIF (Tax Number) in Portugal"
- the original documents to be copied, signed, or authenticated
- a certified translation of any document not in Portuguese, unless the professional accepts the language
- for property acts, the documents your lawyer or notary lists, such as the land registry certificate and the tax record
If you do not speak Portuguese well, the notary may require an interpreter. Ask when you book. You usually pay the interpreter directly.
Powers of attorney
A power of attorney (procuração) lets someone else sign for you. Its form depends on the act. A power to sell a flat needs more formality than a letter authorising someone to collect post. An irrevocable power must be made at a notary. Everyday powers can be done with an in-person signature recognition or an authenticated document from a lawyer or solicitador. For the types, the special powers property deals need, signing one abroad, and cancelling one, read "Granting a Power of Attorney (Procuração) in Portugal".
Choosing the right professional
- You need one signature recognised or one copy certified. Go to the nearest registry office, notary, or solicitador. Compare prices; registry fees are fixed and published.
- You are buying or selling a home. Ask a lawyer or solicitador for a quote for a DPA and ask the registry about Casa Pronta. For a complex deal, many buyers still prefer a notary's deed.
- You are making a will. Go to a notary. A lawyer can advise on the content first.
- You are abroad. A Portuguese consulate can perform most notarial acts. Book early, as consular appointments can take weeks.
- You are setting up a company. You usually do not need a notary. See "Starting a Company in Portugal".
Sources
- Ordem dos Notários, directory of notaries: https://ordem.notarios.pt/notarios (finding a notary)
- Ordem dos Notários, news: https://notarios.pt/noticias/categoria/noticias-home (2023 reform of the notarial statute and code; planning title rule in deeds)
- Código do Notariado (Decreto-Lei n.º 207/95), article 116, via Portal das Comunidades and Diário da República: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34509175 (forms of power of attorney; irrevocable powers as public instrument)
- Estatuto do Notariado (Decreto-Lei n.º 26/2004), as amended by Lei n.º 69/2023: https://ordem.notarios.pt/a-ordem/estatutos (notary as private professional with public function)
- Decreto-Lei n.º 76-A/2006, article 38, as summarised by the Ordem dos Advogados: https://portal.oa.pt/media/118387/registos_enquadramento_legal.pdf (who may recognise signatures, certify copies and translations, and authenticate documents; online recording requirement; same evidential force)
- Decreto-Lei n.º 116/2008 and Portaria n.º 1535/2008 (DPA for property acts; electronic deposit as condition of validity): https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/portaria/1535-2008-444230
- Portaria n.º 385/2004 (notarial fee table), as amended by Portarias n.º 1416-A/2006 and 574/2008: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/portaria/2004-885208656 (fixed maximum fees for powers of attorney and wills)
- Regulamento Emolumentar dos Registos e Notariado (Decreto-Lei n.º 322-A/2001), via IRN: https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Custos-dos-servicos (registry fees for signature recognition and authentication)
- Tabela de Emolumentos Consulares (Portaria n.º 229/2021, as amended by Portaria n.º 434/2023), Consulate General in London: https://londres.consuladoportugal.mne.gov.pt/images/tec.pdf (consular fees)
- Portal das Finanças, Tabela Geral do Imposto do Selo, item 15: https://info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/pt/informacao_fiscal/codigos_tributarios/selo/ra/Pages/ccod-selo-tabgiselora_202003.aspx (stamp duty on notarial acts revoked in 2010)
- Código Civil, articles 363, 1710, 2204 and 2205 (authentic documents; form of prenuptial agreements; ordinary will forms)
- Decreto-Lei n.º 28/2000 (certification of photocopies by parish councils)
- Decreto-Lei n.º 108/2026 and Decreto-Lei n.º 155-B/2026, as reported by idealista/news: https://www.idealista.pt/news/imobiliario/habitacao/2026/08/04/76933-indicacao-de-titulo-urbanistico-obrigatoria-nas-escrituras-a-partir-de-outubro (planning title statement in deeds from 1 October 2026)
Last verified September 2026. Rules and fees change; check the official source before acting.