Certificate of Residence Portugal 2026: Atestado de Residência
The atestado de residência (certificate of residence) is one of the most requested documents at parish councils: it proves your address to schools, health centres, consulates, banks or public services. This guide explains who issues the certificate of residence in Portugal, what you need to bring and what to do if you are a foreigner.
Vocabulary note: the junta de freguesia (parish council) is the level of local government closest to residents, below the câmara municipal (city/municipal council). A freguesia (parish) is similar to a neighbourhood or administrative district. Recenseado means registered on the electoral roll of that parish.
What is an atestado de residência?
It is a statement from the junta de freguesia confirming that a person lives in the area of the parish. Some juntas also state who is part of the household (agregado familiar).
The legal basis is article 34 of Decree-Law no. 135/99. According to that article, quoted in a legal opinion from CCDR Alentejo, the junta can issue certificates of residence, of being alive and of economic situation when:
- a member of the parish executive or assembly knows the facts directly; or
- proof is given by the testimony of two voters registered in the parish; or
- by another legally accepted means.
False statements are punished by law, both for the applicant and for the witnesses.
What is the certificate of residence used for?
Common uses:
- registering at a health centre or applying for the utente number;
- enrolling your children in a school in your area of residence;
- immigration processes, such as residence permit renewal with a change of address;
- proof of address for banks, phone/internet providers or landlords;
- social support that requires proof of residence.
Note that the atestado is an informative document: the CCDR opinion says it does not have full evidential force, and the body that asks for it can assess it freely.
What documents do you need?
Requirements vary from one junta to another. As a rule, prepare:
| Document | What for |
|---|---|
| Identity document (Cartão de Cidadão, passport or residence permit card) | To identify the applicant |
| Proof of address (rental contract, water/electricity/gas bill, landlord’s declaration) | To support the proof |
| NIF (tax number) | Many juntas ask for it |
| Identification of the two witnesses | When proof is given by witnesses |
How to get a certificate of residence in Portugal
- Find your junta de freguesia. It must be the one for the parish where you live now.
- Check the junta’s website for opening hours, whether it accepts online requests and the fee.
- Bring the documents listed above.
- If you need witnesses, arrange two people registered to vote in the parish. They usually have to identify themselves with their Cartão de Cidadão; the junta checks that they are registered. Many juntas ask them to sign a statement at the desk.
- Pay the fee in the junta’s fee table.
- Collect the atestado, on the spot or within the time given by the junta.
Who can be a witness?
The law only requires witnesses to be voters registered in the parish. The CCDR Alentejo opinion (2021) concludes that nothing more should be required, unless false statements are suspected, and that therefore a family member can be a witness.
The same opinion says the law does not require a special form for the testimony or a mandatory in-person signature, but the junta must make sure the witnesses are identified. In practice, each junta sets its own procedure.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The price is set by each junta de freguesia in its regulations and fee table, so it varies across the country. The timing also varies: some juntas issue it on the spot and others take a few working days.
Can foreigners get an atestado de residência?
Yes. The certificate states where the person lives, not their nationality or immigration status. The rules of article 34 apply in the same way.
Points to keep in mind:
- A foreigner who is not registered to vote in the parish cannot be a witness. In general, only Portuguese citizens and certain foreigners with the right to vote in local elections can vote (and so be registered).
- Health services often ask for the atestado from people who do not yet have a residence permit, to prove that they live in Portugal.
Atestado de residência or tax address certificate?
They are different documents:
- Atestado de residência — issued by the junta de freguesia; proves your actual address.
- Certidão de domicílio fiscal (tax address certificate) — issued by the Autoridade Tributária (tax authority) on the Portal das Finanças; proves the address registered for tax purposes.
Some organisations accept the Finanças certificate as proof of address; others require the atestado from the junta. Ask first which one they accept. To change your tax address or the address on your card, see the guide on renewing the Cartão de Cidadão (in Portuguese).
Common mistakes
- Going to the wrong junta. It must be the one for the parish where you live now, not where you lived before.
- Bringing witnesses who are not registered in the parish.
- Not checking the fee and opening hours before you go.
- Using an old atestado. Many organisations require a recent one; check what validity they accept.
- Declaring an address where you do not live. This is a false statement, punishable by law, also for the witnesses.
- Assuming the atestado replaces the residence permit. It does not: it proves your address, not your right to live in Portugal.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a certificate of residence in Portugal?
At the junta de freguesia (parish council) of the area where you live. Some juntas accept requests by email or on their website; the rules and service vary from one junta to another.
Do I need witnesses for the atestado de residência?
If no member of the junta or the parish assembly knows directly that you live there, yes: the law allows the testimony of two voters registered in the parish.
How much does the atestado de residência cost?
It depends on the junta. Each parish approves its own fee table, so the price varies. Check on your junta's website or at the desk.
Can a family member be a witness?
According to a legal opinion from CCDR Alentejo, the law only requires witnesses to be voters registered in the parish, so it does not prevent a family member. Some juntas may have a stricter practice.
Can foreigners get an atestado de residência?
Yes. The certificate is requested by the person who lives in the parish, whatever their nationality. The difference is that a foreigner who is not registered to vote cannot be a witness.