Criminal record certificate Portugal 2026: how to get it
A criminal record certificate in Portugal (certificado de registo criminal) is the document that shows whether a person has any convictions registered in Portugal. You may need it for jobs (especially work with children, security jobs or public service), public job competitions, visas and procedures abroad. It is issued by the DGAJ (Direção-Geral da Administração da Justiça, the Directorate-General for the Administration of Justice), through its Criminal Identification Services.
Note: in other countries this document may be called a police clearance certificate or certificate of criminal antecedents. In Portugal people say «tirar o registo criminal» (to get your criminal record).
What does the criminal record certificate show?
It shows whether there are convictions in the person’s name, including decisions by Portuguese courts and decisions by foreign courts that were reported to Portugal under international agreements. For citizens of the European Union, it can include convictions in their country of nationality.
Who can apply?
- Anyone over 16, of any nationality, can ask for their own certificate.
- Anyone aged 18 or over can ask for another person’s certificate, with that person’s authorisation — but only in person.
- Companies apply through their legal representative (this is a different service).
Price, processing time and validity
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | 5 € |
| Time — online request | Up to 3 working days |
| Time — in-person request | Up to 10 working days |
| Validity | 3 months from the date of issue |
How to get a criminal record certificate in Portugal online
- Go to registocriminal.justica.gov.pt and open the Área Reservada (private area).
- Log in with Chave Móvel Digital or your Cartão de Cidadão (Portuguese citizen card) with a card reader.
- In «O Meu Registo Criminal» (My criminal record), make a new request and choose the purpose (for your own information or to give to an organisation).
- Pay the 5 €.
- When it is issued, download the certificate in the same area. You can also get an access code, which lets the organisation you give it to check it online.
In the private area you can see your past requests, the status of each certificate and its expiry date.
How to apply in person
You can apply in person at the service points listed on the DGAJ portal («Ver locais de atendimento» — see service points). Bring your identity document. This is the only way to ask for another person’s certificate (with their written authorisation).
I am a foreigner: what is different?
- Your nationality does not stop you from applying. A citizen of India, Nepal, Brazil or any other country who lives in Portugal can ask for their Portuguese criminal record certificate just like a Portuguese citizen.
- Residence permit: people applying for or renewing a residence permit (autorização de residência) do not need to submit the Portuguese criminal record — the services check it after you give permission in your application. See the residence permit guide.
- Citizenship: you also do not need to submit it at the registry office (conservatória) when you apply for Portuguese citizenship.
- Criminal record from your home country: this is a different document, which you request from the authorities of that country. It may be required for visas or citizenship.
Do you live outside Portugal?
There is a special form for people living abroad on the DGAJ portal. Only use it if you do not live in Portugal: if you use it wrongly, the request is refused, no certificate is issued and the money you paid is not refunded. You must complete the form within 24 hours of starting it.
How to get an apostille on your criminal record
If you will use the certificate in a country that is part of the Hague Convention, you may need an apostille (an official stamp that confirms the document is genuine). In Portugal, the apostille is issued by the Procuradoria-Geral da República (Attorney General’s Office), which can delegate this to the prosecutor’s offices in Porto, Coimbra, Évora, Funchal and Ponta Delgada.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Where (Lisbon, documents from the whole country) | Campus de Justiça, Av. D. João II, 1.08.01, Edifício E |
| Price | 10,20 € per apostille |
| Exemption | Free for people who prove they cannot afford it (insuficiência económica) |
| Service | First come, first served, usually on the same day |
Payment methods vary by location — check before you go.
Common mistakes
- Handing in a certificate older than 3 months. Check the expiry date before you send it.
- Choosing the wrong purpose. Some organisations only accept a certificate requested for the purpose they asked for.
- Using the form for people living abroad while you live in Portugal. The request is refused and the money is not refunded.
- Paying intermediary websites. The official request costs 5 €.
- Mixing up the Portuguese criminal record and the one from your home country. They are different documents.
- Forgetting the apostille when the document will be used outside the EU.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a criminal record certificate cost in Portugal?
5 €, according to the DGAJ Registo Criminal Online portal.
How long is the Portuguese criminal record certificate valid?
3 months from the date it is issued, according to gov.pt. Some organisations may ask for a more recent certificate.
How long does it take to get it?
Up to 3 working days if you apply online and up to 10 working days if you apply in person.
Do I need to give AIMA my criminal record for my residence permit?
Not the Portuguese one. According to gov.pt, people applying for or renewing a residence permit do not have to submit it: the services check it with the permission you give in your application.
Can I get the criminal record certificate for someone else?
Yes, if you are 18 or older and have that person's authorisation, but you must apply in person.
How do I get an apostille on my criminal record to use it outside Portugal?
The apostille is issued by the Procuradoria-Geral da República (Lisbon) and some regional prosecutor's offices, and costs 10,20 € per document, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office.