A Portuguese birth certificate is an official civil-registry document that proves the facts recorded for a birth in Portugal. If you are outside Portugal, you can request it through the official online service or use Portugal Papers to handle the request remotely.
This guide explains the official route, the information that helps identify the correct record, what changes for older records, and when apostille, translation or paper delivery may become relevant.
Prefer us to handle the request?
Start with your email and the information you already have. Portugal Papers can identify the practical request path, obtain the certificate and arrange apostille, certified translation or delivery when needed.
What is a Portuguese Birth Certificate?
A Portuguese birth certificate (certidão de nascimento) is an official document issued by the Portuguese Civil Registry (Conservatória do Registo Civil) that certifies the birth of an individual. It contains essential information including:
- Full name of the person
- Date and place of birth
- Parents' names and nationalities
- Registration number and date
- Any subsequent annotations (marriage, divorce, death, name changes)
The birth certificate is one of the most requested Portuguese documents, commonly needed for:
- Citizenship applications — proving Portuguese ancestry
- Passport renewals — updating personal documents
- Marriage abroad — proving identity and civil status
- Immigration procedures — visa applications and residency permits
- Genealogical research — tracing family history
- Legal proceedings — inheritance, property transfers
Who Can Request a Birth Certificate?
According to the Portuguese Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN), anyone can request a birth certificate — either their own or someone else's. You don't need to prove a relationship or provide a reason for the request.
Important Exceptions
There are restrictions for certificates of adopted persons and those who have legally changed their sex and name. In these cases, only the person themselves or authorized representatives can request the certificate.
Methods to Request from Abroad
If you're living outside Portugal, you have several options to obtain a Portuguese birth certificate:
Online (Civil Online)
The fastest and most convenient method. Request through the official Civil Online portal.
- Available 24/7
- €10 per certificate
Portuguese Consulate
Request in person or by mail through your nearest Portuguese consulate.
- Paper certificate available
- International format option
- Longer processing time
Third option: You can authorize someone in Portugal to request the certificate on your behalf at any civil registry office (conservatória), Citizen Shop (Loja de Cidadão), or IRN Registry Space.
Information that helps identify the correct birth record
You do not need to know every detail before contacting us. The following information is useful when available:
- Full name used in Portugal
- Date and place of birth
- Parents' names
- Conservatória, parish, year or registration number, if known
For a parent, grandparent or older relative, send the information you have. We can tell you whether the request looks straightforward or may require archive research.
Online Request Process (Step-by-Step)
The Civil Online portal (civilonline.justica.gov.pt) is the official platform for requesting Portuguese civil registry certificates online. Here's how to use it:
Access Civil Online
Go to the Civil Online portal. You can authenticate with your Portuguese Citizen Card (requires card reader and active PINs), Digital Mobile Key (Chave Móvel Digital), or proceed without authentication.
Fill in the Request Form
Provide the required information: full name of the person, date of birth, place of birth, and parents' names. If you're authenticated, some fields will be pre-filled.
Select Certificate Type
Choose "Birth Certificate" (Certidão de Nascimento) from the available options.
Make Payment
Pay €10 using Multibanco reference or credit card. Note: Multibanco payment requires access to Portuguese banking services or Homebanking.
Receive Your Certificate
After the request is completed, you receive an access code that allows the certificate to be consulted online. The code is valid for six months. This period applies to access to the certificate and does not mean that every foreign authority will accept the document for six months.
Official Costs and Fees
The Portuguese government sets fixed fees for birth certificates. Here are the official prices as of November 2025:
| Certificate Type | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online birth certificate | €10 | Digital format, valid 6 months via access code |
| Paper certificate | €20 | Standard paper certificate |
Source: registo.justica.gov.pt — Last updated November 2025
Processing Time
The official birth-certificate page does not publish one guaranteed processing time. The access code is provided after the request has been completed. Portugal Papers Standard and Express timings are service timings, not an official IRN guarantee.
Older records and family-history requests
Older Portuguese records may follow a different path from a recent civil-registry certificate. Records more than 100 years old are generally transferred to District Archives or the National Archive of Torre do Tombo, while newer records normally remain with Civil Registry offices.
Many birth-related records from before the creation of civil registration in 1911 are parish baptism records rather than modern civil birth certificates. If your request concerns an ancestor, provide the approximate year, place and family details you know so the correct source can be identified.
Do You Need an Apostille?
An apostille is not automatically required for every use abroad. The receiving authority decides the required format. For public documents covered by Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 between EU Member States, an apostille is not required. For other destinations or procedures, check the receiving authority instructions. Portugal Papers can arrange an apostille when it is required.
Need an Apostille?
We can obtain your birth certificate with apostille included, saving you time and hassle.
Learn About Apostille ServicesPortugal Papers can obtain the document for you
The official self-service route is available and the government fee is low. Our service is for people who want the request handled remotely or need help with the correct record, format or additional preparation.
We can handle:
- Requesting the Portuguese birth certificate
- Checking the available record and requested format
- Apostille when the receiving authority requires it
- Certified translation when required
- European postal or worldwide courier delivery
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