How to Get a Portuguese Death Certificate

What is a Portuguese Death Certificate?

A Portuguese Death Certificate, known as Certidão de Óbito, is an official document that serves as legal proof that a person has died. This certificate is issued by the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) and contains essential information about the deceased, including their full name, date, time, and place of death.

Important: Unlike death certificates in some other countries, Portuguese death certificates do NOT include the cause of death. If you need information about the cause of death, you must request it separately from the hospital or Public Prosecutor.

Who Can Request a Death Certificate?

In Portugal, anyone can request a death certificate — whether they are a family member, heir, legal representative, or simply an interested party. Unlike some countries that restrict access to vital records, Portuguese law allows any person to obtain a death certificate without special authorization or proof of relationship.

When Do You Need a Death Certificate?

A death certificate is typically the first document you need when a family member passes away. It's required for numerous administrative and legal procedures:

• Habilitação de herdeiros (declaration of heirs) — essential first step
• Inheritance proceedings (partilha de bens)
• Closing bank accounts and financial matters
• Activating life insurance policies
• Updating household composition (agregado familiar)
• Terminating contracts and subscriptions
• Social Security notifications
• International proceedings — proving death to foreign authorities

Official Prices (2026)

The cost of a Portuguese death certificate varies depending on the format and purpose. Here are the official fees set by the Portuguese government:

How to Request Online (Civil Online)

The easiest way to obtain a Portuguese death certificate is through the official Civil Online platform. Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Access the Civil Online platform at civilonline.justica.gov.pt
2. Click on "Pedido de certidão" (Certificate request)
3. You can proceed without authentication or authenticate using:
   • Portuguese Citizen Card digital certificate
   • Professional card (lawyers, notaries, solicitors)
4. Fill in the required form with the deceased's information
5. Select "Óbito" (Death) as the certificate type
6. Complete payment via bank reference (Multibanco) or credit card
7. Receive your access code by email, valid for 6 months

The online certificate access code is legally equivalent to a paper certificate and can be presented to any authority or institution that requires proof of death.

How to Request In Person

If you prefer a physical paper certificate, you can request it at the following locations:

• Civil Registry Office (Conservatória do Registo Civil)
• Citizen Shop (Loja do Cidadão)
• IRN Registry Space (Espaço dos Registos do IRN)
• Portuguese Consulate (if you're abroad)

For in-person requests, you generally don't need to present any documents. Simply visit the office and provide the details of the deceased person.

Requesting from Abroad

If you're living outside Portugal and need a death certificate, you have several options:

• Online: Use the Civil Online platform (works worldwide)
• Consulate: Visit or contact your nearest Portuguese consulate
• Mail: Send a written request to any Portuguese civil registry office
• Professional Service: Use a document retrieval service like Portugal Papers

International Model (Plurilingual Certificate)

If you need the death certificate for use in another European country, you can request the international model (modelo internacional or plurilingue). This format is recognized by several European countries and avoids the need for translation and certification.

Before requesting, confirm with the Portuguese consulate or the destination country's authorities whether they accept the plurilingual model.

Death Certificate for Inheritance

The death certificate is the first and most essential document for starting inheritance proceedings in Portugal. Without it, banks, insurance companies, and notaries cannot proceed with any inheritance-related matters.

For habilitação de herdeiros (declaration of heirs), you'll need:

• Death certificate — the starting point
• Testament certificate or declaration of no testament
• Marriage property regime certificate (if applicable)
• Birth and marriage certificates of heirs
• NIF (tax number) of all heirs and the deceased
• List of assets and debts

Obtaining Cause of Death

Since Portuguese death certificates don't include the cause of death, you may need to obtain this information separately:

• Death after illness (no post-mortem): Request a declaration of cause of death or medical records from the hospital administration
• Sudden death (legal post-mortem): Apply to the Public Prosecutor (Ministério Público) for a copy of the post-mortem report. Note: This can take several months as the report is only released after the inquiry is concluded.

Processing Time

The time to receive your death certificate depends on the method you choose:

• Online (Civil Online): Instant — access code sent immediately after payment
• In person: Usually same day or within 1-3 business days
• By mail: 1-2 weeks depending on postal service
• Through Portugal Papers: 5 business days (standard) or 2 business days (express)

Frequently Asked Questions