Death Certificate
Description
Official Portuguese death certificate (Certidão de Óbito) from the Civil Registry.
Requesting a death certificate for a relative
A notary, bank or insurer may have asked you for a Portuguese death certificate. Start with the information you have and the document they requested. Choose the next step that fits your situation.
I have the details of the record
You know the person’s name and have information about the death or an existing record reference. Start a certificate request and we will confirm the details needed.
I only have part of the information
The date, place or record is uncertain. Use our individual record search service, with a separately agreed scope and quote. A result cannot be guaranteed.
Explore a record searchI need to clarify the document requested
Tell us who is asking for the document, where it will be used and the wording of their request. We can discuss the document and preparation needed.
Discuss the request on WhatsAppAbout This Document
A Portuguese Death Certificate (Certidão de Óbito) is the official civil-registry evidence of a death registered in Portugal. Issued through the Portuguese Civil Registry / IRN, it identifies the person who died and the date, time and place of death. It can be issued electronically or on paper, and anyone can request it.
The official civil certificate identifies the deceased and the date, time and place of death. The official service does not describe it as a medical cause-of-death record. If another authority requires medical or cause-of-death evidence, confirm the separate document it requires.
Common uses include inheritance or succession files, pension or insurance matters, bank/property/legal files, civil-status updates, foreign procedures requesting proof of death, and historical research. When the online certificate is available you receive an access code: it has no expiry period and has the same legal value as the paper certificate in Portugal.
Need to compare the main Portuguese Civil Registry certificates? Start with our Civil Registry document guide.
Looking for a relative's death record with incomplete information, including a Portuguese relative who died abroad? Discuss an individual death record search before ordering a certificate.
How to Obtain This Document
You can obtain a Portuguese death certificate through the following routes:
Online
The certificate can be requested online. When it is available, you receive an access code with no expiry period, which has the same legal value as the paper certificate in Portugal. The official service does not publish one guaranteed instant processing SLA.
On paper through the Civil Registry
A paper certificate can be requested through a Civil Registry service, with worldwide delivery available when ordered.
Older and archival records
Older civil or parish records may be held by a District Archive or the National Archive of Torre do Tombo. These archives generally incorporate records after they reach around 100 years, and the correct source depends on the date, place and archival history.
How Portugal Papers helps
Start with your email and the information you have. We identify the practical registry or archive request path, request the certificate and check the result, then you receive online access and, when ordered, paper delivery, apostille or certified translation.
Why Choose Portugal Papers
Portugal Papers is a private document-assistance service — not a privileged channel to the IRN. We handle the request remotely on your behalf:
Remote handling
The whole request is handled online, so you do not need to identify the record, format and additional steps yourself.
Practical record and archive identification
Where information is incomplete, we help identify the practical registry or archive request path, including an older/archive record path where available.
Correct request route
We request the certificate through the appropriate route and check the result.
Complete preparation in one order
The certificate, paper copy, apostille and certified translation can be coordinated together, with worldwide delivery and status updates.
Estate and inheritance support
If you need the death certificate as part of an inheritance process, the authority or professional handling the matter determines the remaining documents required, and we can help obtain them.
Ready to Get Started?
Let our licensed Portuguese attorneys handle your Death Certificate request. Fast, secure, and hassle-free.
What's Included
- Official document from Portuguese authorities
- Digital copy delivered via email
- Order tracking in your personal dashboard
- Direct communication with our team
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Available preparation options
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Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful Guides
Learn more about Portuguese documents
Take the next step with your family’s document request
For an identifiable Portuguese death record, start with your email in the certificate request form. If the recipient’s instructions are unclear, discuss them with us first. Research with incomplete information is quoted separately.
For an explanation of the document and its use in a family file, read our Portuguese death certificate guide.