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Which documents need an apostille and certified translation — and in what order?

Re-locant.com · Cosmic Vortex · Updated 2026-07-03 ✓ sourced ✓ Current for 2026

The order matters and getting it backwards wastes weeks: apostille first, in the country of origin — then the certified translation in Portugal (the translator translates both the document and the apostille).

Criminal record certificates and civil certificates: often valid only ~90 days — time the issuance carefully.
Translation cost: ~€50–125 per document, 3–7 days.
FBI checks / some apostilles: 4–8 weeks — start early.

Two traps people hit constantly:

  • If you've lived in several countries (more than a year each), you generally need a police certificate from each of them — logistically the slowest part of the whole file.
  • Get apostilles before you move. Obtaining them from abroad afterwards ranges from painful to practically impossible.

For property purchases, have your lawyer check the translated content too, not just the stamp — a translation error in a power of attorney surfaces at the worst possible moment (the notary's desk).

Build your personal moving checklistYour steps, dated backwards from your move — visa, NIF, AIMA, NISS and more.

Sources

Best Citizens — criminal record mandatory

Frequently asked questions

Which documents need an apostille?
Foreign public documents used officially in Portugal — birth/marriage certificates, criminal record, diplomas — usually need an apostille (Hague Convention) from the issuing country, then a certified Portuguese translation. Non-Hague countries need consular legalisation instead.
Who can do a certified translation?
A translation certified by a notary, lawyer or a Portuguese consulate is generally accepted. Some bodies accept a translator's own certification — check what the receiving entity requires.
Do I apostille the original or the translation?
Apostille the original document in the country that issued it, then translate. Get the apostille before you leave that country — it is much harder to arrange from abroad.

Keep reading

Apostille then translate: the document order that saves months Bringing your dog or cat: the rabies-lapse trap that adds weeks AIMA's first 120 days: why one missing document means rejection

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