Portugal - Obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Criminal Record, Certificado do Registo Criminal)

ProcedureEdit

PROCESS FOR CITIZENS OF PORTUGAL – FOR BOTH WHO LIVE IN PORTUGAL AND OVERSEAS:

I. Portuguese in Portugal as well as overseas

a. Through online - Portugal Obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Criminal Record, Certificado do Registo Criminal) Online with Images

To request a certificate of criminal record, applicant need to login by one of two ways:
1. Card of citizen (authentication with use of the pin).
2. Key Digital Mobile (alternative means for authentication using the phone or e-mail).
Applicant can apply online using the link: link
In the given page please select “REQUEST CERTIFICATE” option to reach the next page.
Here, applicant should select the authentication mode of his choice to reach next screen.
Applicant shall select as per the page prompt and proceed to successive steps to complete the online applying process.
This request will be processed by respective department.
This certificate issued will have an access code that can be used for consultation, whenever necessary, by the applicant or by another who has been provided with the code.

II. Portuguese in Portugal

For those who do not have a citizens card and a pin application can be made in the following ways:

a. In person:

Applicant shall apply at any of the following office.
1. Central authority desks.
2. Courts.
3. Citizen service offices.
4. Residents of the Azores can apply to the local citizen services office (please refer our office location and contacts session for details).
Go to the respective office.
Submit the document and pay the fees as advised and follow authorities advice to process.
Once the application is accepted, respective department authorities will process to issue the certificate.
Once the certificate is ready, it will be delivered as per notification.

PROCESS FOR NON CITIZENS OF PORTUGAL – FOR BOTH WHO LIVE IN PORTUGAL AND OVERSEAS:

I. Foreign national in overseas

a. Through post, fax or email

Applicant shall send their request along with documents and proof of payment either by post, fax or email. Please find the address below.
This application will be processed by respective department.
The certificate will be sent to the email address you specify, or by mail to the address you specify.

Address for mail

Directorate-General for Administration of Justice, consulates Services, Av D..,

John II, paragraph 8.1.01 D / E,

Floor 13º- DSIC, 1990-097 Lisbon, PORTUGAL.

Fax: +351211545113 email: [email protected]

II. Foreign national in Portugal as well as in overseas

a. Through online - Portugal Obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Criminal Record, Certificado do Registo Criminal) Online with Images

To request a certificate of criminal record, applicant need to login by one of two ways:
1. Card of citizen (authentication with use of the pin).
2. Key Digital Mobile (alternative means for authentication using the phone or e-mail).
Applicant may apply online using the link: link
In the given page please select “REQUEST CERTIFICATE” option to reach the next page.
Here, applicant should select the authentication mode of his choice to reach next screen.
Applicant shall select as per the page prompt and proceed to successive steps to complete the online applying process.
This certificate issued will have an access code that can be used for consultation, whenever necessary, by the applicant or by another who has been provided with the code.

III. Foreign national in Portugal

For those who do not have a citizens card and a pin application can be made in the following ways as applicable:

a. In person:

Applicant shall apply at any of the following office.
1. Central authority desks.
2. Courts.
3. Citizen service offices.
4. Residents of the Azores can apply to the local citizen services office (please refer our office location and contacts session for details).
Go to the respective office.
Submit the document and pay the fees as advised and follow authorities advice to process.
Once the application is accepted, respective department authorities will process to issue the certificate.
Once the certificate is ready, it will be delivered as per notification.

Required DocumentsEdit

Country specific

Citizen card, identification card or other valid identification document.
Reason for the request (e.g. Immigration purposes).
Applicable fees.
Application as required.

Foreign national

A copy of your passport while living in Portugal.
A copy of your permit of stay in Portugal, passport number and place of issue as well.

In general

Valid passport (attested copy as per requirement)
Valid citizen proof (respective ID’s issued by respective nation)
Passport size photographs
Birth certificate (as per requirement)
Proofs of legal stay (copy of passport held during the said period with respective stamp and seal)
Email ID (useful to communicate issues with respect to your application).
A self-addressed envelope with or without stamps (as required )
Valid contact number (applicant can be communicated)

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Directorate-General for Justice Administration,
Av. Dom João II 1.08.01 D/E, 1990-097 Lisboa, Portugal.
Phone: 217906200 | fax: 211545100 | e-mail: [email protected]

Azores service centre link: link
Citizen service link: link
Courts: Link for contact detail: link
Central authority desk link: link

EligibilityEdit

Applicant with valid passport and a valid address proof.
Age: 16 years and above. In case of minors, the application must be submitted by the parent exercising parental authority, if the minor has not turned 16 years.
The current address of the applicant must be same as in the passport and other supporting documents.
Applicants who are in need of residential status, employment or long term visa or for immigration to a foreign nation.

FeesEdit

The fee for the issuing is € 5.
If you choose to receive your criminal record certificate by email the cost is € 5.
If you want the delivery of the certificate by post (registered mail), to that amount is added € 3.25. So, it will be € 8.25.
Fee varies for case to case. Updated fee requirement will be provided by respective authorities while applying.

ValidityEdit

As mentioned in the certificate.
Validity norms vary from country to country.

Documents to UseEdit

If you are applying via mail, email or fax you will need to fill the application form in sample documents below Application Form

Sample DocumentsEdit

Use this link to view sample document: document

Processing TimeEdit

Online application - certificate is issued immediately after payment.
Application through Central Authority desks - certificate is issued immediately.
Applications made in courts by using a valid citizen card, the certificate is issued immediately and if you use other valid documents of identification it will take 5 working day to be issued
Applications through Other attendant services (EdC and RIAC) by using a valid citizen card, the certificate is issued immediately and if you use other valid documents of identification it will take 5 working day to be issued.
Application from abroad will take 5 working days for the certificate to be issued.
Processing time varies with respect to the country from where applied.

InstructionsEdit

You need to provide a police certificate when applying for permanent residence.

Local Requests

Applicants should complete Form 101 and present a valid identity card or passport with the applicable fees to the Central Registry of the Civil and Criminal Identification Centre - Centro de Identificacao Civil e Criminal, located in major cities (e.g., Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto). In smaller centres (e.g., Azores and Madeira), applicants should apply to the Judicial Delegation or to the local court.

Non-Resident Requests

Applicants should apply at the nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate.

Required InformationEdit

Full Name
Place of Birth
Date of Birth
Names of Parents
ID / Passport Number
Residence
Reason for the application
Name of the third applicant

Need for the DocumentEdit

A police certificate is an official document issued by police or government agency of a country to enumerate any criminal records that the applicant may or may not have. Criminal records may include arrest, conviction, and possibly criminal proceedings.

The Portuguese criminal record keeps information about all the convictions and subsequent decisions handed down by Portuguese Courts, or convictions and subsequent decisions handed down by foreigner courts against Portuguese citizens communicated to the Portuguese authorities.

Information which might helpEdit

Application through a Third party

You, yourself or as the legal representative of a legal person, may authorize a third person to make the application for the issue of the certificate.

To this effect, a written and signed declaration must be issued, stating:

Your identification (full name and citizen card number or identity card, passport or other valid and qualified document with signature) and, if applicable, your condition as legal representative;
The identification of the authorized person (full name and citizen card number or ID card or other valid and qualified document with signature);
A declaration stating that you authorize the identified person to apply for the certificate and clearly mention the purpose of the certificate;
Your signature, according to the document mentioned in the authorization.

The authorized person must apply for the certificate personally at any of the attendance services, where it is possible the issue of certificates.

The authorized person must present:

The authorization of the applicant, or of the representative of the legal person;
Her / his identification document mentioned in the authorization
The identification document of the holder of the information mentioned in the authorization, or its certified copy (the copy of the identification document must be signed by the holder and with written mention: “this copy of my identification document is only to request my criminal record certificate”);
In the case of a legal person, a document attesting his/her status as the legal representative of the company (for example, with the permanent certificate of the company, or a current certificate from the commercial register).

Application for a Minor

The minor child’s ascendants, as well as the tutor or the curator of the incapacitated person, can personally apply for the issue of the criminal record certificate of the minor child (not younger than 16 years old) or of the incapacitated person.

For the purpose, it must be presented:

The proof of his/her quality as the ascendant of the minor child, or the tutor or curator of the incapacitated person
The citizen card or ID card, or other valid and qualified document, of the person for whom is requested the certificate

External LinksEdit

Citizen Portal

Government Website

Directorate General of Administration of Justice

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

OthersEdit

The content of a criminal record certificate depends:

On the concrete purpose of the request;
On knowing if the purpose of the request has something to do with children.

If the request is for employment, or for any kind of access to a professional activity, two different situations are possible:

It is an employment or activity with a legal framework demanding the absence of previous criminal convictions (partially or totally): in this situation the certificate will contain the relevant information to satisfy the legal requirements;
It is an employment or activity without any specific legal requirement: in this situation the certificate will not contain any information besides criminal convictions with additional sanctions of prohibition to exercise professional activities or any safety measures of prohibition of activities.

If the purpose of the request is different than employment or access to a professional activity:

The certificate will contain all the current information on criminal record of the person concerned, except convictions of primary offenders with a sanction not over six months of imprisonment or equivalent sanction.

In any of the above mentioned situations, if the purpose of the request has something to do with children:

The certificate will contain all the criminal convictions about sexual offences (besides the normal information according to the purpose of the request).