An apostille and a certified translation serve different purposes. How they are combined depends on the requirements of the authority receiving the document.
A certified translation is frequently required to submit documents in Portugal or abroad. Many private clients are unaware, however, that in a number of cases either the original document or the certified translation must carry an apostille to be accepted. That is where most procedures are delayed: not through any translation error, but because the sequence was followed in the wrong order.
This article explains, in practical terms, when foreign documents need to be apostilled, when certified translations of Portuguese documents need to be apostilled, how to obtain the apostille, and how to combine the two procedures without repeating work.
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Contact our teamWhat an apostille is and why it is required
An apostille is an international legalisation confirming the authenticity of a public document. It is required where a document will circulate between countries party to the Hague Convention, and it allows the foreign authority to recognise the formal validity of the document without having to verify the signature or seal with the issuing country.
Confirms authenticity
It attests to the origin of the public document — who signed it and in what capacity — before the authorities of the destination country.
Issued at source
It is always issued in the country where the document was produced. Portugal has no competence to apostille foreign documents.
Does not replace translation
An apostilled document still requires certified translation if the receiving authority does not read the original language.
Documents issued abroad
Where the document is issued outside Portugal, the process is clear: the apostille must be issued in the country of origin, by the competent authority of that country. The certified translation should follow the apostille, where the destination country requires one — so that the translation also covers the content of the apostille.
Documents issued abroad: the correct process, step by step
Apostille in the country of origin
When requesting the document in your home country, check where you can obtain the apostille and whether it is required for Portugal.
Certified translation
The foreign-language document is translated into Portuguese and prepared for certification by a notary, lawyer or solicitor.
Notary certification
The notary issues a certificate, signed by our translator, confirming that the translation is faithful to the original document. For certified translations used abroad, we include an additional page with the translation of the notary certificate — at no extra cost. When required, we also take care of the Hague Apostille seal.
Submission to the relevant Portuguese authority
The client submits the certified translation together with the apostilled original document and the notary certificate.
Contacting the embassy or consulate in Portugal
If you are in Portugal and need to apostille a document issued abroad, you may contact the embassy or consulate of the issuing country for official guidance on how to obtain it at source. It helps to know from the outset what those bodies can and cannot do:
- They can tell you which authority is competent to apostille in the issuing country.
- They can indicate whether the request is made in person, online or by post, and the usual timescales.
- They can clarify specific requirements — whether originals are needed, costs and dedicated forms.
- They can point to local services available in the issuing country for those unable to travel.
- They cannot apostille the document, nor legalise documents that require an apostille.
- They cannot apostille Portuguese documents, nor documents from third countries.
Documents issued in Portugal
Some foreign authorities require documents issued in Portugal to be apostilled before they are submitted in the destination country. It falls to the client to confirm with the receiving authority whether the apostille is necessary. Where it is, one detail changes everything: what will be apostilled is not the original Portuguese document, but the certified translation.
This is because an apostille applies only to public documents; a certified translation becomes a public document once it has been certified before a notary; and it is that certified translation which can then be apostilled.
The correct process, step by step
Certified translation
The Portuguese document is translated and prepared for certification by a notary, lawyer or solicitor.
Notary certification
Certification turns the translation into a public document. Without certification, an apostille is not possible.
Apostille of the certified translation
In person at the District Offices of the Attorney General — Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Funchal and Ponta Delgada — usually by prior appointment, by post, or through authorised third parties.
Submission to the destination country
The client submits the original Portuguese document, the certified translation, and the apostille of the translation where required.
Need to know the right order for your case?
Every procedure has its own sequence of apostille, translation and certification. We set out the correct path and provide a clear quote, document by document.
Request a quote WhatsAppCommon mistakes that lead to refusal
- Translating a foreign document without an apostille where one is required — this forces the process to be repeated.
- Apostilling the translation before certifying it — not possible; certification comes first.
- Apostilling a plain copy instead of a public document.
- Assuming Portugal apostilles foreign documents — it has no competence to do so.
- Not confirming with the receiving authority whether an apostille is needed at all.
Checklist before you proceed
This answer determines the country of apostille and the order of the steps.
Not all do. Confirm before starting any procedure.
Written confirmation from that body is what prevents repeated work.
If it comes from abroad, the apostille must be obtained at source before translation.
Without notary certification the translation cannot be apostilled.
Original or translation — confirming which avoids the most frequent refusal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I translate first or apostille first?
It depends on the type of document and on the requirements of the body receiving it. As a general rule: documents issued abroad are apostilled first and translated afterwards, so that the translation also reflects the content of the apostille; documents issued in Portugal are translated, certified before a notary, and only then is the certified translation apostilled.
Can Portugal apostille a document issued in another country?
No. The apostille is always issued in the country where the document was produced. For foreign documents, the request must be made to the competent authority of that country.
Where is an apostille obtained in Portugal?
At the District Offices of the Attorney General — Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Funchal and Ponta Delgada — normally by prior appointment. The request may also be made by post or through authorised third parties where the applicant cannot attend in person.
Does an apostille remove the need for a certified translation?
No. They are distinct procedures: the apostille confirms the authenticity of the document; the certified translation makes the content intelligible and formally acceptable in the destination language.
Do you provide legal advice on my case?
No. We are not lawyers and we do not provide legal advice. We prepare the certified translation to a rigorous standard and set out the correct sequence of steps; confirming the requirements always rests with the receiving authority.
Do I need a Portuguese translator near me to arrange the apostille?
No. The apostille is issued by the Portuguese authorities and does not depend on having a Portuguese translator near you. We prepare the certified translation and, where the procedure requires it, arrange the apostille — from our office in Loulé, wherever you are.
Let’s move your process forward with confidence
Send us the document for a preliminary review and receive guidance on the appropriate process — what is apostilled, what is translated, and in what order. Office in Loulé, serving the whole of the Algarve and the country.
Request a quoteor call +351 934 602 625 · [email protected]
