Moving to Portugal is a popular choice for UK citizens, whether for retirement, remote work, family life, property investment or long-term relocation. Alongside travel and accommodation plans, you may need to prepare UK documents for Portuguese authorities, banks, notaries, schools or legal representatives.
Some documents may need legalisation, certification or translation before they are accepted. Preparing them before you move can help avoid delays once you arrive.
Personal identity and civil documents
Portuguese authorities may ask for UK documents that prove your identity, family status or personal history.
Common examples include birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce documents, deed polls, death certificates and passport copies.
For formal use, certificates should usually be originals or official certified copies issued by the correct UK authority. A simple photocopy or scan is unlikely to be accepted for official procedures.
Residency and local registration documents
If you are applying for residency or completing local registration in Portugal, you may be asked to provide UK documents supporting your application.
This can include proof of address, bank statements, pension letters, employment documents, HMRC records or family documents.
Many of these documents are now issued digitally, so they may need solicitor or notary certification before they can be legalised for overseas use.
Property purchase documents
If you are buying property in Portugal, your lawyer, notary or bank may ask for UK documents as part of the transaction.
These may include passport copies, proof of address, bank statements, marriage certificates, powers of attorney or company documents if the purchase is made through a business.
A Power of Attorney is commonly used when a buyer wants a lawyer or representative in Portugal to act on their behalf. This document may need solicitor or notary certification before legalisation.
Banking and financial paperwork
Opening a Portuguese bank account or dealing with mortgage, tax or investment matters may require UK financial documents.
Common examples include bank statements, proof of income, pension letters, tax documents, HMRC letters and proof of address.
Because foreign banks often need proof that these documents are genuine, certification and legalisation may be required depending on the bank’s policy.
Family documents for spouses and children
Families moving to Portugal may need documents proving relationships between family members.
This can include birth certificates for children, marriage certificates, adoption documents, parental responsibility documents and school records.
If children are enrolling in school, academic reports, attendance records or transfer letters may need to be verified by the UK school and certified before legalisation.
Translation into Portuguese
Some UK documents used in Portugal may need to be translated into Portuguese.
The receiving authority should confirm whether a certified translation or sworn translation is required. In many cases, the document is legalised first and translated afterwards, but the correct order should always be checked.
Translation requirements can vary between immigration offices, banks, notaries, schools and local authorities.
Embassy attestation and additional steps
Portugal is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so UK legalisation is usually the main authentication step for UK documents.
However, the receiving authority may still have its own requirements around translations, document age, originals or certified copies.
Always confirm what the specific Portuguese authority, lawyer, bank or school will accept before starting.
Prepare before you leave the UK
It is usually easier to organise UK documents before moving to Portugal. You can order replacement certificates, arrange solicitor or notary certification, contact schools or employers and complete legalisation while still in the UK.
Preparing early helps prevent delays with residency, property purchases, banking or family administration.
If you are moving to Portugal, 12 Apostille can help review your UK documents, confirm which ones need certification or legalisation and advise whether translation may also be required.