Police Clearance Certificate / Criminal Record Check in Portugal

A police clearance certificate is an official paper showing whether you have a criminal record in the country. People often need one when:

• applying for a visa to live, work or study in another country
• applying for certain sensitive jobs
• hoping to adopt a child

Who can apply

You must live, or have lived, in the country and have a valid reason for asking. Nationality does not matter. You will need ID, such as a passport or national ID card, and must pay the official fees.

How it works

• You gather your ID and any other details the authorities ask for.
• The application is sent to the authorities, often online or through an approved agency.
• The authorities check their records.
• If no record is found, the certificate is issued and sent to you by email or post.

What the service covers

A lawyer checks what exactly you need, helps you prepare the documents, submits the application, follows its progress and deals with any problems, including challenges or disputes, until you receive the certificate.