A German, Brazilian or American company deciding to open a branch in Portugal hits the same wall almost every time: the Portuguese Commercial Registry only accepts documents in Portuguese, and the originals are rarely in that language. Before booking a meeting with a lawyer or accountant, it pays to know exactly which translations the Conservatória do Registo Comercial will require, and in what format.
Which documents need certified translation
Registering a foreign company's branch in Portugal goes through the Conservatória do Registo Comercial and requires a fixed set of parent company documents, all translated into Portuguese when the original is in another language:
- Certificate of good standing or company registration certificate from the country of origin (the equivalent of a Portuguese commercial certificate)
- Articles of association of the parent company, current version
- Board resolution or minutes approving the opening of the Portuguese branch
- Power of attorney appointing the branch's legal representative in Portugal
- Identification document for the appointed representative or representatives
- Tax clearance certificate or equivalent, where required by the specific activity
The Conservatória does not accept in-house translations done by the company itself. Each document needs a certified translation: the translator declares before a lawyer registered with the Ordem dos Advogados, or before a notary, that the translation is faithful to the original, and both sign the certificate attached to the translated text.
Apostille or legalisation, depending on the country of origin
Before translation comes into play, the original document needs to be recognised as authentic for use in Portugal. This depends on where the parent company is registered.
If the country of origin is party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the document simply needs an apostille from the competent authority there. Portugal directly recognises documents apostilled by any of the more than 130 countries that are party to the convention. The apostille replaces consular legalisation and significantly simplifies the process.
If the country of origin is not party to the convention, the route is classic consular legalisation: authentication by that country's ministry of foreign affairs, followed by legalisation at the Portuguese embassy or consulate there. This process involves more steps and should start well ahead of translation.
A common question is the order of operations: apostille or legalise first, translate afterwards? The recommended practice is to authenticate the original first, then translate the whole package, including the apostille or the consular legalisation stamps. The Conservatória wants to see the full authentication chain, translated from start to finish.
Mistakes that delay registration
The most common mistake is translating only the body of a document and leaving out stamps, seals or marginal notes. The Conservatória rejects incomplete translations, which means starting over with a fresh appointment and a new translation.
Another recurring problem is terminology inconsistency across documents in the same filing. If the articles of association use one form of the company name and the power of attorney uses another, the registry officer may request clarification, or simply reject the filing until it is corrected. Working all branch documents with the same translation provider, using a shared glossary of proper names, corporate denominations and officer titles, avoids this kind of delay.
It is also worth noting that certain certificates, such as the certificate of good standing, carry an expiry window. If translation takes longer than expected and the original lapses in the meantime, a new certificate has to be issued and translated again. Planning the calendar with margin for certified translation, apostille or legalisation, and the registration itself protects start dates the company may already have committed to with clients or partners in Portugal.
How M21Global supports branch registration in Portugal
M21Global has worked for more than 20 years with foreign companies entering the Portuguese market, handling certified translation of articles of association, powers of attorney, commercial certificates and board resolutions, aligned with the requirements of the Conservatória do Registo Comercial. For filings with multiple interdependent documents, such as branch registration, the Estratégica tier provides review by a second linguist and terminology control across every file in the filing, which reduces the risk of rejection due to inconsistency. Companies that have already handled company registration in other Portuguese-speaking markets may also find the article on certified translation for company registration in Angola with IAPE useful, or see how a translation partner can speed up the internationalisation of a business. For the full service, visit M21Global's business translation page. Request a quote for the certified translation of your branch's documents and get a response within three business hours.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which documents need certified translation to open a branch in Portugal?
The certificate of good standing, the articles of association, the board resolution approving the branch, the power of attorney for the legal representative, and that representative's identification document, when not already in Portuguese.
Should documents be apostilled before or after translation?
The original is apostilled or legalised first, then the full package is translated, including the apostille itself or the consular legalisation stamps, so the Conservatória sees the complete authentication chain translated in full.
What happens if the country of origin is not party to the Apostille Convention?
The document follows classic consular legalisation: authentication by that country's ministry of foreign affairs, then legalisation at the Portuguese embassy or consulate there.
Who can certify a translation for the Portuguese Commercial Registry?
A lawyer registered with the Ordem dos Advogados or a notary, before whom the translator declares the translation faithful to the original, with both signing the certificate.
How long does translation and legalisation take for branch registration?
It depends on the country of origin, the number of documents, and whether apostille or consular legalisation applies; the best starting point is to request a quote, and M21Global responds within three business hours with the process that applies to the specific case.
