FAQ

Common questions about moving to Portugal, bureaucracy and translations

Below are brief answers to common questions. For anything case-specific, the relevant documents and circumstances need to be reviewed.

General questions about Passkey Portugal

By video call, using Zoom or a similar tool. If you are already in Portugal and an in-person meeting matters to you, the consultation can also take place at your location. Any follow-up service packages are then coordinated according to the matter and location.

No. We are language professionals and provide practical support with Portuguese bureaucracy. We cannot provide legal advice or tax advice; these services must be handled by qualified lawyers or tax advisers. If your case goes beyond what we can properly do, we will refer you to someone in our professional network.

Prices depend on the scope and complexity of your case. After an initial review, you will receive a binding written quote with a fixed price and a clear timeframe. We do not charge by the hour or add surcharges later.

Before moving to Portugal

Usually, no. Visa applications are handled by lawyers or the relevant consulate; that is not our area. Once you are in Portugal, most administrative procedures can be dealt with without a lawyer. We will tell you honestly when legal support is needed — and when it is not.

It depends on what you mean by “settled”. A Portuguese tax number can usually be arranged within a few days. Residence formalities, social security and GP registration can take several weeks or even months, depending on the authority and the region. As a realistic estimate, you should allow three to six months to complete the main registration steps in Portugal.

After arriving in Portugal

You can deal with the inheritance without speaking Portuguese, but you will need support with notarial appointments, document translations and the land registry process. That is exactly what our inheritance package is for.

Partly. A great deal can be handled from abroad by power of attorney, but some steps may require your personal presence or certified documents from your home country. In the initial consultation, we clarify what is possible in your specific case and what is not.

Notarial matters and inheritance

You can deal with the inheritance without speaking Portuguese, but you will need support with notarial appointments, document translations and the land registry process. That is exactly what our inheritance package is for.

Partly. A great deal can be handled from abroad by power of attorney, but some steps may require your personal presence or certified documents from your home country. In the initial consultation, we clarify what is possible in your specific case and what is not.

Translation and certification

It depends on the length and subject matter of the document. Standard certificates, such as birth, marriage and death certificates or criminal record certificates, are usually completed within a few working days. Longer contracts or court documents take correspondingly longer. Your quote will include a confirmed delivery date.

Our main focus is Portuguese and English for official, notarial and administrative documents in Portugal. Other language combinations may be possible depending on the document and intended use.

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