Purchasing Property in Portugal: Key Documents to Confirm Ownership
Buying property is always a serious step, involving numerous legal and administrative nuances. To protect your investment and ensure the transaction is clean, it’s essential to understand which documents confirm property ownership in Portugal, where to obtain them, and who is responsible for their preparation.Caderneta Predial
Where to obtain: Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira) via the Portal das Finanças.Who requests it: Typically the owner, but the buyer can request a copy to verify tax information.
This document does not confirm ownership but shows that the property is registered with the tax authorities and that property taxes are being paid. It is required when selling property and when applying for a mortgage.
Escritura Pública de Compra e Venda
Where to obtain: From a notary after signing the purchase and sale agreement.Who requests it: Issued with the participation of both the seller and the buyer. The buyer can obtain a copy for their records.
The Escritura confirms the transaction itself but is not the final confirmation of ownership. For ownership to be officially recognized, the transaction must be registered with the national property registry.
Certidão Permanente do Registo Predial
Where to obtain: Property Registry Office (Conservatória do Registo Predial) or online via Predial Online.Who requests it: Can be requested by either the owner or the buyer to verify the legal status of the property.
The Certidão Permanente is the key document confirming that the property belongs to a specific person and has no legal issues. The buyer should always request this document before the transaction to ensure the property is free of encumbrances. It includes:
- The name of the current property owner.
Presence of encumbrances such as mortgages, liens, easements, and other restrictions.
The history of all transactions and changes related to the property.
