AIMA requires properly certified translations for supporting documents filed under ARI golden visa program.. Documents in
- French,
- Portuguese ,
- English or
- Spanish
do not need to be translated for this purpose are directly accepted by AIMA. However, work contracts must be translated. Also, make sure your official, signed lease agreement is in Portuguese, not English, as it is only valid if in Portuguese. A lawyer can certify documents submitted online as compliant with the originals.
Certified Translation
A certified translation involves the translation itself plus a signed statement from the translator or translation company attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation. For Portugal Golden Visa applications, this certification carries legal weight.
When selecting translation services, consider these crucial factors:
- Translator Credentials: Choose translators with credentials recognized by Portuguese authorities
- Specialization in Legal Documents: Prefer translators experienced with immigration and investment terminology
- Portuguese Language Expertise: European Portuguese differs from Brazilian Portuguese in important ways
- Translation Certification Format: Ensure the certification meets Portuguese requirements
- Turnaround Time: Balance quality with reasonable timeframes for your application schedule
Note: Documents issued by EU authorities accepted directly in Portugal, no apostille or translation required.
Consulate
The Portuguese consulate in your country can provide these types of Attestation/Autentication:
- Attestation of Document: Where in the signatures, of the competent Portuguese authorities on the document, are attested.
- Authentication of photocopy: Where in xerox / photocopy of documents are certified upon presentation of the original document.
- Attestation of signature: Where in the signature of the individual, holding a valid Bilhete de Identidade / Cartão de Cidadão / Passport, is witnessed and then certified on a document by the consular officer, in the presence of that individual.
Checklist
- Verify all translations are complete and properly certified
- Confirm all required Apostilles have been obtained
- Organize documents according to application requirements
- Create digital copies of all documents
- Schedule any required appointments with Portuguese consulates or SEF
Digital Scans
- Scan at minimum 300 DPI resolution
- Save as PDF format (not image files)
- Ensure file names clearly identify document contents
- Keep file sizes manageable (typically under 5MB per document)
- Combine multiple pdf to merge as single pdf if you dont have space.
