An apostille is an official authentication certificate that validates a document issued in one country for legal use in another country that is a member of the Hague Convention.
An apostille is a standardised certificate issued by a designated authority in the country where a document was produced. It confirms that the document is authentic and was signed by a recognised official — making it legally valid for use in another Hague Convention member country, including Portugal.
For Portugal visa applications, the following documents typically require apostille:
Documents that generally do NOT need apostille for standard visa applications:
The cost of an apostille varies by country. UK apostilles are issued by the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), typically within 2–5 business days. US apostilles are issued at state level — costs and timelines vary by state. Australian apostilles are issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Important: Portugal also requires that documents issued in a foreign language be accompanied by a certified Portuguese translation. The apostille and translation are separate requirements — the apostille authenticates the original document; the translation must then be certified by a sworn translator (tradutor juramentado).