PORTUGUESE DOCUMENT TRANSLATION
Portuguese Police Record Translation for USCIS
A certified translation of a Portuguese police record (Certificado do Registo Criminal) for USCIS costs about $15–25 and is delivered in 24–48 hours, with a signed Certificate of Accuracy that meets 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Translation HelpDesk uses native Portuguese and Mirandese (co-official in the Miranda do Douro area)-speaking specialists, and if USCIS rejects our translation we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
WHAT WE TRANSLATE
The Portuguese Police Record (Certificado do Registo Criminal)
A Portuguese criminal-record certificate is the Certificado do Registo Criminal, issued by the Direção-Geral da Administração da Justiça (DGAJ) through its Direção dos Serviços de Identificação Criminal (DSIC), under the Ministério da Justiça. Most applicants now request it online at registocriminal.justica.gov.pt using a Cartão de Cidadão or Chave Móvel Digital; it costs €5, is issued within about three business days, and is valid for three months from issue. The certificate names a specific purpose (finalidade) and, for someone with no record, states "nada consta" ("nothing on record") — the exact phrasing an adjudicator looks for. For USCIS naturalization (Form N-400, good moral character) or an immigrant-visa file, we translate the finalidade, the nada consta result, the DGAJ/DSIC issuing block, and the verification/authentication code precisely, without paraphrasing the legal wording. Because the online certificate is a digitally signed PDF, we reproduce its layout and note the electronic signature, delivering a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3).
WHO ISSUES IT
Where Your Portuguese Police Record Comes From
Portuguese police and criminal-record certificates are issued by the national or state police and justice authorities described above — not the civil registry. Portugal has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 1969, so a single apostille issued by the Procuradoria-Geral da República (Attorney General's Office) authenticates a Portuguese public document for USCIS. Full Portugal apostille & authentication guidance →
USCIS REQUIREMENTS
How USCIS Wants Your Portuguese Police Record Translated
For your Portuguese police record, USCIS requires a complete English translation of everything on the page — the issuing office’s details, seals, and any marginal notes included — plus a signed certification of accuracy under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Machine translation cannot sign that certification. We reproduce the document's exact layout so an officer can compare it line by line against your Portuguese original.
WATCH OUT FOR
Common Portuguese Police Record Pitfalls
Portuguese police and criminal-record certificates must show exact coverage dates and the issuing authority, and because they often expire quickly, the translation should be scheduled close to your filing date.
Native Portuguese Specialist
A native speaker of your document's language handles it — not a generalist or a machine.
Format-Matched to the Original
The original layout, seals, and stamps reproduced in position.
USCIS Acceptance Guaranteed
If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we fix it free and cover your resubmission fee.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Portuguese police record translation cost?
A standard Portuguese police record is typically $15-25 total, certified and formatted, delivered in 24-48 hours. Pricing is $0.05 per word; longer or multi-page documents are quoted exactly before you pay.
Is your Portuguese police record translation accepted by USCIS?
Yes. Every translation includes a signed Certificate of Accuracy meeting 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). If USCIS rejects it citing the translation, we correct it free and reimburse your resubmission fee.
Why does my Portuguese birth certificate mention my marriage or divorce?
Portuguese civil records annotate life events as 'averbamentos' against the original entry, so a full-copy (cópia integral) birth certificate can carry later marriage, divorce, or name-change notes. We translate every annotation so the reviewer sees your complete civil history exactly as recorded.
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