Portuguese birth certificate and criminal record from the U.S.
A Portuguese birth certificate can be requested at the consular office or, in Boston, by mail, with the civil registry certificate form, an ID and a stamped envelope (source). Each registry certificate costs €20 ($22.43 in Newark’s November 2026 table) (source).
Civil registry certificates
In Washington’s area, marriage, birth and death certificates are handled by mail only (source).
| Document | Where to request it | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Birth, marriage or death certificate | Consular office (in person or by mail) | €20 |
| Criminal record certificate | Criminal record portal, ePortugal, Boston’s Espaço Cidadão or by mail to Lisbon | Per the service |
| Residence or household goods certificate | Consular office, by mail in Boston | €75 |
The Portuguese criminal record
It can be requested by the holder, the parents of a minor over 16, an authorized third party or a guardian. It is done online, at the Espaço Cidadão desks of the consular network (Boston has one) or by mail to the Directorate-General for the Administration of Justice in Lisbon (source).
Certificates for people moving back to Portugal
Residence, household goods and similar certificates cost €75 ($84.12 in Newark’s November 2026 table) (source); Boston accepts the requests by mail (source).
- The civil registry certificate form, filled out
- A copy of the ID card, Citizen Card or passport
- A stamped, self-addressed envelope
- Payment per the fee table
How each office takes payment
| Office | Accepted payment |
|---|---|
| Boston | Card (2.63% + $0.10 surcharge), cash or money order (source) |
| Newark | Cash or money order only (source) |
| New Bedford | Cash or money order (source) |
| Providence | Cash only (source) |
| San Francisco | The exchange rate changes every month; at outreach visits, 20% more (source) |
Fees are charged in dollars at the month’s exchange rate: New York’s November 2026 table, for example, puts the Citizen Card for people over 25 at $25.80 (source).
How each office books appointments
| Office | How to book |
|---|---|
| Washington | MNE booking platform; next month’s slots released by the 10th (source) |
| Palm Coast | The office’s own online platform (source) |
| Boston | Online booking; also takes walk-ins (source) |
| Newark | Walk-in Monday to Wednesday (up to 50 acts); Thursday by appointment (source) |
| New York | Appointment only; slots open in the last week of the month (source) |
| San Francisco | Appointment only; two months open (source) |
| New Bedford | Walk-in, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., except Wednesdays (source) |
| Providence | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (source) |
Consular outreach visits in 2026
Away from their offices, the posts hold consular outreach visits. These are the places the Portal das Comunidades lists for 2026 (source); dates and bookings are on each office’s page.
| Office | Outreach visits in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Washington | Chicago, Houston, Miami |
| Boston | Cambridge, Chicopee, Gloucester, Hudson, Lowell, Ludlow, Milford, Norwood, Peabody, Somerville, Stoughton |
| Newark | Philadelphia, Wilmington |
| New York | Farmingville, Jamaica (Queens), Mineola, Mount Vernon, Naugatuck, Ossining, Tarrytown, Yonkers |
| San Francisco | Artesia, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, Tulare, Turlock |
| New Bedford | Fall River |
Questions people ask
The real questions people search about this procedure, with the short answer:
How do I get a Portuguese birth certificate?
At the consular office, in person or by mail, for €20 (source).
How do I get a Portuguese criminal record check from the U.S.?
On the criminal record portal or on ePortugal (source).