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Certidão Permanent in Portugal: All you need to know

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If you’re starting a business in Portugal, there’s a key document you need to know about: the Certidão Permanente.

This digital document contains all the up-to-date information about your company and can be accessed at any time with a unique code. But before diving into why the Certidão Permanente is essential, it's important to understand how online company registration works—a process increasingly used by startups and entrepreneurs.

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Online Company registration: how does It work?

The Decree-Law No. 125/2006, of June 29, established the legal framework for online company registration in Portugal. This legislation simplified the process, allowing companies to be created entirely online, with no need for in-person visits.

What changed with this decree?

• Applies to limited liability companies (LDA), single-member LDAs, and public limited companies (S.A.)
• Electronic signatures with digital certificates are now accepted
• Less bureaucracy and lower administrative costs
• Automatic assignment of the Company Identification Number (NIPC)
• Immediate access to the Certidão Permanente and Articles of Association

Thanks to this digitalization, starting a company in Portugal has never been easier. Now, let’s break down what the Certidão Permanente is and why keeping it updated is so important.

What is the Certidão Permanente?

The Certidão Permanente is a digital document that serves as official proof of your company’s registration. It replaces the old paper-based commercial registration certificate and can be accessed online through a 12-digit code, issued at the time of registration.

To view your Certidão Permanente, simply log in to the official government portal.

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What’s Included in the Certidão Permanente?

The Certidão Permanente contains essential information about your company, such as:

• Company Identification Number (NIPC)
• Legal company name and registered address
• Share capital and ownership structure
• Business purpose and primary CAE (Economic Activity Code)
• Names of shareholders and directors
• All company updates and modifications (e.g., changes in shareholders, registered office, or share capital)

Whenever a company undergoes changes, the Certidão Permanente is automatically updated, ensuring it always reflects the latest information.

Certidão Permanente or Commercial Registration Certificate

The key difference between the Certidão Permanente and the old Commercial Registration Certificate is that the Certidão Permanente has no fixed expiration date and is continuously updated. This means you don’t need to request a new version every time there’s a company change.

💡 Keeping the Certidão Permanente as part of your company’s records can help avoid administrative headaches in the future. Rauva helps you keep all your documents organized. Find out how!

How Much Does the Certidão Permanente Cost?

The Certidão Permanente is available in different versions, with prices varying based on the subscription duration and the type of information included.

1. Certidão Permanente de Registo

Includes all digital company records and pending registration requests.

• 1 year: €25
• 2 years: €40
• 3 years: €60
• 4 years: €70

2. Certidão Permanente de Registo e Documentos

Includes digital company records + electronic dossier documents (excluding financial statements).

• 1 year: €55
• 2 years: €88
• 3 years: €132
• 4 years: €154

3. Certidão Permanente do Pacto Social / Estatutos Atualizados

Provides access to the latest version of the company’s articles of association.

• 1 year: €20
• 2 years: €35
• 3 years: €45
• 4 years: €50

If your company has foreign shareholders, you can also request the Certidão Permanente in English.

Common mistakes when starting a Business (and how to avoid them)

Starting a business is straightforward, but certain mistakes can cause major issues down the line:

• Incorrect shareholder name or NIF → Any discrepancies in the shareholder’s tax identification number (NIF) can lead to issues with the tax authorities.
• Incorrect CAE (Economic Activity Code) → Choosing the wrong activity code can limit your company’s operations or prevent access to business licenses and funding.
• Errors in share capital or ownership structure → Any changes to share capital or ownership must be properly recorded in the Certidão Permanente—and fixing errors later can be costly and time-consuming.

Avoid these mistakes with Rauva. We handle everything for you, so you can focus on growing your business from day one.

Why should you keep the Certidão Permanente updated?

The Certidão Permanente is frequently reviewed by clients, suppliers, and banks and may appear on public business information platforms such as:

• Racius
• eInforma
• Informadb (Dun & Bradstreet)
• Portugalio
• Infoempresas

If your company records are outdated or incorrect, it can hinder business partnerships, financing opportunities, and your overall credibility in the market.

💡 Rauva helps keep your company’s records updated and compliant. Don’t let outdated information hold you back. See how we can help!

Other key documents for Company Registration

Besides the Certidão Permanente, there are other essential documents you’ll need when registering your company:

• Articles of Association → Defines internal company rules, shareholder rights, and management structure.
• RCBE (Central Register of Beneficial Owners) → Required by law to identify who ultimately controls the company.
• Make sure your company is fully compliant with Rauva. Get in touch and let us handle the paperwork while you focus on growing your business.

The Certidão Permanente is one of the most important documents for your company, ensuring that all information is always up to date and accessible. Keeping it current avoids administrative issues, simplifies business partnerships, and strengthens your company’s credibility.

Still have questions or need help setting up your company? Rauva is here to help.

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