- Basic search
- Free [1]
Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search online
- Registry publications are publicly searchable. Viewing a permanent certificate only requires its valid access code. [2] [1] [10]
- Search language
- The Pesquisa de publicações search form is available in Portuguese. [13]
- Digital documents
- After payment, the access code for the permanent certificate is sent by email. [2] [10]
- Document language
- The register-only certificate and annual-accounts certificate are available in Portuguese or English. Do not assume that this language choice extends to filed evidence, the register-plus-documents package or the articles of association. [11] [12]
- Paper and collection
- Justiça lists a paper annual-accounts certificate for €55. It can be requested at an IRN counter. The online access code, by contrast, replaces the paper certificate. These statements do not confirm postal or overseas delivery. [12] [11]
- International delivery
- Not specified
- Fees at a glance
- Public notices and consultation with an existing valid code are free. One year costs €25 for a register certificate, €55 for register plus documents, or €20 for current articles. An online annual-accounts certificate costs €5 for one year. Paper annual-accounts certificate: €55.
- Access
- Any person or company can request a register certificate. A valid access code is sufficient for consultation. The accessed order form starts with name and email. RCBE requires separate identity authentication.
Choose the right register
IRN is Portugal’s register and notarial authority. Its public notices help locate entities and specific register events. During the chosen subscription period, a Certidão Permanente provides updated register information, including pending applications. Supplying its access code replaces presentation of a paper certificate. [1] [2]
Free entity search and register events.
Order register certificates.
Financial filings by company and year.
Beneficial ownership through separate identity authentication.
Names and abbreviations explained
- IRNInstituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Institute responsible for registers and notarial matters. [2]
- NIPCNúmero de Identificação de Pessoa Coletiva
- Legal-person identifier, especially useful for distinguishing similar company names. [2] [1]
- Certidão PermanenteContinuously updated electronic register certificate
- Access by code during a paid period. “Permanent” does not mean unlimited duration. [2]
- BDCABase de Dados das Contas Anuais
- Separate annual-accounts database. [6]
- RCBERegisto Central do Beneficiário Efetivo
- Separate Central Register of Beneficial Ownership. [8]
- FCPCFicheiro Central de Pessoas Coletivas
- Central legal-person file with its own certificate product. [2]
Search step by step
Find a company free
Search publications
Open “Publicações” and select “Pesquisar publicações”. IRN lists NIPC, entity name, date range, district and municipality as criteria. Also choose the publication type. Results are displayed chronologically. [1]
Read events and company overview
Select the matching result. “Conteúdos” opens the register publication; “Página eletrónica” opens the public company page. The selected date range limits the register acts shown there. [1]
Obtain the official register record
Use an existing code
If you have a valid code, open “Consultar Certidão Permanente”, choose “Consultar Certidão” and enter it. Anyone holding the code can consult the certificate; its purchaser may share it. [3] [4]
Order the correct product if needed
Choose register-only, register plus documents, or current articles and the subscription period. Identify the entity by NIPC or name. On the first page of the linked order form, applicant name and email are marked mandatory; the applicant NIF/NIPC field has no mandatory asterisk. [2] [10]
Observe payment and delivery requirements
IRN’s guide describes payment by Multibanco reference within five consecutive days. The linked form also displays Visa/Mastercard. After payment confirmation, the access code is emailed to you. [2] [10]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public register notices [1] | Specific register events and a public entity page. | Free. | Search by NIPC, name, date or geography. |
| Certidão Permanente de Registo [2] [3] | Register particulars and pending applications. | 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 years: €25 / €40 / €60 / €70. | Order or use an existing valid code. |
| Register and documents certificate [2] | Supporting documents as well as entries; excludes accounting filings. | 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 years: €55 / €88 / €132 / €154. | Choose the corresponding certificate product. |
| Current articles / memorandum [2] | Latest filed version. | 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 years: €20 / €35 / €45 / €50. | Choose the articles product. |
| Annual-accounts certificate [6] [12] | Financial information for the specified company and financial year. | Online for 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 years: €5 / €7 / €9 / €10. Counter order: €15 surcharge. Separate paper certificate: €55. | Supply NIPC and financial year; consult using its separate code. |
Entities covered
Commercial registration includes sole traders, commercial companies, civil companies in commercial form, cooperatives, public enterprises and permanent representations in Portugal. Certain other entities have separate certificate products, including FCPC and foundation-register certificates. Select the product appropriate to the entity’s legal form. [5] [2]
Register particulars and document packages
The basic permanent register certificate includes entries and pending registration applications. The larger package adds documents supporting the entries but explicitly excludes accounting filings. The articles certificate provides the latest articles or memorandum. [2]
Order accounts for the specified year
Anyone, including public and private bodies, can request annual accounts. In addition to applicant details, the request requires the company’s NIPC and financial year. Its accounts certificate has a separate access code. Online prices are €5 for one year, €7 for two, €9 for three or €10 for four. Applying at a counter adds €15; a paper certificate costs €55. [6]
For repeated retrieval, IRN offers a separate annual BDCA agreement. The smallest published package includes up to 5,000 accesses for €3,500 a year. That database agreement is not required to obtain one company’s accounts. [6]
Access from abroad
Public-notice searches are universally accessible. Any person can request the register certificate, and a valid code is sufficient to inspect it. The form explicitly says SMS notifications are unavailable on foreign mobile networks; use your email for delivery. [1] [2] [10]
Check beneficial ownership separately
The RCBE guide lists public information including entity identifier and name, and the beneficial owner’s name, birth month and year, nationality, residence country and economic interest. However, the actual “Consultar” entry redirects to identity authentication with Cartão de Cidadão, the Portuguese citizen card, or Chave Móvel Digital, the digital mobile identity key. Professional certificates are also offered for lawyers, solicitors and notaries. A commercial-register code does not open this service. [7] [9]
Continue to use the commercial-register certificate for that purpose. Restrictions on access to personal information are possible within RCBE. [8] [7]
Official samples and reading guides
Official guide to access-code consultation
IRN explains the three certificate types and consultation using an access code. [3]
Avoid common mistakes
- A narrow publication-date filter restricts the events displayed. An empty period therefore says nothing about the full register history. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Does every recipient have to pay again?
No. Consultation using an existing valid code is free, and the purchaser may share the code. [3]
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 15 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- Publicações Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Permanent certificate Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Consultar Certidão Permanente Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Consulta de Certidão Permanente: formulário Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Cancelamento da matrícula Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Consultar contas anuais Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Guia do Registo Central do Beneficiário Efetivo Ministério da Justiça / IRN
- Registo Central do Beneficiário Efetivo Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- RCBE authentication for consultation Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado
- Pedido de certidão permanente: first request page Portal da Empresa / Ministério da Justiça
- IRN: Pedir Certidão Permanente, Portuguese original IRN
- Justiça: Consultar contas anuais, Portuguese original Ministério da Justiça / IRN
- Pesquisa de publicações: Suchmaske Pesquisa de publicações