The Toponymic Certificate consists of a document issued and authenticated by the municipal services, which certifies the toponymy, number of building(s) and/or the parish of the property in question.
In this article, I will explore what the Toponymic Certificate document means, why it is so important for the real estate sector, owners and buyers, what it is for, how to obtain one, how much it costs and the associated deadlines.
Index
- Toponymic Certificate: what is it?
- Toponymic Certificate: what is it for?
- Who should request a Toponymic Certificate from ?
- Who can request this certificate?
- How do I request a Toponymy Certificate?
- How much does a Toponymy Certificate cost ?
- What is the deadline for issuing a Toponymy Certificate?
- Legislation applicable to the Toponymy Certificate
- Frequently asked questions about the Toponymy Certificate
The Toponymic Certificate consists of an official document issued and authenticated by the City Council, which certifies the toponymy, numbering of building(s) and/or the parish of the property in question , as well as any correspondence between the current elements and previous elements, verified in the local or registered with official entities.
The content of a toponymic certificate varies depending on the municipality, but generally includes the following elements:
Here is an example of a Toponymic Certificate:
The toponymic certificate is a key piece for several situations, the following being noteworthy:
In short, the toponymic certificate is official proof of the location of a property. Keep it updated if there are changes to the street name, house number or parish, so you are always prepared for any eventuality.
You must request the issuance of the certificate from the municipal services of the municipality to which the property belongs, which can issue this document. In most municipalities, the Toponymic Certificate request can be made in one of the following ways:
The legitimate owner(s) of the property of the rustic, urban building or fraction. Or, if you are a tenant and need the certificate for the purpose of changing your address.
In case of impossibility, or absence from the country, you can always ask for help from third parties, if they are accompanied by a power of attorney in your name
To request a certificate relating to the location of a property, you must proceed through one of the routes described above (if available) and submit the request together with the following documents:
When toponymic changes are involved at the initiative of the City Council that are beyond the control of the applicant (e.g. street name), the issuance of the Toponymic Certificate is free of charge.
Otherwise, the cost depends from municipality to municipality, as in the case of a Municipal Tax its value may vary. If the issuance of the certificate does not require an in-person visit to the property's location, the value may vary between €10 and €20. When the issuance of the certificate requires a visit to the location, for reasons attributable to the applicant, it is normal for this amount to be subject to an extra fee, which in the case of some councils can be around €30.
If you wish to receive the certificate by post, there is normally a small extra charge to cover registered mail costs.
The deadline for issuing the certificate depends largely on the services of each chamber, but an acceptable deadline can vary between 10 days and 30 days . E.g. in Porto city hall it takes 10 working days. There is usually an emergency service that reduces this period (e.g. 3 working days), against payment of an Emergency Surcharge.
Although there is no specific legislation that deals exclusively with this document, in Portugal, the Toponymic Certificate is supported by several legal norms that govern territorial planning, property registration and the geographic identification of properties. The main legislative references that, directly or indirectly , related to the Toponymic Certificate include:
If you want more detailed information, I recommend consulting a legal specialist (notary or solicitor), or directly contacting the City Council or the Portuguese Geographic Institute, entities that can provide updated guidance on the rules applicable to the Toponymic Certificate.
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about Toponymic Certificate in Portugal:
The Toponymic Certificate is an official document issued by the City Council of the area where the property is located, which attests to the official name of the street or avenue where it is located. It is important in the real estate sector, as the name of the street or avenue can have an impact on legal issues and real estate transactions in general.
The Toponymic Certificate can be requested by the property owner or their legal representative, from the City Council of the area where the property is located. It is necessary to present some documents, such as the property title and a copy of the citizen card or identity card of the owner or his legal representative.
The deadline for issuing the Toponymic Certificate may vary from City Council to City Council, but generally only takes a few working days. For example, in Porto City Council, on average, it takes 10 days.
If changing the name of the street is a decision of the Council, you do not pay anything for the Toponymic Certificate. The price varies from camera to camera, between €10 and €20, if it is not necessary for a technician to travel to the location of the property. If necessary, there may be an extra cost of around €30. If you want to receive it by post, a small fee will be added for registered shipping.
No, the Toponymic Certificate is not mandatory in all real estate transactions in Portugal. However, it is recommended to have it up to date to avoid legal or bureaucratic problems, in case there is any discrepancy in the property address in the official documents (Land Booklet, Permanent Land Registry Certificate, etc.)
Yes, it is necessary to update the Toponymic Certificate in case of changing the name of the street or avenue where the property is located, to avoid legal or bureaucratic problems.
There is no defined validity period for the Toponymic Certificate in Portugal. However, it is recommended to keep it updated and request a new Toponymic Certificate in case of changing the name of the street or avenue where the property is located.