New regulation expands the means available to legalize documents intended to take effect abroad.
Ordinance no. 452/2026/1, of 12 October, which regulates the legalization of documents through the affixing of apostilles by notary offices, introducing changes to the regime currently in force. So far, The authority to issue apostilles is attributed to the Public Prosecutor's Office, in accordance with the applicable legal regime. With the new regulation, the procedure can now also be carried out by notary offices, expanding the means available to citizens and companies that need to legalize documents intended to take effect abroad. The change aims to decentralize the service and facilitate access to the apostille procedure, maintaining the essential purpose of the booklet: certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signatory acted and, when applicable, the identity of the seal or stamp affixed to the document. Although it comes into force on the day following its publication, the Ordinance only takes effect from 1 January of 2027, date from which the new regime will be applicable.
