Academic Diploma and Transcript Translation

If you studied outside Portugal and need your qualifications recognised here, whether for work, further study, or professional registration, you’ll need certified Portuguese translations of your academic documents. And if you studied in Portugal and need your qualifications recognised in the UK, you’ll need an authorised English translation.

I handle both directions: certified translations into Portuguese (including lawyer certification as required by Portuguese law) and authorised translations into English, recognised by the UK government.

Certified translation for Portugal (English to Portuguese)

When Portuguese authorities, universities, or professional bodies need to see your foreign qualifications, they require a certified translation into Portuguese.

When you’ll need this

Academic recognition through DGES. If you want your foreign degree formally recognised in Portugal (equivalencia or reconhecimento), you’ll submit your application to DGES (Direccao-Geral do Ensino Superior) or directly to a Portuguese university. Both require certified translations of your diploma and full academic transcript.

University applications in Portugal. If you’re applying for a postgraduate programme, master’s, or PhD at a Portuguese university, the admissions office will require translated and certified copies of your previous qualifications.

Professional registration. Certain regulated professions in Portugal, including medicine, nursing, engineering, architecture, law, and teaching, require you to register with the relevant professional body (Ordem). This registration process requires certified translations of your qualifications and, in some cases, detailed course descriptions or syllabi.

Employment. Some employers require proof of qualifications as part of the hiring process. While not all employers need certified translations, public sector roles and regulated industries typically do.

Applying for a residence permit. Some visa categories, particularly the D3 (highly qualified worker) and Tech Visa, require proof of academic qualifications as part of the AIMA application. See the AIMA document checklist for details.

What’s involved

Academic documents are among the more complex translations because they contain specialised terminology: course names, grading systems, credit structures, and institutional titles that don’t always have direct equivalents in Portuguese.

A diploma translation must reproduce the exact title of the qualification, the institution’s full name, the date of award, any honours or classifications, and all signatures and seals. A transcript translation must include every course name, the credit value, the grade achieved, and the grading scale explanation if one is provided.

I don’t just handle a word-for-word conversion. I make sure the Portuguese terminology accurately reflects the level and nature of the qualification. A UK “Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours” needs to be rendered in a way that a Portuguese university or professional body understands its equivalence. All translations are certified by a Portuguese lawyer, as required by Portuguese law, and delivered ready for submission to DGES, universities, or professional bodies.

UK authorised translation (Portuguese to English)

If you studied in Portugal and need your Portuguese qualifications recognised in the UK, you’ll need an authorised English translation.

I’m listed on the GOV.UK directory as an authorised translator for British nationals in Portugal, and I personally translate your Portuguese academic documents into English.

When you’ll need this

UK professional registration. If you qualified in Portugal and want to practise a regulated profession in the UK (medicine, nursing, engineering, teaching), the relevant UK professional body will need to see your diploma and transcript in English.

UK university applications. Applying for postgraduate study at a UK university with Portuguese qualifications requires authorised English translations.

UK employers. Some UK employers, particularly in the public sector and regulated industries, need to verify foreign qualifications through authorised translations.

HMRC and UK government bodies. Certain tax or benefits applications may require proof of qualifications, particularly for British expats returning to the UK after studying or working in Portugal.

Informal translation for personal understanding

Sometimes you just need to understand what a Portuguese academic document says, without any legal certification. Perhaps you’ve received a transcript from a Portuguese institution and want to know what the courses and grades mean, or you’re reviewing a diploma before deciding whether to pursue formal recognition.

I can provide a clear, accurate informal translation for your own reference. It won’t carry legal certification, but it gives you a practical understanding of the document’s content.

The apostille

Your academic documents need an apostille from the country that issued them before the translation can be used officially in Portugal. Apostille first, then translation. The certified translation must include the apostille text.

For UK qualifications, the apostille is obtained from the FCDO. Note that the apostille is placed on the diploma or transcript itself, not on a separate document. Some universities issue certified copies specifically for the purpose of apostilling, so you don’t have to send your original.

What you need to provide

Send me clear scans or photographs of your diploma and/or transcript. Every page should be legible, including any pages with grading scales, credit summaries, or institutional stamps. If your documents have apostilles attached, include those in the scan.

For professional registration, you may also need course descriptions or syllabi translated. Let me know what the professional body has asked for and I’ll advise on exactly what needs translating.

Pricing and turnaround

Academic diploma translation including lawyer certification starts from €75 per document. A single-page diploma certificate typically falls at or near this price.

Transcripts are priced based on the number of pages. A multi-page transcript with dozens of courses will cost more than a one-page diploma. I’ll give you an exact quote once I see the documents.

GOV.UK authorised translation (Portuguese to English) is priced separately. Ask me for a quote based on your specific documents.

Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 working days for academic documents, as they tend to be longer and more terminology-dense than civil certificates. Priority turnaround is available.

See the full pricing page for details, or ask about bundle pricing if you need both a diploma and transcript translated together.

Why work with me

I’m Duda. I handle the entire document process so you don’t have to navigate it yourself. I tell you exactly what you need, coordinate the certified translation through a Portuguese lawyer (as required by Portuguese law), review everything for accuracy, and deliver a document ready for submission.

For British nationals, I’m listed on the GOV.UK directory as an authorised translator and interpreter. My Portuguese-to-English translations are officially recognised by the UK government.

I trained as a lawyer in Brazil, I work in compliance and anti-money laundering, and I’ve personally gone through the academic system in Portugal. I know what Portuguese authorities expect because I’ve been through the process myself.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need both my diploma and my transcript translated? It depends on the purpose. For academic recognition through DGES, you’ll typically need both. For employment, the diploma alone may be sufficient. Check with the institution or employer and I can advise.

Can you translate course descriptions or syllabi? Yes. Some professional bodies and universities require detailed course descriptions alongside the transcript. I can handle these as well.

My transcript uses a grading system that doesn’t exist in Portugal. How do you handle that? The grades are translated exactly as they appear, and the grading scale explanation is included if your transcript provides one. Grades are not converted to the Portuguese system, as that’s the job of the recognising institution. The translation preserves the original information faithfully.

Do academic documents need apostilles? Yes, for official recognition purposes. See my guide to apostilles for details on obtaining one from your country.

What’s the difference between the certified translation and the GOV.UK authorised translation? The certified translation (English to Portuguese) is for Portuguese authorities and includes certification by a Portuguese lawyer. The GOV.UK authorised translation (Portuguese to English) is for UK authorities and is recognised because I’m listed on the official GOV.UK directory of translators in Portugal.

Get a quote in minutes

Send me scans of your academic documents on WhatsApp and I’ll reply with a price and timeline.

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Prefer email? eduardanejaimc@gmail.com

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