First Phrases

Registering at the town hall · Português

Registering at the town hall in Portuguese: 12 survival phrases

Register your address at the counter: say you would like to register, show your passport and rental contract, ask about forms, appointments and a certificate, and get it written down. Short phrases for the counter.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "o senhor / a senhora" or the plain polite verb form at the counter in Portugal, and greet first ("Bom dia"). The office is usually the Junta de Freguesia; some services are at the Câmara Municipal.

How to read the sounds: European Portuguese swallows unstressed vowels, so syllables sound shorter than they look. (n) = nasal vowel, don't sound the n. sh = the 'sh' of 'ship' for final s and x. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: Junta de Freguesia, Câmara Municipal, morada, atestado de residência, marcação. Official website checked on 2026-10-25:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Politecheck
    Bom dia. Queria registar a minha morada, por favor.
    Say it like: bom DEE-ah. keh-REE-ah rreh-zhees-TAR ah MEE-nyah moh-RAH-dah, poor fah-VOR
    Good morning. I'd like to register my address, please.
    Register: Polite opener; "queria" is softer than "quero".
  2. 02Neutral
    Tenho uma marcação às …
    Say it like: TEN-yoo OO-mah mar-kah-SOWN ahsh
    I have an appointment at …
    Register: Add the hour: "às dez" (at ten).
  3. 03Polite
    Aqui está o meu passaporte e o contrato de arrendamento.
    Say it like: ah-KEE esh-TAH oo MEH-oo pah-sah-POR-teh ee oo kon-TRAH-too deh ah-rren-dah-MEN-too
    Here is my passport and the rental contract.
    Register: Polite; "arrendamento" is the formal word for a rental.
  4. 04Neutral
    Preciso de mais alguma coisa?
    Say it like: preh-SEE-zoo deh maish al-GOO-mah KOY-zah
    Do I need anything else?
    Register: Short and neutral.
  5. 05Neutral
    Há algum impresso para preencher?
    Say it like: ah al-GOON eem-PREH-soo PAH-rah pree-en-SHER
    Is there a form to fill in?
    Register: "Impresso" is the usual word for an official form.
  6. 06Polite
    Pode passar-me um atestado de residência?
    Say it like: POH-deh pah-SAR-meh oon ah-tesh-TAH-doo deh rreh-zee-DEN-syah
    Can you give me a certificate of residence?
    Register: "Atestado de residência" is the name of the document at the Junta.
  7. 07Neutral
    Quanto tempo demora?
    Say it like: KWAN-too TEM-poo deh-MOH-rah
    How long does it take?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Neutral
    É preciso marcar?
    Say it like: eh preh-SEE-zoo mar-KAR
    Do I need an appointment?
    Register: "Marcar" means to book a slot.
  9. 09Polite
    Pode falar mais devagar, por favor?
    Say it like: POH-deh fah-LAR maish deh-vah-GAR, poor fah-VOR
    Could you speak more slowly, please?
    Register: Polite.
  10. 10Neutral
    Onde é que assino?
    Say it like: ON-deh eh keh ah-SEE-noo
    Where do I sign?
    Register: Neutral question.
  11. 11Polite
    Pode escrever-me isso, por favor?
    Say it like: POH-deh esh-kreh-VER-meh EE-soo, poor fah-VOR
    Can you write that down for me, please?
    Register: Polite.
  12. 12Polite
    Muito obrigado/obrigada. Tenha um bom dia.
    Say it like: MWEEN-too oh-bree-GAH-doo/oh-bree-GAH-dah. TEN-yah oom bom DEE-ah
    Thank you very much. Have a nice day.
    Register: Men say "obrigado", women say "obrigada".

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the town hall in Portuguese?

Start with: "Bom dia. Queria registar a minha morada, por favor." (Good morning. I'd like to register my address, please.)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese at the town hall?

Use "o senhor / a senhora" or the plain polite verb form at the counter in Portugal, and greet first ("Bom dia"). The office is usually the Junta de Freguesia; some services are at the Câmara Municipal.

How do I say I'd like to register my address in Portuguese?

Try: "Bom dia. Queria registar a minha morada, por favor." (Good morning. I'd like to register my address, please.)

Same errand, another language

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Portuguese, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

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How it works

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  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
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