BUYING PROCESS

What legal steps are involved?

A purchase at Apaulinha follows the standard Portuguese conveyancing sequence: obtain a NIF, appoint a lawyer, sign the promissory contract (CPCV), complete at the escritura before a notary, and register the title.

In order:

4. NIF — the Portuguese tax number, required before any contract can be signed. Non-EU residents also appoint a fiscal representative.

5. Lawyer — an independent Portuguese lawyer conducts due diligence on title, licensing and the contractual documents, and typically handles the NIF, fiscal representation and completion formalities under power of attorney if the buyer cannot attend in person.

6. CPCV — the contrato-promessa de compra e venda, a binding promissory contract setting out price, timing and conditions, signed with a deposit (10–15% at Apaulinha).

7. Escritura — the final public deed of sale, executed before a notary; the balance is paid and ownership transfers.

8. Registration — the new title is registered at the land registry, completing the transfer against third parties.

At Apaulinha, the documentation also covers the acquisition of shares in Apaulinha Management Lda, the operating company, alongside the villa itself — a step the buyer's lawyer will review as part of the same transaction.

The process is well trodden and, for a completed property, quick by international standards. Engaging an independent lawyer at the outset is the single most useful step a buyer can take, and we recommend independent legal advice in every case.