APNA Lawyers — Buying Property in Portugal
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The agency's lawyer works for the seller, not you.

We work exclusively for you.

Fixed fee. Due diligence. CPCV review. Deed.
100+ International buyers · 10+ years · One lawyer · Zero surprises.

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No obligation · No sales pitch · In 30 minutes you'll know exactly what your legal risks are.

Not ready? Check your risk first →
100+
International Buyers Protected
10+
Years of Legal Experience in Portugal
Ordem dos Advogados
Licensed & Verified — Portugal
100% Remote
English-Speaking. Fully Digital.
Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Google Reviews

Foreign buyers, just like you — who trusted us with their most important purchase.

★★★★★

"I highly recommend APNA Lawyers when buying a home in Portugal. Nuno Almeida has amazing diligence, making sure all documentation is correct for a couple of Canadians who had no clue how to buy a home in Portugal. Portuguese real estate is quite different than in Canada. He provided great communication via email and WhatsApp. Nuno made the transaction a reality and we look forward to moving to our home in Portugal and becoming part of an amazing society."

🇨🇦 Bill Santo · Canada
★★★★★

"We used Nuno Almeida during our house purchase. He has been helpful, informative and made the whole process very clear, describing everything in detail, both in Portuguese and English. We also had problems after the purchase and his partner, Ana, was able to rectify these satisfactorily. I can wholeheartedly recommend Nuno to do his utmost to help and be there, giving support and clear, concise advice."

🇬🇧 Christina · United Kingdom
★★★★★

"We met Nuno through a friend and liked him from the beginning. No matter what problem arose during the purchase of our property, he was always at our side and solved all legal and other problems — calmly and quickly — that we sometimes did not even have in mind in advance. This created a real relationship of trust. Buying a property in Portugal can be an adventure, so it's advisable to have a professional on board, and fortunately we found one in Nuno."

🇩🇪 Sonja Eppinger · Germany
★★★★★

"I have experienced Nuno de Almeida e Silva, from APNA Lawyers, as a very competent lawyer. He gave me, as a foreigner, an excellent explanation in English of the legal process when buying a house in Portugal. Nuno guides you through the process and also assists, if desired, with the transfer. I would definitely recommend him."

🇳🇱 Johannes · Netherlands
→ Read all reviews on Google
Nuno Almeida
Nuno Almeida · Ordem dos Advogados

Meet Nuno Almeida

Your lawyer. Directly. From the first call to the final deed.

I handle every case personally — not a junior, not a paralegal.You speak directly with me, every step of the way.
I have reviewed hundreds of Portuguese property contracts.I know exactly where the risks hide — before you sign anything.
Based in the heart of Central Portugal.I know these registries, these câmaras. Not from Lisbon. From here.
The CLEAR 360° Programme

Complete Support at Every Stage

Check · Legalise · Execute · Acquire · Register — every step, fully covered.

CLEAR 360°
C
Check
Full due diligence — title, debts, licences and planning. Every risk found before you commit.
L
Legalise
We resolve what we find and regularise the property — so it's genuinely clean.
E
Execute
We draft and negotiate the CPCV. Your deposit protected, every condition legally sound.
A
Acquire
The final deed (Escritura) — ownership transfers to your name, in person or by Power of Attorney.
R
Register
Property registered in your name. NIF, utilities and next steps — all handled.
The Process

Your Property. Protected. In 4 Steps.

1
Due Diligence Report
Every risk identified before you commit a single euro. A 20+ page legal investigation: title, debts, licences, illegal constructions, planning.
2
Your Deposit Protected
We draft and negotiate the CPCV. Your deposit is safe. Every condition legally sound.
3
Clean Ownership
You own your property cleanly — no hidden problems, no legal surprises.
4
Keys in Your Hand
We attend the final deed — or act under Power of Attorney if you're abroad. You don't need to be in Portugal.
Average time from first call to completed deed: 60–90 days.Every step managed by Nuno, directly.

Nuno personally handles every case.

For this reason, APNA Lawyers accepts a maximum of 5 new clients per month.

■ Currently: 2 spots available this month

Your free 30-minute strategy call is available this week — no commitment required. After your call, you'll know exactly what your legal risks are and what to do next.

Free Strategy Call

Book Your Free Strategy Call

In 30 minutes, you'll know exactly what your legal risks are — and how to eliminate them before you sign anything.

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✓ No obligation. ✓ No sales pitch. ✓ Just clarity.

Prefer email? apna.seia@gmail.com · WhatsApp: +351 967 050 513

FAQ

Your Questions. Answered Honestly.

These are the questions every international buyer asks us. We answer them here — completely, without sales language.

Do I really need a lawyer? The agent says it's fine.
The agent is right that many properties are purchased without incident. Here's what the agent doesn't tell you: under Portuguese law it's "buyer beware." Once you sign the CPCV and hand over your deposit, you own the problem — tax debts become your tax debts, illegal constructions become yours. We've found €45,000 tax liens in public records, illegal pools costing €35,000 to demolish, building permits expired 20 years ago. Invisible — until they're your problem. The agent is paid by the seller. We work for you.→ Still unsure? Book a free 30-min call.
How do I know the property doesn't have hidden problems?
That's exactly what due diligence is for. Before you commit a single euro, we investigate: title deed and chain of ownership; outstanding debts and tax liens (caderneta predial); building licences and permits (licença de habitação); illegal constructions (registered vs. built footprint); planning classification (PDM, RAN, REN); rights of way, easements and neighbour disputes. We deliver a 20+ page report before you sign anything.→ Book a free call and bring the property address.
I'm not in Portugal. Can this work remotely?
Yes — completely. We've completed dozens of transactions for clients who never set foot in Portugal during the purchase. All communication via email, WhatsApp and video call; documents signed remotely via apostille or Portuguese consulate; Power of Attorney lets us attend the final deed on your behalf; NIF obtained remotely through our office.→ Book a free call to confirm how this works for your country.
How long does the whole process take?
From first call to signed deed: typically 60–90 days. Due diligence report: 5–10 business days. CPCV negotiation and signature: 1–2 weeks. Final deed: 30–60 days after CPCV. We tell you the realistic timeline upfront — not the optimistic one.→ Want a timeline for your property? Book a free 30-min call.
How much does it cost? Are there hidden fees?
We charge a fixed fee — not hourly billing. You know the total before you sign anything. Essential.→ Request a full cost breakdown: book a free call.
Can I trust someone I've never met with this much money?
This is the right question to ask. How you verify us: Ordem dos Advogados — search "Nuno Almeida", licence verified; Google Reviews — 75+ reviews, 5-star average, real clients with real names; clients from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia and the UAE. Verify us before you ever pay anything.→ Book your free 30-min call — form your own opinion.
What if something goes wrong after I buy?
Our job doesn't end at the deed. Every client receives a 30-day post-completion support window, a Portugal succession & estate-planning assessment within 48h, and a post-purchase checklist — utilities, registration, NHR next steps.→ Ask us about post-purchase support: book a free call.
I don't understand how the Portuguese property system works.
Nobody does — until they go through it once. Step 1 — Due diligence: we investigate legally before you commit. Step 2 — CPCV: you pay a 10–30% deposit, legally binding. Step 3 — Escritura: property officially transfers to your name. Step 4 — Registration: property registered in your name. What you need: NIF, bank account (optional), Power of Attorney.→ Book a free call. We walk you through everything, specific to your situation.
What if the seller is hiding something?
Sellers aren't required to disclose what they don't know — and some disclose only what they must. We investigate independently through official registries: Conservatória do Registo Predial (debts, mortgages, rights); Serviço de Finanças (outstanding tax debts); Câmara Municipal (planning, licences, illegal constructions); rural registries (RAN, REN, PDM). We've found problems sellers didn't know existed — and problems they hoped we wouldn't find.→ Bring us a property address. Book a free call.
Is this lawyer experienced with international clients?
100% of our clients are international buyers — 15+ countries across 4 continents. We communicate exclusively in English; we understand the anxieties of buying abroad with foreign savings; we know the tax implications for US, UK and EU buyers (NHR, DTAA, FBAR); we've handled sight-unseen purchases, remote signings and Power of Attorney.→ Read our Google reviews, then book a call.
What about taxes between Portugal and my home country?
It depends on your country of residence. Purchase taxes (once): IMT 0–8%, stamp duty 0.8%. Annual: IMI (council tax) 0.3–0.45% of taxable value. US citizens: FBAR if a Portuguese account exceeds $10,000; the Portugal–US tax treaty applies. UK buyers: the UK–Portugal tax treaty applies — we work with your UK accountant. NHR may apply if you plan to become tax resident in Portugal.→ Tax questions specific to your situation: book a free 30-min call.
Free Risk Diagnostic

Not Ready to Call? Check Your Risk First.

Portugal property has pitfalls most buyers never see coming. Find out exactly how exposed you are — free.

10 questions · 3 minutes · No registration required

Ana Pinheiro & Nuno Almeida — Sociedade de Advogados, SP, RL
Central Portugal · Registered with the Ordem dos Advogados
apna.seia@gmail.com · WhatsApp +351 967 050 513
FREE RISK DIAGNOSTIC

How Ready Are You to Buy
Property in Portugal?

Answer 10 quick questions and discover your exposure to the most common legal risks foreign buyers face.

FINAL STEP
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Your data is handled in accordance with GDPR.

0 /100
Elevated Risk
Higher score = greater legal and financial exposure without professional support.
Your score is calculated across 4 risk areas — legal title, construction status, planning compliance, and financial exposure — weighted by the frequency of issues APNA Lawyers has identified across hundreds of Portuguese property transactions.
⚠ WHAT YOUR CURRENT GAPS COULD COST YOU
Your Preparation by Area
YOUR RISK — WITH VS. WITHOUT LEGAL SUPPORT
WITHOUT APNA LAWYERS
63
Elevated Risk
→
WITH APNA LAWYERS
20
Low Risk
Legal support does not change what the property is — it changes what you know about it before you commit.
PENDING RISKS — WHAT APNA ACTS ON