What documents the bank asks for when applying for a mortgage
A list, organised by group, of what banks usually ask for, so you can arrive at your first meeting with your application almost complete.
Every bank is different, but the basics are the same
There is no single, mandatory list: each bank sets its own and may ask for more or less depending on your profile, the type of property and the amount to be financed. Even so, the basics are very similar from one institution to another, and knowing them saves weeks of back and forth.
The most useful tip is to think in four groups: who you are, how much you earn, what you owe and what you are going to buy. If all four groups are well organised, the analyst can assess your application the first time round.
Identification and personal circumstances
Banks normally ask for the Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão), or another valid identity document, and the tax identification number (NIF) of all applicants. You may be asked for proof of address, and your marital status and matrimonial property regime may be relevant, especially if you are married or living in a de facto union.
If you are a foreign national, be prepared to present your residence permit or the document proving your legal status, and possibly other information about your ties to the country.
Income
For employees, banks usually ask for payslips from the last few months, a statement from the employer showing the type of contract, length of service and salary, and the latest IRS return together with the tax assessment notice. Banks pay particular attention to the stability of the employment relationship.
For self-employed workers, the approach is different: what matters most are the IRS returns and tax assessment notices for several years, as well as documents showing that the activity is regular. We have a separate article on this topic.
They may also ask for recent bank statements, to confirm that the declared income is paid into your account and to understand your spending habits.
Financial commitments and contribution status
The bank wants to know what you already owe. It checks the Central Credit Register (Central de Responsabilidades de Crédito) of the Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal), but it may also ask you directly for your credit liabilities statement. It may also ask for the contracts of other loans, credit cards and leases.
Banks commonly require proof that you have no debts to the State: the contribution status certificate from Social Security (Segurança Social) and the tax clearance certificate from the Tax and Customs Authority (Finanças). Both can usually be viewed and obtained online, using your own authentication.
Property documents
On the property side, the bank needs to confirm what it is financing and to have it valued. It normally asks for the property tax record (caderneta predial), the permanent land registry certificate (certidão permanente do registo predial), the promissory contract of purchase and sale, the occupancy permit (licença de utilização), the housing technical data sheet (ficha técnica da habitação), where required, and the energy certificate. For new properties or properties under construction, plans and permits may also be required.
If the property is a unit in a building under horizontal property ownership, information about the condominium may also be requested. Ask the seller, or the estate agency, for the documents well in advance: they are usually the most time-consuming part.
How to avoid delays
Request documents with the most recent date possible, as many have a validity period for banking purposes. Scan them into legible PDF files and make sure they are complete, with all pages included. If anything does not match (a different address, a name spelt differently), sort it out before submitting.
If you would rather not collect each document from each portal yourself, Titus Docs can obtain the official documents from the Tax and Customs Authority (Finanças), Social Security (Segurança Social) and the Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal) on your behalf, with your consent and without sharing your credentials with anyone else. But the general rule still applies: always check with your bank the exact list of documents they require.