Portugal Archives and Libraries

Archival Research
Sometimes, archive research is necessary to obtain a record that has not been digitized or request a clearer copy of a record found online or on microfilm. This can be done either through letter correspondence, email (sometimes), or researching in person. Please read Portugal Church Directories for contact information for dioceses and parishes.

Because all of the parish records containing genealogical data were moved to district archives, the staff at these archives will need to be contacted in order to obtain a copy of the desired record.

Many times, duplicate copies of birth, marriage, and death records were sent to a parish's dioceses. These institutions also store marriage impediments, and other documentation that may be useful in tracing a parish priest. You can find contact information for dioceses at the website Conferência Episcopal Portuguesa.

It is recommended that the archivist always be contacted before planning a visit to the archive. For help writing a letter requesting records or preparing for an actual visit, refer to Portuguese Letter Writing Guide.

National Archives
Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo Website Email: [mailto:dsieq@dglab.gov.pt dsieq@dglab.gov.pt] Phone: 21 003 71 00/7180 ou 7181
 * Access to the Torre do Tombo is free for all persons over the age of 18.
 * In order to consult documents, individuals must have a form of identification and a reader card.
 * Once in the reading room, researchers can only request three documents at a time.
 * Consult the catalog before planning a trip to ensure the records you want are available at the archive.
 * The Torre do Tombo has a large online database, accessable at digitarq.arquivos.pt

General Directorate of Archives
Direção-Geral de Arquivos Website
 * Brings together information from all the archives of Portugal
 * Directs users to individual archives, and the database of digital images from all archives

District Archives
Arquivo Distrital de Aveiro Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua Dr. Alberto Souto Bonsucesso - Aradas 3810-417 Aradas (Aveiro) Phone: +351 234 003 400 Email: [mailto:mail@adavr.dglab.gov.pt mail@adavr.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Beja Website Catalog Contact and Hours Av. Vasco da Gama 7800 Beja Phone: +351 284 310 670 Email: [mailto:mail@adbja.dgarq.gov.pt mail@adbja.dgarq.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Braga Website Catalog Contact and Hours Universidade do Minho Largo do Paço 4704-553 Braga Phone: +351 253 601 177 Email: [mailto:sec@adb.uminho.pt sec@adb.uminho.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Bragança Website Catalog Contact and Hours Convento de São Francisco Rua de São Francisco, nº 63 5300-050 Bragança Phone: +351 273 001 300 Email: [mailto:mail@adbgc.dglab.gov.pt mail@adbgc.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Castelo Branco Website Catalog Contact and Hours Casa dos Mota Praça de Camões 6000-116 Castelo Branco Phone: +351 272 001 403 Email: [mailto:mail@adctb.dglab.gov.pt mail@adctb.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Coimbra Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua de São Pedro, 2 3000 Coimbra Phone: +351 239 859 855 Email: [mailto:auc-geral@auc.uc.pt auc-geral@auc.uc.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Évora Website Catalog Contact and Hours Largo dos Collegiales, 3 7000-803 ÉVORA Phone: +351 266 006 600 Email: [mailto:mail@adevr.dglab.gov.pt mail@adevr.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Faro Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua Coronel António Santos Fonseca 8000-257 Faro Phone: +351 289 008 800 Email: [mailto:mail@adfar.dglab.gov.pt mail@adfar.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Guarda Website Catalog Contact and Hours Largo General Humberto Delgado 6300-694 Guarda Phone: +351 271 001 200 Email: [mailto:mail@adgrd.dglab.gov.pt mail@adgrd.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Leiria Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua Marcos Portugal, 4 2400-179 Leiria Phone: +351 244 004 400 Email: [mailto:mail@adlra.dglab.gov.pt mail@adlra.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Lisboa Part of the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo Website Catalog Contact and Hours Alameda da Universidade 1649-010 Lisboa Phone: +351 210 037 100 Email: [mailto:mail@dglab.gov.pt mail@dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Portalegre Website Catalog Contact and Hours Palácio Barahona Largo Serpa Pinto 7300-102 Portalegre Phone: +351 245 004 500 Email: [mailto:mail@adptg.dglab.gov.pt mail@adptg.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital do Porto Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua das Taipas, n.º 90 4050-598 Porto Phone: +351 220 046 200 Email via form in Contact and Hours Arquivo Distrital de Santarém Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua Passos Manuel 2000-118 Santarém Phone: +351 243 004 300 Email: [mailto:mail@adstr.dglab.gov.pt mail@adstr.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Setúbal Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua Prof. Borges de Macedo, n.º 2 Manteigadas 2910-001 Setúbal Phone: +351 265 006 500 Email: [mailto:mail@adstb.dglab.gov.pt mail@adstb.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Viana do Castelo Website Catalog Contact and Hours Rua Manuel Espregueira, 140 4900-318 Viana do Castelo Phone: +351 258 005 500 Email: [mailto:mail@advct.dglab.gov.pt mail@advct.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Vila Real Website Catalog Contact and Hours Av. Almeida Lucena, n.º 5 5000-660 Vila Real Phone: +351 259 00 5900 Email: [mailto:mail@advrl.dglab.gov.pt mail@advrl.dglab.gov.pt] Arquivo Distrital de Viseu Website Catalog Contact and Hours Largo de Santa Cristina 3504-515 Viseu Phone: +351 232 003 200

Regional Archives
Conservatória do Registo Civil de Açores Website Catalog Contact Pç. Gonçalo Velho 12, 2º 9500-063 Ponta Delgada Phone: +351 296 302 170 Email: [mailto:crc.pd@dgrn.mj.pt crc.pd@dgrn.mj.pt] Arquivo Regional e Biblioteca Pública da Madeira Website Catalog Contact and Hours Caminho dos Álamos, n.º 35 Santo António 9020-064 Funchal Phone: +351 291 708 400 Email: [mailto:abm.sretc@madeira.gov.pt abm.sretc@madeira.gov.pt]

Inventories and Guides
Most archives have publications that describe their collections and how to use them. Some are online. Others are in print. If possible, study these guides before you visit or use the records so you can use your time more effectively.

Family History Library

Several published guides for archives and libraries are listed in the Family History Library Catalog. To find them, use the Place Search in the catalog under:
 * Portugal - Archives and Libraries
 * Portugal, [District] - Archives and Libraries
 * Portugal, [District], [City] - Archives and Libraries

Websites
Archives Portal Europe provides access to information on archival material from Portugal as well as information on archival institutions throughout the European continent.