Chapter III · Articles of association · Section I · Execution and registration

Article 18 Registration of the articles of association

Artigo 18.º · Registo do contrato

Código das Sociedades Comerciais · Decree-Law No. 262/86 · consolidated text checked 26 October 2026

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1. Where no contributions in kind or acquisitions of assets by the company have been agreed, the persons seeking to incorporate the company may submit an application for prior registration of the articles to the competent commercial registry office, together with a complete draft of the articles of association.

1 - Quando não tenham convencionado entradas em espécie ou aquisições de bens pela sociedade, os interessados na constituição da sociedade podem apresentar na competente conservatória do registo comercial requerimento para registo prévio do contrato juntamente com um projecto completo do contrato de sociedade.

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2. The articles of association must be drawn up in the precise terms of the previously registered draft.

2 - O contrato de sociedade deve ser redigido nos precisos termos do projecto previamente registado.

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3. Within 15 days after execution of the articles, a certified copy must be submitted to the registrar by one of the subscribing members or, where the articles were executed by public deed, by the notary, so that registration may be made definitive.

3 - No prazo de 15 dias após a celebração do contrato, deve ser apresentada ao conservador, por um dos sócios subscritores ou, no caso de o contrato ter sido celebrado por escritura pública, pelo notário, cópia certificada do contrato para conversão do registo em definitivo.

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4. The preceding paragraphs do not apply to the incorporation of public limited companies by public subscription.

4 - O disposto nos números anteriores não é aplicável à constituição das sociedades anónimas, quando efectuada com apelo a subscrição pública.

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5. Where the persons concerned have not followed the procedure permitted by paragraphs 1 to 3, the articles of association, after execution in the legally required form, must be entered in the commercial register in accordance with the legislation governing that register.

5 - No caso de os interessados não terem adoptado o processo permitido pelos n.os 1 a 3, o contrato da sociedade, depois de celebrado na forma legal, deve ser inscrito no registo comercial, nos termos da lei respectiva.

What we checked in this article

Prior registration, exact conformity with the draft, 15-day conversion and public-subscription exception remain.

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Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

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