Going to the post office to send a registered letter means queues, limited opening hours and lost time. If you live outside Portugal, it may not even be an option. In 2026, you can send a registered letter with proof of delivery in Portugal without leaving home: with full legal validity, delivered by CTT (the Portuguese postal service) like any other registered letter.
This guide explains how it works, what options exist in Portugal, and what to consider before choosing.
What is the aviso de receção (AR)?
The aviso de receção is the signed proof-of-delivery slip that travels with a registered letter: on delivery, the recipient signs it, and CTT returns the signed slip to the sender. That dated signature is what makes the AR the strongest possible proof that a communication was received, and it is why Portuguese law requires it in situations such as rent increases or lease terminations. A plain registered letter proves you sent something; with an AR, it proves the recipient received it, and when.
How sending a registered letter from home works
The process is simple: instead of going to the counter, you use an online service that receives the content of your letter, handles the printing and the envelope, and physically hands it to CTT for sending. The recipient receives exactly the same thing they would receive if you had gone to the post office in person.
The difference is in who does the operational work, not in how the letter reaches the recipient.
Step by step: sending a registered letter online
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1
Prepare your letter as a PDF
Choose a template suited to your case (tenancy, debt collection, contract termination, and so on), write the text and export it as a PDF. The content is your responsibility. It can be in any language, though for legal effect in Portugal, Portuguese is usually the safe choice.
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2
Enter the recipient's details
Full name and the address in Portugal where the letter should be delivered. Double-check the postal code.
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3
Upload the PDF and confirm
Upload the PDF of your letter, review the recipient's details and confirm the sending. Payment is made online, usually by card or MB Way, a popular Portuguese payment app.
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4
The service handles the rest
The letter is printed, put in an envelope and handed to CTT within 2 business days. You receive an email confirmation when it has been dispatched.
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5
The recipient receives it and signs the delivery slip
CTT delivers the letter by hand. The delivery slip (AR) signed by the recipient is recorded and has legal validity.
Options available in Portugal
In Portugal there are a few ways to send a registered letter without going anywhere:
- Specialised online services: platforms like cartaregistada.pt, where you prepare your letter (using a template if you like), upload the PDF, and the service handles printing and sending through CTT. It works for any type of registered letter, and from any country.
- CTT's own "send online" option: it is not fully online. Contrary to what you sometimes read (including in AI assistant answers), CTT does not offer individuals a service where you upload the document and they print and send it. As of July 2026, CTT's online service only generates the shipping paperwork; you still have to finish the sending at a post office. CTT's official help pages (in Portuguese) are explicit: an acceptance slip and label are generated, and the sending must be completed at a CTT shop or CTT point. In other words, you still need to print the letter, put it in an envelope and hand it over at the counter.
- Solicitors and lawyers: for legally complex situations, a professional can send the letter on your behalf, but the cost is considerably higher.
Online vs in person: comparison
| Criterion | In person (CTT) | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Travel required | Yes, within Portugal | No |
| Availability | Counter opening hours | 24/7, any day |
| Total time spent | 30–60 min (travel and queue) | 5–10 minutes |
| CTT cost (plain letter + AR) | €6.05 | Included in the service price |
| Legal validity | Yes | Yes (identical) |
| Printing and envelope included | No (you bring the printed letter) | Yes |
Legal validity of a registered letter sent online
A common question: does a registered letter sent through an online service have the same legal validity as one sent in person?
Yes. What gives a registered letter with proof of delivery its legal validity is the fact that it is processed by CTT as a registered letter and that there is a delivery slip signed by the recipient. How the letter reaches CTT, whether handed in by you or by a sending service acting on your behalf, does not change that validity.
How much it costs and how long it takes
The cost depends on the service you choose. At cartaregistada.pt, the price per registered letter with proof of delivery is €14.99, all inclusive: printing, envelope and sending through CTT within 2 business days. You prepare the content of the letter and are responsible for it; the service does not review or guarantee the content.
As for timing, once dispatched the letter normally takes 2 to 4 business days to reach the recipient, the same as registered letters handed in at a post office.
Send your registered letter online
Already have the letter? Upload the PDF and we print it and send it through CTT with proof of delivery, no post office visit needed. €14.99 all inclusive, works from any country.
Send my letter →Need help writing it? We generate Portuguese tenancy letters for you, free →
Frequently asked questions
Does CTT let you send registered letters fully online?
No. As of July 2026, CTT's online sending option for occasional customers only generates the shipping paperwork (acceptance slip and label); CTT's own help pages state that the sending must be completed at a CTT shop or CTT point. To send a registered letter without any trip at all, you need a service that prints the letter and physically hands it to CTT for you, such as cartaregistada.pt.
Do I need a printer?
No. The service handles the printing and the envelope. You only need an internet-connected device to fill in the details and confirm the sending.
Can I use this service for any type of letter?
Yes. cartaregistada.pt works for any registered letter with AR, whatever the content: tenancy matters, debt collection, terminating commercial contracts, communications to insurers, notices to institutions, formal notices between private individuals. You prepare the PDF of the letter and we handle the sending.
What happens if the registered letter with proof of delivery is not collected?
CTT attempts hand delivery. If that is not possible, they leave a notice in the letterbox for collection at a CTT shop within the period stated on the notice. If the letter is not collected, it is returned to the sender with the reason noted, and that documented return has value: in contexts such as tenancies, Portuguese law provides mechanisms for the communication to take effect even when the recipient avoids receiving it (for example, sending a second letter under article 10 of the NRAU, the Portuguese urban lease law). The process is identical to any registered letter sent in person.
When do I get the delivery slip?
The aviso de receção (AR) is sent back to the sender by CTT after delivery to the recipient. For letters sent through online services, the AR is forwarded to you according to the service's process, normally by email or in digital form.
Is it more expensive than going to the post office?
The online service costs more than CTT's direct fee (€6.05 for a registered letter with AR, if you go in person). But that fee does not include travel time, fuel or queueing, and it assumes you are physically in Portugal in the first place. For anyone who values convenience, lives abroad, or cannot easily get to a counter during opening hours, the extra cost is well justified.