Can you use a PO box as your company's registered office in Portugal?
Updated October 2026. Legislation checked on official Portuguese portals on 19 October 2026.
As a rule, no. A CTT PO box (apartado) cannot be used as your company’s registered office in Portugal. Article 12 of the Commercial Companies Code (in Portuguese) requires the registered office to be in a “specifically defined location”, and a PO box is a mailbox inside a post office or postal point, not the place where the company is located. If you need a registered office address without leasing an office, the alternative is a virtual office: at Giraldo Works, an address on Rua Castilho, next to Avenida da Liberdade, starts at €20/month + VAT.
Key takeaways
- The law: the registered office must be in a “specifically defined location” in Portugal (Article 12 of the Commercial Companies Code).
- The address: it must state the district, municipality, parish and 7-digit postcode (justica.gov.pt).
- PO box: a mailbox at a post office or postal point; the common view among Portuguese legal scholars is that it cannot be a registered office.
- Alternative: a virtual office with a specific address authorised as a registered office, from €20/month + VAT.
What the law says about the registered office address
Article 12 of the Commercial Companies Code sets three rules for the registered office:
- it “must be established in a specifically defined location”;
- unless the articles of association say otherwise, management can move it within Portugal;
- it is the company’s domicile.
The justica.gov.pt portal (in Portuguese) adds that the registered office is where the company receives official correspondence, that it must be in Portugal, and that it must state the district, municipality, parish, 7-digit postcode and country. The same portal says the registered office doesn’t have to be where the company operates: it can, for example, be a partner’s family home. That is also why a virtual office address can be used as a registered office.
Why a PO box can't be a registered office
CTT, the Portuguese postal operator, presents its PO box (Apartado) as the company’s mailbox at a CTT shop, CTT point or postal distribution centre. It is a useful service, but that is all it is: a mail receptacle identified by a box number, not a place where the company is located.
The law doesn’t mention PO boxes explicitly. However, the common view in Portuguese legal scholarship is that a registered office at a PO box or a simple mailbox should not be accepted, because:
- it is not a “specifically defined location” where the company is deemed to be;
- it doesn’t allow proper contact with the company;
- the company’s governing bodies cannot meet and pass resolutions there.
So when you set up a company or move its registered office, always give an address with a street, door number, postcode and parish. If in doubt about your specific case, check with your accountant or the registry services. This article is for information only and is not legal advice.
Need a specific address for your registered office?
What about the CTT "virtual address"?
Many people search for a “CTT virtual address” (morada virtual CTT) hoping to find an address for their company. At CTT, however, “virtual address” is the name of a service for individuals to receive online purchases at a locker. It is not an address you can use to register a company’s office.
When people talk about a “virtual address” for companies, they mean something else: a virtual office address that the provider authorises as a registered office, and which therefore also becomes the tax address. We explain the differences in our article tax address vs registered office vs virtual address.
PO box vs virtual office
| PO box | Virtual office (Giraldo Works) | |
|---|---|---|
| Can it be a registered office? | As a rule, no | Yes, with the provider’s authorisation |
| Type of address | A box number at a postal point | Street, door number and postcode on Rua Castilho |
| Services | Mailbox | Company address, mail handling and, from Premium, mail digitalization |
| Meeting rooms | No | Yes: €8/hour + VAT on Premium; 2 hours a month included on Premium Plus |
| How it looks on invoices | “Apartado no. …” | An address next to Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon |
How to get a virtual address for your company
- Choose a virtual office plan (see prices below).
- Send the ID of the company representative or the applicant. That is the only document we ask for.
- Use the address to register a new company or to move the registered office of an existing one. See our guide how to move your company’s registered office to Lisbon and our article on a registered business address in Lisbon.
| Plan | Annual plan (paid upfront) | Monthly plan |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | €20/month | €25/month |
| Premium | €30/month | €35/month |
| Premium Plus | €70/month | €85/month |
VAT is added at the applicable legal rate. The annual plan has a 12-month minimum term.
On Premium, our meeting rooms in Lisbon cost €8/hour + VAT, a price that already includes a 50% discount.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a CTT PO box as my company's registered office?
As a rule, no. Article 12 of the Commercial Companies Code requires the registered office to be in a specifically defined location, and justica.gov.pt says the address must state the district, municipality, parish and postcode. A PO box is a mailbox at a postal point, not the place where the company is located.
What is the CTT virtual address?
At CTT, “virtual address” is the name of a service for individuals to receive online purchases at a locker. It is not an address for registering a company’s office.
How can I get a virtual address for my company?
Sign up for a virtual office that authorises its address as a registered office. At Giraldo Works you choose a plan, send the ID of the company representative or the applicant, and use the Rua Castilho address to register the company or move its registered office.
Can my company's registered office be my home?
According to justica.gov.pt, the registered office can be the family home of one or more partners. Even so, many founders prefer not to show their home address on invoices and in public records, and use a virtual office address instead.
Can a virtual office be my company's registered office?
Yes, as long as the provider authorises it. According to justica.gov.pt, the registered office doesn’t have to be where the company operates. At Giraldo Works you can use the Rua Castilho address as your registered office, from €20/month + VAT.
How much does a registered office address in Lisbon cost?
At Giraldo Works, the annual plan costs €20, €30 or €70/month, paid upfront with a 12-month minimum term. The monthly plan costs €25, €35 or €85/month. VAT is added at the applicable legal rate.
A specific registered office address in central Lisbon
An address on Rua Castilho, next to Avenida da Liberdade, from €20/month + VAT. More than 250 companies already trust Giraldo Works.
