Someone I do not know is registered at my address — how do I remove them?
It happens more than you would think: a previous tenant who never deregistered, or a fraudster using your address. It can affect your benefits, taxes and mail, so act. Ask Junta de Freguesia / IRN — Registo Civil / Loja do Cidadão (justica.gov.pt) — the population registry — to start an address investigation: you declare that the person does not live there, they check, and the entry is corrected or moved to "unknown". Câmara Municipal / Junta de Freguesia (anmp.pt) is the desk for it in many municipalities. If mail arrives suggesting fraud (loans, orders, court letters in their name), Queixa Eletrónica — PSP / GNR (queixaselectronicas.mai.gov.pt) takes the report.
🗣️ What to say
"[Name], unknown to me, appears to be registered at my address [address]. I am the [tenant/owner] and live here [alone / with …]. This person does not live here and never has / left on [date]. I ask you to investigate and correct the register, and to confirm when it is done."
🪜 Step by step
- Check your registrationOnline with your digital ID: who is registered at the address. Screenshot it.
- Request the investigation: Junta de Freguesia / IRN — Registo Civil / Loja do CidadãoWritten declaration; some municipalities have a form. Mention benefits or tax effects for priority.
- Return their mail"Not at this address" on the envelope, back in the box. Do not open it.
- Fraud signs: Queixa Eletrónica — PSP / GNRDebt letters, parcels, court notices in their name — report, and keep copies.
- ConfirmationAsk for written confirmation of the correction; benefit and tax agencies use the register date.
📇 All contacts
❓ Frequently asked
Does it affect my benefits?
It can — a "household" of two changes calculations. Tell the benefit agency in writing that the person does not live there and that an investigation is running.
A former flatmate will not deregister
The same investigation route. Their new address is their problem; the register can set them to "departed, unknown".
Someone used my address for a company
Report to the company register as well; a registered office at your home without consent can be removed.
📎 Sources
- Junta de Freguesia / IRN — Registo Civil / Loja do Cidadão →
- Câmara Municipal / Junta de Freguesia →
- Queixa Eletrónica — PSP / GNR →
- Provedor de Justiça →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “unknown person registered at my address Portugal”
- “remove someone from my address registry”
- “address investigation municipality”
- “former tenant still registered”
- “address fraud report”
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