Goa was under Portuguese rule for over 450 years — far longer than any other European colony in India. When Goa was liberated in 1961, Portugal's civil and property registration systems didn't simply disappear. Many of these Portuguese-era records remain legally relevant today and are routinely required in Goan property transactions. This guide explains each one.
Why Portuguese Documents Still Matter in Goa
After liberation, the Indian government introduced its own land record and registration systems in Goa. However, it chose to keep the Portuguese system running in parallel rather than replacing it entirely. This means Goa today has a dual documentation system:
- Portuguese system — Managed through the Sub-Registrar's offices (formerly Conservatória), rooted in Portuguese property registration law
- Indian system — Managed through the Directorate of Settlement & Land Records, using Form I, Form XIV, and mutation entries
For any property that existed before 1961 — and many that were transacted after — Portuguese-era documents form the foundation of the title chain. Even newer properties often reference Portuguese survey numbers and historical inscriptions. Any thorough due diligence in Goa requires examining both sets of records.
The Matriz Certificate
The Matriz (sometimes written as "Matris" or referred to as the Matriz Certificate) was the Portuguese-era property tax register. It served a similar purpose to what Form 9 does today under the Indian municipal system.
The Matriz record contains:
- Matriz number — A unique identification number assigned to the property under the Portuguese tax system
- Property description — Area, location, boundaries, and type of property
- Owner details — Name of the assessed owner and how they acquired the property
- Tax assessment — The assessed value and tax amount under the Portuguese system
While the Matriz is no longer used for active tax assessment (that role is now handled by Indian municipalities and panchayats), the Matriz number remains important. Many older property documents and Sub-Registrar records reference properties by their Matriz number, so you may need it to locate other Portuguese-era documents. Note: the Matriz Certificate is obtained from the Mamlatdar (Taluka Revenue Office), not from the Sub-Registrar's office.
Inscription and Description (Inscrição e Descrição)
The Inscription and Description is arguably the most important Portuguese-era document in Goan property transactions today. It is the official property registration record maintained at the Sub-Registrar's office.
- The Inscrição (Inscription) records ownership — who owns the property and how they acquired it
- The Descrição (Description) records the property itself — its survey number, area, boundaries, and physical characteristics
We've written a comprehensive standalone guide on this topic: Inscription and Description in Goa: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How to Get It.
Registo de Agrimensor (Surveyor's Register)
The Registo de Agrimensor is the Portuguese-era surveyor's register. It contains detailed survey records of properties as measured and mapped by licensed surveyors (agrimensores) during Portuguese times.
This register is important because:
- Boundary verification — It provides the original survey measurements and boundary descriptions, which can be critical when there are boundary disputes or when modern survey plans need to be cross-referenced against historical records.
- Area confirmation — The surveyed area in the Registo often forms the basis for the property's official area in other documents.
- Historical reference — When the Inscription and Description references a specific survey, the details can be found in the Registo de Agrimensor.
The Registo de Agrimensor is maintained at the Sub-Registrar's office. It is less commonly requested than the Inscription and Description, but it becomes important in cases involving boundary disputes, subdivision of properties, or when the area mentioned in different documents doesn't match.
Accessing Digitized Portuguese-Era Property Records
Historically, Portuguese-era property records were maintained in large, handwritten ledgers at the Sub-Registrar's offices. Over the years, the Goa government and various archival projects have worked to digitize these records to improve access and prevent further deterioration.
Key points about accessing these records:
- Goa State Archives — The Historical Archives of Goa (also known as the Department of Goa Archives, established in 1595) in Panaji holds a vast collection of Portuguese-era property records, maps, and administrative documents. Researchers and property owners can request access to these records.
- Government digitization efforts — The Goa government has begun digitizing some Portuguese-era records. For example, Matriz records for South Goa are now searchable online through a government portal. However, digitization is still ongoing, and not all records are available digitally.
- Online access — As of now, most Portuguese-era property records are not available online. You still need to visit the relevant office in person or through an authorized representative. The Goa government has discussed plans to make more records accessible online, but progress has been slow.
To locate Portuguese-era records for your property, visit the Sub-Registrar's office with your property's survey number and Matriz number. The staff can help locate the relevant entries in the Portuguese registers.
How Portuguese Documents Interact with Modern Indian Records
Understanding the relationship between the two systems is crucial for anyone buying or selling property in Goa:
- Matriz number → Form I survey number — Properties that had a Matriz number under the Portuguese system were resurveyed and assigned new survey numbers under the Indian system. The mapping between the two is maintained at the Settlement office, but errors and omissions are common.
- Inscription → Mutation entry — Ownership changes recorded in the Portuguese Inscription system should ideally also be reflected in the Indian mutation records (Form XIV). In practice, many historical ownership changes were not properly carried over, creating gaps that need to be bridged during due diligence.
- Registo de Agrimensor → Modern survey plan — Portuguese survey measurements should broadly align with modern survey plans, but differences in measurement techniques and boundary markers can create discrepancies.
When discrepancies exist between Portuguese and Indian records (which is quite common), resolving them typically requires legal assistance, supporting documentation, and sometimes court intervention for older or more complex cases.
Which Portuguese Documents Do You Need to Sell?
Not every sale requires all Portuguese-era documents. Here's a practical guide:
- Always needed: Inscription and Description — this is requested in virtually every transaction by buyers' lawyers and banks.
- Usually needed: Matriz Certificate — especially for properties with pre-1961 origins, or when the Inscription references a Matriz number.
- Sometimes needed: Registo de Agrimensor — mainly when there are boundary disputes, area discrepancies, or when the property has been subdivided.
- Rarely needed: Other archival records — typically only required for properties with complex ownership histories or legal disputes.
For the full list of all documents you may need, see: 23 Essential Documents Needed to Sell Real Estate in Goa.
Getting Help with Portuguese-Era Documentation
Dealing with Portuguese-era records can be particularly challenging because the documents are often in Portuguese, handwritten, and stored in archives that require in-person visits. If you're an NRI or OCI holder, the logistics become even more difficult.
At Sell Goa Property, our team has extensive experience navigating Goa's dual documentation system. We handle the entire process of obtaining, verifying, and reconciling Portuguese-era records with modern documents on behalf of our clients. Get in touch for a free consultation.