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CONSTITUTIONAL COURTREPUBLIC OF ANGOLA

GUIDE

Appeal a decision to the Constitutional Court

If a judgment of another court, or a final and enforceable administrative act, breaches principles, rights, freedoms or guarantees enshrined in the Constitution, you may ask the Constitutional Court to review it through an extraordinary appeal on grounds of unconstitutionality.

8 daysTime limit to appeal a judgment, from notification. For administrative acts, 60 days.
Court of originThe application is filed with the court that gave the decision.
PlenaryWho decides: the full bench of the Constitutional Court.
LawyerIn an appeal against a judgment, you must be represented by a lawyer registered with the Angolan Bar Association.

Before you appeal, check

Tick the points that apply to your case.

0 of 5 confirmed. If any point does not apply, the appeal may be declared inadmissible. The steps below describe an appeal against a judgment; an appeal against an administrative act follows Decree-Law No. 4-A/96 (Law No. 3/08, Art. 52(2)).

What the Court does not do

The Constitutional Court does not retry the case. It does not reassess the facts or the evidence: it only checks whether the decision breached principles, rights, freedoms or guarantees in the Constitution.

See an example: Judgment No. 1145/2026

Step by step

  1. Prepare the application

    State the specific decision you are appealing and the constitutional principles, rights, freedoms or guarantees you consider breached.

    Law No. 3/08, Art. 41, applicable by virtue of Art. 52

  2. File it with the court of origin

    The application is filed with the court that gave the decision, within the time limit.

    Law No. 3/08, Arts. 41, 51 and 52

  3. Wait for the admissibility decision

    The judge of the court of origin decides on admission within five days. If it is refused, you may complain to the President of the Constitutional Court.

    Law No. 3/08, Arts. 42 and 43

  4. Submit your arguments

    Once the appeal is admitted, the case goes up to the Constitutional Court, where the written arguments are filed.

    Law No. 3/08, Arts. 44 and 45

  5. Receive the decision

    The appeal is decided by the Plenary. The judgment is notified to the parties and published on the portal.

    Law No. 3/08, Arts. 13 and 53

Costs

Costs may apply. In extraordinary appeals, costs are decided in each judgment: in many cases there are none; in others, especially when the appeal fails, they are borne by the appellant (Law No. 3/08, Art. 15). Appeals from habeas corpus decisions have been decided without costs.

Frequently asked questions

What if I am affected by an administrative act?
You may also appeal final and enforceable administrative acts that breach constitutional principles, rights, freedoms and guarantees. The time limit is 60 days from knowledge of the act, and the procedure follows Decree-Law No. 4-A/96 with the necessary adaptations (Law No. 3/08, Arts. 49, 51 and 52).
Do I really need a lawyer?
Yes, when appealing a judgment: representation by a lawyer registered with the Angolan Bar Association is mandatory (Law No. 3/08, Art. 40, applicable by virtue of Art. 52(1)). If you cannot afford one, ask about legal aid: the Constitution guarantees that justice may not be denied for lack of means (Art. 29).
Can I appeal straight after the first judgment?
Only if no ordinary appeal lies against it. The extraordinary appeal may only be lodged after the ordinary appeals provided by law have been exhausted (Law No. 3/08, Art. 49, sole paragraph, added by Law No. 25/10).
Where can I find similar decisions?
In the judgments search, choose the type “Extraordinary appeal on grounds of unconstitutionality”. Each judgment has an English summary and a link to the official PDF.

This guide is for information only and does not replace the law or legal advice. Updated October 2026.