Changing NIF Address Portugal: How to Update Address on Your NIF

Where to submit NIF address change request?

You can submit your NIF address change request either online through Portal das Finanças, using e-balcão, or in person at a tax office. If you prefer the in-person route, visit the local tax office, meaning your local Finanças office, and head to your nearest Portuguese Tax Authority office to submit the request directly with your documents.

Do I need a fiscal representative for NIF change?

Not always. Whether you need a fiscal representative to change your NIF address depends on your current tax status and where your NIF address is registered.

If you’re a non-citizen who still has a foreign address on your NIF, Finanças may keep (or require) a tax representative until they accept your proof of address in Portugal and update your record. Once your Portuguese address is confirmed, many people request the cancellation of fiscal representation at the same time as the address change, so the fiscal representative can be removed.

How long does NIF address change take?

It depends on which “lane” you’re in (self-service vs. e-balcão/manual review), so turnaround times vary.

• If you can change your NIF address online via the “confirm address” flow (typically when your NIF is already in Portugal and you don’t have complications like an active representative), Finanças usually mails a confirmation letter to the new address in about 5 business days, and the change becomes effective after you confirm the code on the portal.
• If you need to go through e-balcão (manual review), for example, you must attach documents and ask Finanças to review your situation, your processing time is less predictable. In many cases, you may see a first response within 24 hours to 48 hours, but the full process to change your NIF address can still take longer depending on workload and complexity.
• In “normal” periods, many people experience total turnaround times in the range of 2 to 7 business days for straightforward cases, but spikes and backlogs can extend that significantly.

What if I move abroad with my NIF?

If you move abroad with your NIF, you should update your NIF address so your Portugal NIF address matches your new reality, especially because Finanças uses that address for official notices and your tax record.

Here’s what that typically means in practice:

• Your Portugal NIF address may need to become a foreign address if you’re no longer living in Portugal.
• If you have a NIF from outside Portugal (or you’re returning to being non-resident), Finanças may require additional steps—sometimes including a fiscal representative depending on your situation and where you live.
• You can usually request the change through Portal das Finanças (often via e-balcão when documentation is needed), attaching proof of the new address and clearly stating you want to update your NIF address to your foreign address.

If you’re moving to Portugal later again, you’ll repeat the same logic in reverse: update the address back to a Portuguese one and adjust any representation requirements accordingly.