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As you begin to plan your life in Portugal, you may notice an acronym that shows pretty often: NIF.
NIF, the 'Número de Identificação Fiscal', is the primary document you'll need to start your life in Portugal or manage your assets.
In this article, we will discuss what you need to know about a NIF number in Portugal and how to have it ready for your new life here, and by the end of this guide you'll know everything you need to apply and obtain a NIF in Portugal as a foreigner.
Apply for your Portuguese NIF online in just 5 minutes
An easy, secure way to get your Portuguese NIF, officially processed with the tax office and includes your Finanças password.
Get your Portuguese NIF now
Apply from abroad; no need to be in Portugal
Password for your Finanças account
Delivery via email from 24 hours
NIF, 'Número de Identificação Fiscal', 'Número de Contribuinte', or just 'Contribuinte', is the main ID for any resident in Portugal or those seeking to manage assets in the country. It consists of a 9-digit number.
Obtaining a NIF must be the first thing you do when planing to move to Portugal.
It's a tax identification number granted by Portuguese tax authorities (aka 'Finanças'), that allows anyone to domicile and pay their taxes in Portugal, and you don't need to be a resident to request one. The NIF is by far the most requested ID for any service in Portugal.
Each person and each company are assigned a Portuguese NIF number, which will last indefinitely.
Anyone can request a NIF number in Portugal, regardless of citizenship or residency in Portugal.
If you want to live in Portugal or plan to have financial assets here, the NIF will be your main need. ✅
The Portuguese NIF is essential to hire services, rent or purchase properties, and do financial transactions, among many other needs.
Everyone residing in Portugal, or even non-residents, who engages in any of the activities mentioned will need a NIF. They can be:
What's your Passport Issuing Country
Not necessarily!
Your NIF is your first step to becoming a tax resident in Portugal. It is essential to it. However, to become a tax resident, you'll need to register with a Portuguese address, and for that, you'll need a proof of address in Portugal.
The NIF number in Portugal is mainly for tax purposes, and it can be available as a NIF for non-residents.
Besides being a governmental ID, the following circumstances will call for the use of the Portuguese NIF:
As a resident, having a NIF and providing it in many purchasing situations can be extremely helpful. Though not mandatory, providing a NIF when making a purchase allows you to easily retrieve an invoice if needed, like when changing an item or using a warranty. It may also decrease or assure a tax return at the end of the fiscal year.
Apply for your Portuguese NIF online in just 5 minutes
An easy, secure way to get your Portuguese NIF, officially processed with the tax office and includes your Finanças password.
Get your Portuguese NIF now
Apply from abroad; no need to be in Portugal
Password for your Finanças account
Delivery via email from 24 hours
And those are the main reasons why you'll see some Portuguese citizens handing clerks this card.
By providing your NIF in Portugal, you may also qualify for tax credits or discounts on the total annual taxes you may pay to the Portuguese Tax Office.
For instance, if you go out to eat, use public transport, or purchase a prescription item and request the receipt to be issued with your NIF, you are immediately eligible for tax benefits in the various IRS tiers that are offered for these sorts of expenditures.
To apply for a Portuguese NIF, you have two options:
We recommend you evaluate each option and choose wisely according to your priorities (faster or cheaper; it's your choice). 😊
When you are not a legal resident in Portugal, the country needs a point of contact with you in the country to manage your tax responsibilities.
A tax representative is your point of contact with Portugal's fiscal authorities. It's through his contact information, mainly his address, that authorities will be in touch with you. 🫡
If you’re a non-resident in Portugal with a NIF number, appointing a fiscal representative is legally mandatory to obtain a NIF (tax identification number).
For EU citizens, while it’s not legally required, the current system only allows remote NIF requests to be submitted by a fiscal representative. This means that even as an EU citizen, using a fiscal representative is the way to secure your NIF from abroad.
Your fiscal representative plays a crucial role in ensuring you stay compliant with Portuguese tax laws. Their responsibilities include:
When you legally move to Portugal, you must establish a Portuguese address and, in the case of a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, apply for a residence permit, after arriving with a visa.
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen you can do it at any given time. 😎
When you request the change of address for a Portuguese one (EU one, if you are an EU national) at e-balcão, on the 'Finanças' portal, or at your local 'Finanças' office, you can also request the removal of your tax representative in the same requisition.
At the tax office in Portugal, you can obtain your NIF Portugal for free 😊.
Your citizenship will determine the process.
Portugal refers to its tax offices as 'Finanças' and offers both in-person and online services.
Find your nearest tax office 'Finanças' office here!
However, please be aware that, as with any other government office, there can be very long lines, and some areas request that you make an appointment before heading there.
Apply for your Portuguese NIF online in just 5 minutes
An easy, secure way to get your Portuguese NIF, officially processed with the tax office and includes your Finanças password.
Get your Portuguese NIF now
Apply from abroad; no need to be in Portugal
Password for your Finanças account
Delivery via email from 24 hours
You definitely don't want to be here; trust me, I know.
For the past few months several 'Finanças' offices are not accepting walk-in visits for a NIF number for foreigners. You would need to schedule a time through the SIGA platform.
I've been in your shoes trying to get a Portuguese NIF directly from a 'Finanças' office! When I arrived in Lisbon, a hired lawyer was taking too long to return a NIF number. As a French national, I decided to head straight to my local "Finanças." After waiting a couple of hours, the clerk informed me that I couldn't complete my NIF at that moment. This was not the ideal start for my life here! That's why we created AnchorLess.
If you are outside Portugal and wish to request your NIF, you can do it online, but you'll need a tax representative, who must be a trusted Portuguese legal tax resident, with credentials to access 'Finanças' Portal. His credentials should be a 'Finanças' Password.
☝️ If you choose this option, you must sign a Power of Attorney authorising your trusted Portuguese legal tax resident to request the NIF on your behalf. This document must be notarized. So, before proceeding, you must consider this fee in your home country. 💸
-> See the instructions
AnchorLess offers a simple, fast, reliable, and safe way to request your NIF in Portugal. 👋
Our automated method simplifies your application into 3 simple steps, while also protecting your data.
Starting at 99€, you only need to provide an ID, proof of address, and sign a 'Power of Attorney' specifically for your NIF issuance.
You can do it from anywhere, with any device, and in less than 24 hours, you'll receive your NIF in your email automatically.
Simple, fast, and completely stress-free. AnchorLess also provides a tax representative that will serve as your fiscal point of contact in Portugal while you don't make your move.
Officially, you don't need a lawyer 🎉.
However, as requesting a Portuguese NIF remotely may look a bit challenging for some, several practices are offering this service at a high price 🥵 (you can find it for 200 to 300 euros). Usually, there are hidden fees attached (if you need any other requests or additional information).
Be vigilant when looking for a NIF provider online. There are several scams available that will sell fake NIFs for a lower price or request higher amounts to finish the transaction. Make sure your choice is reliable and approved by other users.
Believe it or not, your NIF will be a simple, plain, white piece of paper 📃. No matter how you decide to request your NIF, it will always be the same. There is no official seal, stamp or print.
Usually, you won't need this paper document, except when opening a bank account. Everywhere else, you'll just need to dictate or type your NIF.
You'll find it at the top left of your NIF document. 🧐
It will be in the first "box," right before your name. In the image below, you can see everything:
It is also a plain white piece of paper with the image of a card 💳. You would need to cut it and improvise a protection for it to use on a day-to-day basis.
It's not mandatory, and it's a tool for those who don't easily remember their NIF.
Unfortunately, it is not available anymore. 😔
Years ago, this option was available, but it is no longer valid.
Yes, there is! 😊
After you receive your NIF and password, you can download the app 'E-Fatura'. On the home page, you'll see a QR code with your NIF. And you can easily use it at any shopping counter.
The 'Finanças' password is, as the name suggests, a password that allows you to log in to the government tax office portal to manage your tax obligations.
You will make a request to become a tax resident in Portugal and submit your IRS information there.
Access to your 'Finanças' password is one of the primary reasons why you either need a trusted fiscal representative or a company handling your NIF.
When you first attempt to log into the 'Finanças' portal using your NIF, you must request the password and input the address of your fiscal representative (if you have one).
Your fiscal representative will receive an official government letter containing your password.
☝️ That's why it needs to be a trusted person! Access to this mail order is essential to ensuring the safe management of your NIF.
When you request your NIF online here at AnchorLess, we automatically ask for your password, without extra fees.
We'll send it to you automatically, once again protecting your data.
For this reason, we advise EU nationals to opt for a fiscal representative when purchasing their NIF from us, even though it's not technically required. This way, your password will arrive safely in your inbox instead of being at risk of loss in the mail system.
The NIF application process is simple with a short duration and your Portuguese NIF number will be issued in just a few days.
Due to delays in the mail network, it may take 2 (or a bit more) weeks for your password letter to arrive.
If you are an EU citizen and your NIF address is outside Portugal, it will take longer.
You can manage your personal details, your income and invoices to ensure that you'll have a larger tax deduction or return. 💰
The Portuguese tax system offers a category-based invoice classification, where you can separate receipts according to their service and increase your final deduction or return.
You can use the 'Finanças' portal or the 'E-fatura' app to do it.
Basically become a Portuguese tax resident: change your NIF password and fiscal address.
However, be aware that switching your NIF address to a Portuguese address will inform authorities that you are a tax resident in Portugal, thereby requiring you to pay taxes there as well.
To do the first is simple, but for the latter, you must be living in Portugal with a lease, a residence permit, or 'Manifestação de Interesse' in place.
The Portuguese Tax Authority uses the NIF (Tax Identification Number) as an essential tool to calculate and manage your fiscal obligations and economic activities in Portugal. Numerous activities necessitate it, especially those related to income receipt, tax payment, and even daily purchases.
Those are the data that the Portuguese government will keep: any financial activity, purchase, or contract you may include or register your NIF—all the economic activities.
For instance, if you request your supermarket invoice along with your NIF, they will have this information available.
You’ll need a NIF (Tax Identification Number) for a wide range of essential and non-essential transactions and activities in Portugal, including:
Each one has a different bracket that could result in discounts and benefits when filling out your IRS in Portugal.
Living in Portugal without a NIF doesn't incur criminal penalties. Without a NIF, you won't be able to accomplish any of the aforementioned tasks, which will significantly hinder your daily business operations.
While nif.pt is not an official governmental tool, you can try to use it to verify the validity of a NIF.
The only way to use an official government tool is to log into Portal das Finanças and insert your NIF with its password. If you successfully log in, it indicates that your NIF is valid.
Unfortunately, no!
The NIF is irrevocable once issued. However, if you stop declaring your income through the Portuguese tax system, have no properties or financial obligations (such as a phone bill), and do not acquire (or fully pay) any tax debt, as per AT's current status, you won't have any financial obligations to declare or pay with the tax authority.
This can be a bit more complicated.
As of now, the only solution we can offer is to direct your situation to one of our lawyers with the original document you used to request your lost NIF Portugal.
They will work directly with Finanças to retrieve your lost Portuguese NIF number.
There were none!
Though Portugal implemented several new immigration and nationality rules, the NIF remained pretty much unaffected.
Final thoughts
We hope this short guide will help you to have your Portuguese NIF quicker and without any complication. AnchorLess is here to assist you at every step of your move to Portugal 👋!
Still have questions?
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team of experts!
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