NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal), also known as Número de Contribuinte, is the individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) in Portugal.

• Format: This is a unique 9-digit code assigned to individuals and legal entities.
• Format: It is initially issued as an A4 document containing your name, the number itself, and your tax address. Subsequently (upon receiving a residence permit), this number is printed on your plastic resident card.
• Eligibility: Anyone can apply for it, regardless of citizenship or whether they hold a visa or residence permit

In Portugal, a tax identification number is a key component of the economic and legal system. Without it, you cannot carry out any legally or financially significant actions.
You will need it for:

• Finance: Opening an account at any Portuguese bank.
• Housing: Signing a long-term lease or purchasing real estate.
• Utilities: Registering water, electricity, gas, and home internet service in your name.
• Work and business: Signing an employment contract, registering as a self-employed individual (Recibos Verdes), or starting a company.
• Major purchases: Buying a car and getting insurance.
• Tax deductions: Linking everyday purchases (supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants) to your profile to get a tax refund at the end of the year

There are two main ways to obtain a tax ID number, depending on where you are.

Method 1: In person in Portugal (complicated, but free) If you are already in the country, you can obtain a tax ID number without going through intermediaries or tax representatives.

1. Where: At any tax office (Serviço de Finanças) or at a Citizen Service Center (Loja do Cidadão).
2. Documents: International passport and proof of address in your home country (e.g., a bank statement in English).
3. Requirement: Non-EU citizens must agree to receive electronic notifications (notificações eletrónicas) through the tax portal to legally avoid the requirement for a local tax representative.

Method 2: Remotely (through a representative, for a fee) If you are outside Portugal, you cannot apply for an NIF online yourself—the system will not allow registration without an existing number.

1. How: Through specialized online services or lawyers
2. Process: You grant them a power of attorney; they act as your temporary tax representative (representante fiscal), obtain a NIF for you, and provide you with the password for your tax account.
3. Cost: On average, these services cost between 75 and 200 euros for expedited options

A NIF is assigned once and is valid for life. It has no expiration date

No. Since we link your NIF to your home address (outside Portugal) during the remote registration process, you are granted non-resident status. You are not required to pay taxes in Portugal on your income earned in other countries. You will only become a tax resident if you change your address in your personal account to a Portuguese address or reside in the country for more than 183 days a year

If you are not an EU citizen, a representative (Representante Fiscal) is required when applying for a NIF remotely. With us, the first year of their services is already included in the price. However, you won’t have to pay for them forever. As soon as you obtain a Portuguese residence permit or rent a home for a long term, we will provide free instructions on how to change your address with the tax authorities to a Portuguese one (Morada) and legally terminate the representative’s services

A bank statement in English issued within the last 3 months is ideal. It must clearly show your name (as it appears on your passport) and your residential address. If you do not have a bank statement, a utility bill (with a translation) or an official lease agreement from your country will suffice

Yes, if you plan to bring your family to Portugal on a D7 or D8 (Digital Nomad) visa or apply for family reunification, every family member, including newborns, will need a NIF. Without a tax ID number, your child cannot be enrolled in a public school or daycare, nor can they be registered with a health center (Centro de Saúde). To apply for a NIF for a child, you will need scans of both parents’ passports, the child’s birth certificate, and the child’s passport