Portugal NIF number: how to get yours, here or from abroad
The first step for almost everything in Portugal: getting your NIF, the Portuguese tax identification number. We apply for you, with a power of attorney, and explain what comes next.
Without a NIF, nothing moves. With it, everything else can start.
You're still abroad
You want to arrive with your NIF ready to rent a home, open a bank account or study. You can apply from a distance, with a power of attorney for whoever handles it for you.
You've just arrived
You need the number to sign a contract, get paid or apply for residence. We book the appointment, organise the documents and sort it out with you.
You have a non-resident NIF
You got your NIF from abroad and now you live in Portugal. Your address needs updating and, if relevant, your fiscal representative too. We take care of it.
You're investing or buying
A property, a car or a stake in a company all require a NIF. And if you live outside the European Union, they often require a fiscal representative as well.
The NIF is yours. Leave the way there to us.
NIF application, in person or from abroad
We apply for your NIF at Finanças, in person or through the e-balcão, with a power of attorney. You don't need to be in Portugal to get started.
The right power of attorney and documents
We tell you exactly what to send: passport, proof of your address abroad and a power of attorney with the certification Finanças asks for.
Fiscal representative, when needed
We check whether your case requires a fiscal representative and take care of appointing or changing them in the Finanças records.
Finanças Portal password
We request your Portal password, which arrives by post at your registered address. Without it, almost nothing can be done online.
Address updated when you move
When you start living in Portugal, we update your address at Finanças so your NIF is no longer a non-resident one.
Proof of NIF and certificates
We issue proof of your NIF and the certificates banks, landlords and other bodies usually ask for.
From application to number in hand
- 01
First conversation
You tell us where you are and what you plan to do in Portugal. We tell you whether you need just the NIF or a fiscal representative too.
- 02
Documents and power of attorney
We send you the list and a power of attorney template. You have your signature certified and send the documents, all remotely if you prefer.
- 03
Application at Finanças
We submit the application, in person or through the e-balcão. Now we wait for the answer, and we follow it up for you.
- 04
NIF and password delivered
You receive proof of your NIF and guidance on your Portal password. And you already know the next step of your move.
Fiscal representative: when it's mandatory
For people living outside the European Union, Finanças does not require a fiscal representative just to issue a NIF. It becomes mandatory once you have a relationship with the Portuguese tax system, such as buying a property or a car, signing an employment contract or registering as self-employed. We confirm what applies to your case.
What people ask before they start.
What is a NIF and what is it for?
The NIF is the Número de Identificação Fiscal, your Portuguese tax identification number. You use it to rent a home, open a bank account, sign an employment contract, pay taxes and apply for residence. It's the first number every newcomer needs in Portugal.
Can I get a NIF while I'm still abroad?
Yes. Since July 2025, people without a Portuguese Citizen Card can apply for a NIF through the e-balcão on the Finanças Portal, but the application is made by a representative with a power of attorney. You can also apply in person at a tax office, with an appointment.
Do I need a fiscal representative to get a NIF?
Not just to get the number. A fiscal representative becomes mandatory for people living outside the European Union once they have a relationship with the tax system, such as owning property or a car, or having an employment contract or self-employed activity in Portugal. If that's your case, we handle the appointment.
What documents do I need to get a NIF?
As a rule, a valid passport and proof of your address abroad, if it isn't on the document. If someone else applies for you, you also need a power of attorney with a certified signature. We check everything before submitting, so the application doesn't come back.
How long does it take to get a NIF?
In person, the number is usually issued on the same day. Through the e-balcão, it depends on Finanças' review, and there's no fixed published timeframe. We follow the application and let you know as soon as it's issued.
How do I get my Finanças Portal password?
The password is requested on the Portal and sent by post to the address registered on your NIF. If you live abroad, the letter can take longer. If it doesn't arrive or gets lost, we request a new one for you.
I've moved to Portugal. How do I change my NIF from non-resident to resident?
The NIF doesn't change on its own. When you start living in Portugal, you need to change your address at Finanças to your Portuguese address. We make that change and check whether you still need a fiscal representative.
Does having a NIF give me the right to live in Portugal?
No. The NIF is only your tax number. To live here legally, you need a visa or a residence permit, the document that lets you live in the country, and we take care of that too. Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland don't need a visa, but they do have their own registration to complete.
I lost my NIF document. How do I get a copy?
The number itself can't be lost: what you need is proof of NIF or a NIF certificate. With your Portal password, you can get it online. Without a password, we issue it for you.
We're with you the whole way.
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Learn moreThere's always a way.
There's always a way. Yours starts with the NIF.
Tell us where you are and what you plan to do in Portugal. We'll show you the right way, within the law, and stay with you for the next steps: NISS, residence and whatever comes next.