Do EEA Residents Need a Fiscal Representative to Get a NIF?

The NIF or Número de Identificação Fiscal can be a confusing topic, especially when it comes to how to get one. There are different rules, which vary depending on where you’re resident. Some non-residents applying for a NIF need a fiscal representative, or someone to act as an intermediary between them and Finanças. This is usually the case with people resident in the US, for example. Others, those resident in Portugal or the European Union for example, don’t need a fiscal representative.

But what about people who are resident in countries that are part of the EEA (European Economic Area) but not part of the EU (European Union). This small group of countries includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

According to Kathleen Lo from Bordr, a country that helps people obtain a Portuguese NIF number, ‘if you are an EU/EEA resident applying for a NIF directly with the Finanças, you do not need a fiscal representative.’

That means if you’re resident in Iceland, Norway, or Lichtenstein, you don’t need fiscal representation, which is good news as that normally means paying a lawyer and costs average around €200 per year that you require it. However, Switzerland isn’t in the EU/EEA, so they do need a fiscal rep.

Note the word resident rather than citizen. According to Kathleen, ‘if you hold a Japanese passport and are a permanent resident of Spain, you can get a NIF without a fiscal rep. But if you hold a Spanish passport and are a permanent resident of Japan, you will need a fiscal representative to get your NIF.’