How to Get a Portuguese NIF Number (Online or In-Person)

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Written by: | Last updated on March 21, 2024 | Est. Reading Time: 12 minutes

Portugal’s ‘NIF’ number is a personal, unique nine-digit number that is used in Portugal for everything from buying a house to paying for your groceries. If you’re planning on living in Portugal, it’s a number you’ll use a lot!

If you’re a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you’ll come across firms that’ll try to charge you as much as €1,000 for this service while others take longer than a month to deliver. We’ll show you how to get one for less than €100 and delivery in less than a week.

This is very clear – I wish I had known this when we were first exploring the D7 visa application – we were fleeced by a legal firm for our NIF & introducing us to the bank to open the account…6 months on, we have finally unravelled the mess.

Ingrid

What is a NIF?

Portugal’s NIF is a personal taxpayer identification number. Each number is assigned to a single individual and, once obtained, doesn’t expire.

NIF stands for número de Identificação fiscal, but we’ll just call it a NIF for now (because that’s easier to pronounce).

You need this NIF when:

  • Moving to Portugal as a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and applying for a visa like the D7, D8, or Golden Visa.
  • Opening a Portuguese bank account.
  • Applying for a job in Portugal.
  • Buying a property in Portugal.
  • Renting a property in Portugal.
  • Getting a home internet or phone contract.
  • Receiving inheritance from a Portuguese estate.
  • Applying for other numbers, like the Portuguese healthcare number (número de utente).
  • Shopping at the supermarket or going to the hairdressers (note: you don’t have to give it out in these instances, but by doing so you may reduce your Portuguese tax bill).

How do I get a NIF?

How you get this NIF number depends on where you’re resident (that means where you live). Note the word resident (not citizen).

How to get a NIF as a Non-EU/EEA Resident

If you are resident outside the EU/EEA (e.g. you live in the US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Australia, etc.)

There are several ways you can get a NIF number:

  1. Through an online company or law firm (see comparison table below).
  2. In-person at a Finanças or Loja do Cidadão office in Portugal.

Note: as a non-EU/EEA resident, you will need a fiscal representative, or person who will act as your point of contact between you and Finanças. This can be a friend or family member resident in Portugal but if you don’t know anyone, you will need to use a company or law firm. Because of this, the online route is the easiest option for most people living outside the EU/EEA.

Comparison Of Online Companies

Tip: If you’re applying for a visa like the D7 or D8 or buying a property in Portugal, you should consider companies that offer a NIF & Portuguese bank account bundle as you’ll need both.

CompanyNIF Average DeliveryNIF Cost
Anchorless.io10 Days€74.25 (with code PORTUGALIST25)€389.25 with code PORTUGALIST25 (see here)
Bordr7 Days$140
E-Residence.com10 Days€74 (with code Portugalist)€336 with code PORTUGALIST (see here)
Get Sortd10 Days€68 (with code PORTUGALIST)
Lisbob10 Days€89
NIFPortugal.pt5 Days€79 (with code PORTUGALIST)*
Novomove3 Days€69 (with code PORTUGALIST)€349 with code Portugalist (see here)
Visas.pt2 Days€95€395 (see here)

Required Documents:

  1. Passport (or National ID card if you’re an EU citizen).
  2. Proof of address such as a driver’s licence, bank statement, or utility bill.
  3. If your documents are in a language other than Portuguese or English, you may be asked to provide a certified translation.

Getting a NIF in-Person

As a non-EU/EEA person, it’s also possible to get a NIF in-person at a Finanças (tax office) or Loja do Cidadão (citizen shop). However, note the need for a fiscal representative.

  • The easiest way to find a near Finanças (tax office) or Loja do Cidadão (citizen shop) is on Google Maps.
  • In major cities like Lisbon or Porto, arrive early to avoid the long lines. Many people recommend going to smaller towns to apply where there are less likely to be queues.
  • For non-EU/EEA residents, obtaining a NIF involves a minor fee of €10.20, aside from any charges associated with hiring a fiscal representative, such as a lawyer.
  • Be aware that some Finanças offices may require you to schedule an appointment ahead of time, so it’s wise to verify this requirement beforehand. To book an appointment, call +351 217 206 707.
  • If appointments aren’t necessary, simply go to the office and obtain a ticket at the entrance.
  • Do not assume that the staff at these offices will speak English. It may be necessary to bring along a translator to assist with the process.

FAQs

  • Do I need a Portuguese address? You do not need a Portuguese address to request the NIF, but you will need to change your address to your Portuguese address when you move to Portugal. You make this change via the tax office’s website, Portal das Finanças.
  • Are there tax implications? Not for obtaining a NIF. However, if you use a Portuguese address the Portuguese tax authorities will assume you’re now a Portuguese tax resident.
  • How will I get my NIF? If you use an online company, your NIF number will be delivered by email.

How to get a NIF as an EU/EEA Resident

(E.g. you live in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, or Sweden.)

If you are an EU/EEA resident, there are two ways you can request a NIF:

  1. In-person at a Finanças or Loja do Cidadão office in Portugal. As you don’t need a fiscal representative, you can easily walk in and get one for free.
  2. Through an online company or law firm (see comparison table above).

For EU/EEA residents, the easiest and most affordable option is to request a NIF in-person at a Finanças or Loja do Cidadão office in Portugal.

Getting a NIF in-Person

The outside of a Finanças office in Lagoa in the Algarve.
A Finanças office in the Algarve © Portugalist
  • Find a Finanças or Loja do Cidadão office near you. You can find your nearest Loja do Cidadão offices here, but Google Maps is often easier for finding Finanças or Loja do Cidadão offices.
  • If you are in a large city such as Lisbon or Porto, you should pick a day when you are able to get there early due to the long queues. If you can do this in a smaller town, it’s highly recommended as the lines can be very long.
  • Some Finanças offices (tax office) require you to make an appointment. Be sure to check this in advance.
  • Otherwise, turn up and take a ticket at the door. The button you need to press will probably say NIF, número de contribuinte, or número de identificação fiscal. Sometimes, there’s a person on the door handing out tickets. Explain that you need a NIF or número de identificação fiscal.
  • If you’re an EU/EEA resident, there is no charge for getting a NIF number.
  • It varies from location to location, but don’t assume the people working there will speak English. You may need to bring someone to translate for you.

Required Documents

  • Passport (or National ID card if you’re an EU citizen).
  • Proof of address such as a driver’s licence, bank statement, or utility bill.
  • If your documents are in a language other than Portuguese or English, you may be asked to provide a certified translation.

In theory, it should be as easy as walking into a Finanças or Loja do Cidadão office and requesting one. In practice, it isn’t always and it may take a lot of your time, particularly in large cities, as some Portugalist readers share.

I tried visiting a Finanças office but was told that in order to get a NIF I would need to make an appointment. In order to do that, someone with a NIF would need to make an appointment for me.

Not knowing anyone, I tried another Finanças office (the head office in Porto) and was directed to the Loja de Cidadão. While they were very helpful, they only offer a limited number of tickets per day and even though I waited for hours, I eventually gave up. I came back the next morning at 5:55 AM … and that was just in time to get a prime spot near the door. The queue was about 100m+ at 9:30 when they opened (on a Saturday). From then on it was easy, but I wished I had just ordered one online beforehand.

Roman

As mentioned, the quality of service varies from place to place and some people have a much easier experience.

I walked in, no prior appointment and got the NIF within 5 mins. Although making an appointment is required, but I was lucky that they attended to me. Nonetheless, this is my personal experience.

Prince

FAQs

  • Do I need a Portuguese address? You do not need a Portuguese address to request the NIF, but you will need to change your address to your Portuguese address when you move to Portugal. You make this change via the tax office’s website, Portal das Finanças.
  • Are there tax implications? Not for obtaining a NIF. However, if you use a Portuguese address the Portuguese tax authorities will assume you’re now a Portuguese tax resident.
  • How will I get my NIF? Your number will be printed out for you. The Portuguese Tax Authority no longer issues plastic cards.

What is Fiscal Representation?

If you have fiscal ties to Portugal (e.g. you own a house or car in Portugal) Finanças (the Portuguese tax office) needs a way of contacting you (e.g. to let you know how much tax you owe).

  • Those living in Portugal or the EU/EEA (e.g. Germany, Spain) do not need a fiscal representative: Finanças are happy to send correspondence to any address in Portugal or the EU/EEA.
  • Those living outside the EU/EEA (e.g. the UK, USA, Peru) need a fiscal representative as Finanças won’t send mail outside the EU/EEA. The fiscal representative should receive mail or other communications from Finanças and pass them onto you.

Most companies and lawyers charge an annual fee for fiscal representation with the first year of fiscal representation is usually included. You can cancel this from automatically re-billing you, if you don’t need fiscal representation (see below).

Alternatively, Novomove and Get Sortd connect you with Finanças (Portuguese tax office) directly, so they don’t need to be your fiscal representative.

Do I need a fiscal Representative?

While the rules were different in the past, in many cases, you won’t need to pay for ongoing fiscal representation [source]. You can simply sign up for electronic notifications from Finanças (the tax office).

For example:

  • If you are planning to move to Portugal, you won’t need a fiscal representative once you get to Portugal as Finanças (the tax office) will communicate with you directly.
  • If you don’t move to Portugal, and don’t have financial ties to Portugal such as a house or car, you don’t need a fiscal representative.
  • If you are an EU/EEA resident, you don’t need a fiscal representative as you’re allowed to receive communication from Finanças (the tax office) at your EU/EEA address. Finanças are only willing to send mail to those in Portugal or in the EU/EEA.

All of the companies listed have a way of cancelling fiscal representation if you do not require this. Be sure to do so before the end of the year, otherwise they are likely to automically charge you for a second year.

Note: even though you may not need a fiscal representative, you do need to register for electronic notifications through the Finanças portal.

Tax Implications

  • If you obtain a Portuguese NIF you won’t automatically have tax obligations in Portugal or be required to file a Portuguese tax return.
  • Even if you haven’t made Portugal your country of residence, you may have tax obligations in Portugal if you have purchased a property or car in Portugal, for example [source].
  • It’s important to note that changing the address associated with your tax number from your non-Portuguese (e.g. your address in the US) to a Portuguese address (e.g. your new address in Portugal) can be construed as changing your tax residency to Portugal. For this reason, you should only register a Portuguese address within the Finanças Portugal when you want to be considered a Portuguese tax resident.

Using Your NIF

  • Using your NIF can reduce your tax bill in certain categories (e.g. for groceries, haircuts, buying metro tickets, or and at the mechanic’s) [source]. You will also receive one entry into a weekly draw for every €10 you spend [source]. However, rather than say the word NIF, the person will normally say “contribuinte?” which is short for numero de contribuinte and means the same thing.
  • You can print a copy of your NIF number from Portal das Finanças. This will have a barcode that the cashier can scan.
  • As you’ll use this number a lot, it’s a good idea to memorise it (in Portuguese).

Sources

Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form. This article includes contributions from Kathleen Lo, co-founder of Bordr.io.

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There are 134 comments on this article. Join the conversation and add your own thoughts, reviews, and stories of life in Portugal. However, please remember to be civil.

Comments

  1. Thank you so much for all this information! This is fabulous. Just to be clear, as an American citizen, traveling, and living abroad with no fixed address, I can get a Portuguese bank account even before I start work on getting a visa. This is accurate?

    Reply
    • Hi Meg,

      Many Americans open Portuguese bank accounts before moving to Portugal as it’s a requirement for visas like the D7. Most go with an online service or lawyer as opening an account in-person is more challenging. So, yes, it is possible to get a Portuguese bank account before getting the visa.

      However, a bank will 100% want to see proof of address, such as a utility bill or statement from another bank (see Anchorless for examples). Banks have to do a lot of background checks, so having the correct paperwork is essential.

      Reply
  2. Hi James,
    I have Syrian Nationality married to Portuguese, we both work in Malta.
    As Syrian, can I get NIF or not?
    thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Mona,

      Anyone can get a NIF regardless of nationality. How you get a NIF is based on residency. Assuming you legally reside in Malta (as well as work there), please follow the steps for an EU resident, as Malta in in the EU.

      Reply
  3. I am thinking about moving to Portugal from the USA but I am not sure when as I am also trying to build the financial obligations. I am collecting whatever required documents I can get at this time and I am interested to know how long an NIF is good for once you have one. Say you get one now but find you will not have all your effects in order for a few years. Will the NIF expire or can you use it whenever you are ready to get a bank account and apply for residency? How long can you keep a bank account before you apply for residency and do banks offer interest and charge fees for the account (which I presume would be a savings account)?

    Reply
    • Hi Suzann,

      Good question and one that’s been asked a few times before. The NIF does not expire, so you could get it now.

      As for a bank account, some do offer interest and almost all charge fees (typically less than €10 per month). It’s also possible to get a basic bank account, or conta de serviços mínimos bancários, which has a maximum set price. Currently, that’s less than €5 for the year.

      Reply
  4. Hi James,
    I am contemplating moving to Portugal . I reside in England. I am retired and get a British pension. I have other income in Britain from business and property so I am not sure how future taxation would work if I move to Portugal . If I apply for one of the D visas do I have to be in Portugal while the application is going through? Is there any help for applying for D visa?

    Reply
    • Hi Minesh,

      You do not have to be in Portugal. In fact, you would normally apply for a D-visa from the country where you’re resident (in this case the UK).

      I would take a look at the different residency visas to see which ones you might qualify for. The most popular are the D7, D8, and golden visa. There’s also an article on moving to Portugal from the UK you might find helpful.

      You will normally need to get a NIF number and bank account before applying for one of those visas.

      Reply
  5. If you are in Porto it is faster in Matosinhos or Gaia.
    My experience was good but is not really helpful : it was at the beginning of the pandemic….And rules have changed since. I had a fiscal representative : one employee of my hotel.
    It was very easy to open a bankaccount at Activobank but there is always a long time to wait. You get your Visa card immediately and never have to go back: everything is online. No costs no fees.

    Reply
  6. We are British citizens; however, we have Romanian citizens, as well. For us to start purchasing a property in Portugal under British paperwork, could we also have a fiscal number under Romanian citizenship? Would it make any difference when we are applying for a mortgage?
    I hope it makes sense; thank you.

    Reply
    • Hi Arabela,

      It’s based on residency rather than citizenship. If you fill out the form above, you’ll see the best options based on your residency.

      I’m not a mortgage advisor but I don’t know if there’s a huge advantage in getting the NIF in advance.

      Reply
  7. Hello, Is it possible to get a NIF in person without a fiscal representative if you sign up for electronic notifications at the time your applying. My wife and I will be vacationing in Porto next month and considering retiring in Portugal in 2025.

    Reply
    • Hi Roland,

      Depends on where you’re resident. We had a webinar about this with Bordr and they explained that those from the EU/EEA don’t need a fiscal representative and those from the rest of the world (e.g. US/Canada) do. Also note the comments from people who tried to get their NIFs in Portugal. The Finanças offices there are extremely busy and it’s recommended you use an online company or lawyer.

      Reply
    • Hi Karen,

      You can avoid paying a lawyer/online company by coming to Portugal, going to Finanças with someone who’s willing to act as your fiscal representative, as outlined in the article. However, the cost of coming to Portugal and the challenge of finding a fiscal representative usually outweighs the benefits of saving €80. If you’re already coming to Portugal and you know someone who is willing to act as your fiscal representative, it is worth looking into.

      Reply
    • If you come from the U.S. You must get a fiscal representative. I went to Finanças, Sat 3 hours and they told me I have to get a fiscal representative. Best to pay up for a NIF and bank account or it will be hell. Same with the banks. They all want deferent documents. Each bank has its own standard of what documents they want. They will give you the run around at the banks. Pay to get it done Before you go.

      Reply
  8. We had problems changing our NIF through Portal Das Financas. We followed the steps from Bordr but our change was required. We needed to change the address in order to qualify for NHR before the deadline. We then went into a FINANCAS office and they changed it for us. As usual with Portugal face to face always works over technology.

    Reply
    • Hi Lisa,

      It is different to the US for sure, but it’s the norm in Portugal. Given that you can hear everyone else’s NIF numbers as they give them out at the supermarket I assume there are no identity theft issues.

      Reply
  9. The ease of getting a NIF will greatly depend on which Financas office you go to. If you go to one in Lisbon or Porto, you will need to get there before 8 am and there will be long, long lines. If you can go to a Financas in a small town or use one of the online services. Even if you’re an EU resident, it’s not worth the pain of queuing.

    Reply
  10. Hi James,
    Thanks for thé article, it’s very interesting
    I’m leaving in France and I’m wondering if I can get the NIF Online by my own ? (From what I understood we need to go to Portugal but I just want to make sure the online option is not there)
    Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Hi Nina,

      Yes, come to Portugal or use one of the companies listed in the article. If you come to Portugal, you’ll be able to do it for free as an EU resident. However, it rarely makes sense to come to Portugal just to get a NIF considering companies charge as little as €75.

      Reply
  11. Thank you for all your hard work with this article. It lays all of the options out in a really clear and easy way to understand.

    I’m British but living in Spain, so not sure if Brexit applies. Where should I apply for a NIF?

    Reply
    • Hi Anthony,

      Brexit does apply (non-EU residents need a fiscal rep and those from the EU don’t). However, it’s based on residency rather than citizenship. As you’re resident in Spain, you can apply at a Finanças or Loja de Cidadão office.

      Reply
    • Some Portugalist readers have successfully used them to obtain a NIF number. The main downside is the speed, which is slower than the other companies listed in the article (at least according to what other people have said in the comments). Most of the companies listed in this article will get you the NIF in around a week, even without a rush fee, which is why we tend to highlight those.

      Reply
  12. I think if you’re going to any of the big cities (e.g. Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Faro) you will need to arrive at least 2 hours before. If it opens at 8 am, this means arriving at 6 am.

    Most of these offices have restrictions on the number of NIF appointments they are willing to give out that day. Some are limited to around 20-30.

    You may be able to schedule an appointment with Financas, but good luck getting through. We tried calling several of them but many don’t answer the phone.

    Honestly I would just recommend you take a one or two day trip to another small town and do it there. You’ll get seen faster and people are generally friendlier. Or use one of these online companies.

    Reply
  13. I can confirm that Financas are doing walk ins. You do not need to make an appointment however it is probably better to have one. Good luck geting an answer on the phone though. I couldnt get one for days so I decided to just turn up and hope for the best. I got there just after 8 am and managed to get a slot. Some people recommend getting their earlier. They only have a few slots available per day so its a case of the early bird catches the worm.

    You need to be an EU citizen for this. If you arent EU then you need a lawyer.

    Reply
  14. Hi,
    I applied NIF through the website offered on this website: NIFPortugal.pt €70 – Up to 7 Days. I have not heard from the office. Not even a confirmation that they received my application. What should I do? Thank you for your advised.

    Reply
    • Hi Rhonda,

      How long have you been waiting for a reply? A few people have commented that this service is slow (see the other comments) but people do get their NIF numbers eventually.

      Reply
  15. i came across website that provide NIF number and i have some doubts please if its legit replay to confirm it validity
    web site is nifportugal.pt !!!!

    also if opening online back account with BANCO ATLANTICO EUROPA is that valid for D7 visa application?

    thanks in advance Obrigado

    Reply
  16. Hi James, love the article!

    just one question: I’m a EU citizen, moved to Portugal but don’t have an offical adress here. Will I still be able to get a NIF through the Finanças Portal Online? I can only proof my non-Portugal EU-adress.

    Sunny regards
    Tim

    Reply
    • Hi Tim,

      Did you move to Portugal (as in officially register here and obtain a residency certificate) or did you “move here” but are technically still living elsewhere? If it’s the latter, you would obtain a NIF in the same way as someone living in another EU country would obtain one.

      Reply
  17. Hi,
    Thanks for the great article. Although, I am a little confused by some of the terminology, specifically the term ‘resident’.
    I am not an EU citizen, but I am a permanent resident of an EU country. In this case do the rules for an EU citizen apply to me regarding the NIF application or do I require fiscal representation?

    Reply
  18. Hi James,
    Firstly, we bought your book and it has been SOOOO helpful. Thanks!
    Regarding a NIF, if we get one in advance of our move and then something changes and we are unable to relocate to PT, what is the process to cancel it? Since we’d be paying Borderio (or other) to be a Fiscal Representative, we’d like to know the exit strategy (for the NIF/representative) if our plans don’t work out. We’ll be scouting this June and are considering setting up our bank account while in PT (so would need a NIF), but won’t move until summer 2023 or early 2024. A lot can change in that time, so were pondering all the possible outcomes. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Anyone resident in Portugal can be your fiscal representative, assuming you need one, according to this interview with Bordr. I have heard of some lawyers or landlords doing this for people when they’re buying or renting a house, but unfortunately the norm is that most people need to use a company to act as their fiscal representative.

      Reply
  19. I am Turkish citizen and my wife is Portugal citizen. We are living in Turkey. We want to open a joint acount at a Portugal bank.
    Which documents do we need for NIF, what does it cost, how long does it take?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Oral,

      The required documents are listed in the article above. As you’re resident in Turkey, you should follow the information for non-EU/EEA residents. Most likely you will need to use a company to open the account for you, in which case the timescale depends on them. I’ve listed the estimates for each company in the comparison table.

      Note: your wife may already have a NIF if she is a Portuguese citizen.

      Reply
  20. Hi, I need your advice. I already applied and have NIF about 6 years ago, but never used it. I live in the Uk and trying to get a property in Portugal now.
    Please how do I retrieve my NIF number because I can’t find the it at the moment.
    Thanks

    Frank

    Reply
  21. Hi Saida,

    Am also Kenyan and just relocated to Portugal a week ago. My husband is Dutch and we are now in the process of getting the NIF..am hoping this works out ok. Please let me know how it goes for you too…
    regards,
    Caroline

    Reply
  22. Hey James!

    Thanks a lot for the article, it is truly clarifying!
    I still have a specific doubt, not sure if you might have an answer: I’m a freelance in Spain, therefore I have tax obligation there, but I’m moving to Porto and it’s true that you need the NIF for basically everything.

    Do you know if getting the NIF will affect my tax obligations in Spain? (basically, they have the same name). Do I have to become a resident to have it? (I’ll be staying for a year or so in here).

    Thanks a lot again!

    Reply
    • If you move to Portugal and spend the majority of your time here then you’ll most likely be a tax resident of Portugal and not Spain. Having a NIF won’t make you a tax resident on its own (although if you register with a Portuguese address they’ll think you’re a Portuguese tax resident).

      You can get a NIF as a resident or as a non-resident. If you’re spending a year here, you’ll probably have to pay taxes in Portugal and not Spain.

      Reply
  23. James, I actually only registered to say “thanks”. Thanks for writing such a clear article about getting your NIF. There’s so much confusing things you have to take care of when moving to Portugal, that I was relieved to find your very clear overview here, with so much tips in there. Would have saved me even more time if I would have found it sooner in my process, but it still helped a lot 🙂

    Reply
  24. Hi James,

    Thank you for all this information.

    My husband got a Cartão de Cidadão but does not live in Portugal. He moved to another EU-country when he was 2. Does he needs to apply for a NIF number or does he already have a NIF number by birth? if so, where could we find out what his NIF number is?

    Kind regards,
    Jamie

    Reply
  25. Hello there!

    Thank you for the article James!

    Me and my girlfriend are starting immigration process. We are freelancers but non-EU residents and don’t have any friends in Portugal yet.

    I just want to clarify few things. As a non EU resident we have only two choice to get NIF, correct me if I’m wrong:

    1. Pay some company to get NIF (The way which seems real for me).

    2. Ask rent owner or realtor to help get NIF so we can rent long-term apartment.

    Second option looks easier but does anyone practise it? I heard that people in Portugal don’t usually sing a contract for flat rent. Could the owner help us with this or it’s better to concentrate on some company service and forget about option 2? 🙂

    Best Regards,
    Artur

    Reply
    • Hi Artur,

      Anyone resident in Portugal can be your fiscal representative. However, becoming someone’s fiscal rep brings certain responsibilities so a realtor or property owner may not want to do it. You can ask, but you may need to just go with option one.

      Reply
  26. Hello James,
    first of all, great article, and thanks for all the detailed explanations.
    I’d like to ask for a small clarification I am confused about. I am an EU citizen and I am shortly relocating to Portugal. Does the proof of address to be presented to request a NIF have to be a Portuguese address?
    I don’t have a permanent address in Portugal yet, and from my understanding, I would need a NIF to sign any form of contract. I am wondering if it’s possible to provide proof of foreign address and if this would be accepted by any Loja De Cidadao.

    Thanks for the help and best regards,

    Luca

    Reply
  27. Hi Saida,

    Yes, take your time when buying a property in Portugal. Many people rent first so they can get a feel for life in Portugal and areas that they may want to live in.

    Bordr, who are mentioned in this article, are well-reviewed by Portugalist readers. There are plenty of other great options, but they have good customer service and usually only take a few working days. There’s a discount code that offers a small saving mentioned in the article too (PORTUGALIST).

    Reply
  28. Just wanted to thank you for this post.

    I used Bordr.io for my NIF and they were great, really fast and efficient.

    I had tried using a lawyer but they were too slow and nearly missed having an NIF for my visa meeting!

    Reply
  29. Hi! I’m in an urgent situation since I start to work for portuguese company in August but I don’t move there until September so I need to get the NIF asap. Do you recomend to use Bordr then? I’m spannish so I don’t know if need a representative there or not…

    Reply
    • Hi Cristina,

      Often an employer can help in relocation issues like this, so I would speak to them and explain your situation.

      Reply
  30. Good afternoon, I’m in an urgent situation since I come to work in Lisbon, however I cannot get the NIF because the finance office doesn’t accept to carry out the procedure without an appointment, and the appointments they give are for September. I need the NIF immediately. In the helpline they have, they informed me that I could write them an email, however they also have it blocked. What other way is there to get the NIF immediately?

    Reply
    • Hi Ximen,

      Aside from emailing every Finanças office you can find, either to get a NIF over email or an appointment at a Finanças office, the only other thing I can suggest is to use a service like Bordr (mentioned above).

      Reply
  31. Hey James, thanks for the great article.
    When I click the “apply online” link to go to the financas website, I must sign in with either:
    – My NIF (lol) or
    – “Authenticate with Citizen Card or Digital Mobile Key”
    Does this mean it’s no longer possible to apply for the NIF online or were these always the options and I’m just not understanding them?

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  32. I have used nifonline.pt but are very very slow. Some reviews say it takes months to get a NIF with them or at least several weeks. Not sure its a good idea to have a company be your tax representative if they dont respond to emails.

    Reply

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