Portuguese NIF: How to Get a Tax Number in Portugal
A NIF, Número de Identificação Fiscal, is the Portuguese tax identification number. Foreign nationals can obtain one whether they are resident or non-resident in Portugal. It is commonly needed for property, banking, employment, contracts, business and tax matters.
What is a Portuguese NIF?
The NIF is the number used by the Portuguese Tax Authority, Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, to identify a person for tax and administrative purposes.
Portuguese citizens who already have a Cartão de Cidadão normally have a NIF assigned automatically. Foreign nationals and other people without a Portuguese Citizen Card may need to request one.
A NIF does not by itself make you tax resident in Portugal. If your tax-residence status changes later, your tax address must be updated separately.
Who can request a NIF?
The Tax Authority allows NIF registration for Portuguese and foreign individuals, including residents and non-residents.
For a foreign applicant, the filing route and documents depend mainly on whether the person is being registered as resident or non-resident and whether the request is filed personally or through a representative.
Legal representative and fiscal representative are different roles
A legal representative or proxy can submit the NIF request on your behalf. This is not the same as a fiscal representative.
AT's current NIF and representation guidance says that requesting the NIF itself does not by itself create an obligation to appoint a fiscal representative.
A separate fiscal-representation obligation can arise later. If you live in a third country, outside the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and establish a tax legal relationship with Portugal, for example through Portuguese property, a Portuguese-registered vehicle, employment in Portugal or self-employed activity, AT states that you generally have 15 days to appoint a fiscal representative or join an accepted electronic-notification channel.
For residents in the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, fiscal representation is optional. Self-employed activity subject to VAT has a separate rule and can still require a VAT representative in Portugal.
There is currently an inconsistency between official portals: the general gov.pt NIF page still uses stricter wording for some third-country non-residents, while AT's own NIF and representation guidance separates the NIF request from the later fiscal-representation obligation. For a third-country case, the filing route should therefore be checked against the current AT instructions before submission.
Documents commonly required
For a foreign non-resident applying personally, AT normally asks for:
- a valid civil identity document or passport;
- proof of the foreign address, unless the address already appears on the identity document.
For some third-country nationals applying personally, AT's FAQ also refers to the visa or visa-exemption position shown by the passport.
If a representative files the request, AT requires the applicant's identity and address evidence together with authority to act, normally a power of attorney. The exact form of the power of attorney depends on who acts as representative.
If you want to be registered as resident in Portugal, additional evidence of Portuguese residence is required and depends on your status.
How to request a NIF
In person
A foreign applicant can request a NIF at a Serviço de Finanças or Loja do Cidadão. Prior appointment is required for this service.
Through a representative
A legal representative or proxy can submit the request through Portal das Finanças, using e-balcão under the taxpayer-registration route, or attend a tax office with the required documents and authority.
This is the usual remote route when the applicant is outside Portugal.
Official cost and professional service
The current gov.pt NIF service page states that the NIF request itself is free.
Portugal Papers can handle the professional NIF process from €99. This is our service fee, not a government fee.
Processing time
AT does not publish one general processing SLA that covers every NIF channel. The gov.pt service page states that an in-person NIF at the counter is assigned at the time of the request, but this does not establish a general timeframe for remote or e-balcão cases.
If you use Portugal Papers, we confirm the filing route and the practical handling conditions after reviewing your documents.
Need help with your NIF?
Portugal Papers can review your case, confirm the correct resident or non-resident route, check the documents and handle a remote filing through an authorised representative where that route is available.
Professional service from €99.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A representative can file through the Portal das Finanças e-balcão route with the required documents and power of attorney.
AT's own current guidance says the NIF request itself does not by itself trigger that obligation. Fiscal representation can become relevant later depending on where you live and whether you establish a tax legal relationship with Portugal. The current gov.pt wording is not fully aligned with AT on one third-country scenario, so that route should be checked at the time of filing.
No. A NIF is a tax identification number. Tax residency is a separate status. If your status changes, your tax address must be updated separately.
The current gov.pt service page states that the NIF request itself is free. Professional assistance is a separate paid service. Portugal Papers' service starts from €99.
There is no single published processing SLA for every NIF channel. The gov.pt service page says an in-person NIF at the counter is assigned at the time of the request; remote cases may follow a different practical timeline.