You can get a Portuguese NIF yourself, in person, if you are in Portugal. This guide follows the Tax Authority’s own published steps: how to book the compulsory appointment, what to bring and what happens afterwards. It also says when applying from abroad is the simpler route. It is general information, not legal advice.
Can you get a NIF in person in Portugal?
Yes. A foreign citizen who applies personally requests the NIF at any tax office (Serviço de Finanças) or Loja do Cidadão, and the Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, AT) makes a prior appointment compulsory. The AT charges nothing for issuing the number. Anyone, Portuguese or foreign, resident or not, can request a NIF. Sources: Portal das Finanças, NIF (in Portuguese) and Apply for your NIF (in English).
How do you book the appointment?
The AT describes two ways:
- Online. On the Portal das Finanças, go to Contactos > Atendimento por Marcação and choose the option for NIF requests or address changes for people without a Cartão de Cidadão. Select the subject Identificação and the sub-subject Pedido de NIF, write your identification document number in the notes, choose the office, date and time, and confirm. You receive a confirmation with the date, time and place.
- By phone. Call the Tax Authority’s call centre on (+351) 217 206 707, on working days from 9:00 to 19:00.
Menu names change from time to time, so check the AT page before you book.
What do you bring to the appointment?
A valid passport and a document showing your address abroad, unless the address is already on the passport. The AT adds that documents must be originals or certified copies (simple copies are accepted only with the originals) and that foreign-language documents need a certified translation, which a notary, a chamber of commerce and industry, or a lawyer or solicitor can certify. For a third-country national applying personally, the AT notes that the passport must include an entry visa, with exceptions for visas to an EU country and for nationalities that do not need a visa for the Schengen area. For the full checklist, see Documents Needed for a Portuguese NIF. Source: AT leaflet, Tax identification number to foreign citizens – non-residents.
What happens at the appointment and afterwards?
If all the conditions are met, the NIF is issued with the status of non-resident. The number stays the same later: when you meet the conditions to be treated as a tax resident in Portugal, you ask the AT to change your address and tax status, and the AT’s leaflet on tax addresses gives 60 days to communicate it. Our own timeline guide notes that applying in person at a tax office can be done the same day, with an appointment; see How Long Does a Portuguese NIF Take?
Do you need a fiscal representative if you apply in person?
Not to request the NIF. The AT says a non-resident can request a NIF without appointing a tax representative. The obligation arises if you establish a legal tax relationship in Portugal (owning real estate or a vehicle there, signing an employment contract to work there or carrying out a self-employed activity there) while living outside the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein: you then have 15 days to appoint a representative or join an electronic notification channel. See Fiscal Representative in Portugal and how to change one.
Can someone else go for you?
Yes. The AT accepts the same procedure from a representative who carries a power of attorney with the necessary powers, in person or online through e-balcão. The signature on the power of attorney must be certified, unless it is issued to a lawyer or solicitor identified in that capacity. See Do You Need a Lawyer to Get a NIF?
Is it simpler to apply in person or remotely?
In person works if you are in Portugal and can book a slot. If you live abroad, in-person means travelling to Portugal; the alternatives are a consulate (see Online vs at a Consulate) or a remote application through a representative. With NIF Express the NIF is typically issued in 5–14 business days, for €49.99 (adult) or €74.99 (minor), with the first year of fiscal representation included. NIF Express is a private consultancy, not a Tax Authority service; the Tax Authority issues the NIF. See how to get a NIF without travelling.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a NIF at any tax office in Portugal?
Yes. A foreign citizen can request a NIF at any tax office (Serviço de Finanças) or Loja do Cidadão, after booking an appointment, which the Tax Authority makes compulsory.
Do I need an appointment to get a NIF in person?
Yes. The Tax Authority requires a prior appointment, booked on the Portal das Finanças (Contactos > Atendimento por Marcação) or by phone on (+351) 217 206 707.
What do I need to bring?
A valid passport and a document showing your address abroad, unless it is already on the passport. Documents must be originals or certified copies, and foreign-language documents need a certified translation.
How much does a NIF cost at a tax office?
The Tax Authority charges nothing for issuing the number.
Can a tourist get a NIF?
Anyone, Portuguese or foreign, resident or not, can request a NIF. A foreign citizen applying personally presents a valid passport and a document with the address abroad.
Do I need a fiscal representative to get a NIF?
Not to request it. The obligation arises within 15 days after you establish a legal tax relationship in Portugal, if you live outside the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and you may instead join an electronic notification channel.
Can someone else request my NIF for me?
Yes, a representative with a power of attorney can do it in person or through e-balcão. The signature on the power of attorney must be certified, unless it is issued to a lawyer or solicitor.
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