The NIF price at a glance
The Tax Authority charges nothing for issuing a NIF, so any price you see is for the work around the number. There are three ways to get one, and the table sets out what each involves. The only price in this guide is NIF Express’s own.
| Route | What you pay | Typical timeline | Fiscal representation | Who files it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In person (tax office, or a consulate) | €0 government fee; travel and time are yours | Tax office: same day, by appointment, and you must be in Portugal. Consulate appointments can be weeks or months out | Not included: if the Tax Authority requires one, you arrange it yourself | You, with the tax-office or consulate clerk |
| Through a lawyer or other representative you hire directly | Set by the professional you choose: ask what it covers | Depends on the professional and on the Tax Authority | Ask whether it is included and for how long | The representative named in your power of attorney |
| Online service such as NIF Express | €49.99 adult, €74.99 minor | Typically 5–14 business days | First year included, then renews yearly at the same amount as the period just ended | Lawyers registered with the Portuguese Bar (Blue Ocean Immigration, Lisbon) |
All three routes end in the same nine-digit NIF. What differs is who does the work, how long it takes and what is arranged around the number. NIF Express is a private consultancy, not a government service: the Tax Authority issues the NIF.
What the Tax Authority charges, and what a service charges for
Every price should be read against one fact: the Portuguese state does not charge for issuing a NIF. If you walk into a Serviço de Finanças in Portugal, the number itself costs €0. What you pay a service, ours included, is for the work around it: checking your documents, preparing a power of attorney, submitting the file to the Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira) and, for non-residents, acting as your fiscal representative.
A non-resident can request a NIF without a representative. The obligation to have one arises when a tax relationship with Portugal is established (a property, a vehicle, an employment contract, self-employment), and the Tax Authority can then require the appointment within 15 days. So when you read any quote, check whether representation is part of it. If you are new to all this, our plain-English guide to what a NIF is and the walkthrough of getting a NIF without travelling explain the mechanics.
Three ways to get a NIF
In person. If you are in Portugal, you can request the NIF yourself at a tax office after booking the appointment the Tax Authority requires; the steps are in how to get a NIF in person. Portuguese consulates can also register a NIF, but appointments can be weeks or months out in many countries; NIF online vs at a consulate sets out the trade-offs.
Through a lawyer or other representative. The Tax Authority accepts a request from a representative holding a power of attorney, 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. See do you need a lawyer to get a NIF.
Through an online service. An online service combines the power of attorney and the filing, so you can apply from anywhere without an appointment. The process is described in how to get a NIF without travelling.
What the NIF Express price covers
NIF Express charges a single flat price: €49.99 for an adult and €74.99 for a minor. The first year of fiscal representation is included, the request for your Portal das Finanças password is part of the service, and your file is handled by lawyers registered with the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) at Blue Ocean Immigration, a licensed consultancy with a physical office on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon. There are no tiers, urgency surcharges or checkout add-ons.
Typical issuance is 5–14 business days; the password follows separately by registered post to your fiscal representative about seven business days later. The full breakdown is in our cost and fees guide.
Renewals: year two matters as much as year one
Where fiscal representation applies, it does not end when the NIF is issued: it continues for as long as the obligation applies and your tax address remains abroad. That makes the renewal terms part of the price, whichever service you use. With NIF Express, representation renews every twelve months at the same amount as the period that has just ended, and we email you at least 30 days before each charge, so you can stop it if you no longer want it.
When you look at any offer, consider the first-year total (the base price plus any add-ons you actually need) and the ongoing annual cost separately. Our guide to fiscal representation in Portugal explains when the obligation applies and how it ends.
Small print that changes the real total
Beyond renewals, three details are worth checking in any quote:
- The tax-portal password. Your NIF is the number; the Portal das Finanças password is the credential that lets you use the tax portal. Check whether requesting it is part of the price. With NIF Express it is included: the Tax Authority posts it to your representative and we forward it to you, as described in how long a NIF takes.
- Per-person pricing. Each person needs their own NIF, children included, so check whether a price is per applicant. Ours is: €49.99 per adult and €74.99 per minor, so two adults and two minors come to €249.96.
- Currency and visibility. Check which currency you are charged in and whether the full price is shown before you start. NIF Express prices are in euros and published on the site.
What to check before choosing a NIF service
Whoever you choose, ours included, run the same checks before paying:
- Who signs the power of attorney. A NIF filed remotely runs on a power of attorney, so ask for the name and Bar registration of the person who signs and files yours. At NIF Express it is signed by a lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar Association; see about us.
- Who your fiscal representative is. Ask who it will be and at what address. With NIF Express it is Blue Ocean Immigration itself, at Avenida da Liberdade 67B, 3.º B, 1250-140 Lisbon.
- Whether the first year is included, and how it renews. Add the base price, any add-ons you need and the representation renewal. At NIF Express the first year is included and renewal is yearly at the same amount as the period just ended, with an email at least 30 days before.
- Realistic timelines. The number and the tax-portal password arrive on different timelines, and the Tax Authority’s own workload sets the pace. Treat a delivery promise as covering the number. At NIF Express the NIF is typically issued in 5–14 business days.
- Support. Check how and when you can reach a person. NIF Express support runs Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 17:00 Lisbon time, at [email protected], on +351 21 824 7167 in Lisbon and on +1 888 488 8135 for the US and Canada.
- Refund policy. Read what is refunded and when. NIF Express refunds the fee in full if we fail to prepare and file your application within 2 business days of receiving your correctly signed documents, or cannot perform the service for reasons attributable to us; the Tax Authority’s decision and timing are outside the guarantee. The details are in our terms.
If you are ready, start your application; if you are still weighing the routes, read NIF online vs at a consulate first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a NIF cost in Portugal?
The Tax Authority charges nothing for issuing the number; a service charges for the work around it. NIF Express costs €49.99 for an adult and €74.99 for a minor, with the first year of fiscal representation included.
Is getting a NIF free if I do it myself?
The Portuguese Tax Authority charges €0 for issuing the NIF in person at a tax office, after an appointment. A service charges for the assisted process: document review, power of attorney, submission and, for non-residents, fiscal representation, which you would otherwise arrange yourself if the Tax Authority requires one.
What am I paying for with a NIF service?
The assisted process: document review, the power of attorney, filing with the Tax Authority and, for non-residents, fiscal representation, which the Tax Authority can require once a tax relationship with Portugal arises. The number itself is free.
What should I check before choosing a NIF service?
Who signs the power of attorney and whether they are a Bar-registered lawyer, who your fiscal representative will be, whether the first year of representation is included and how it renews, realistic timelines, how to reach support, the refund policy and whether the full price is shown up front.
Is fiscal representation included in the NIF Express price?
Yes, the first year. After that it renews every twelve months at the same amount as the period that has just ended, and you receive an email at least 30 days before each charge.
Is NIF Express a Tax Authority service?
No. NIF Express is a private consultancy and the online service of Blue Ocean Immigration. We prepare and file the application; the Portuguese Tax Authority issues the NIF.
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