NIF
Número de Identificação Fiscal · Tax Number
Last updated:
Portugal's 9-digit tax identification number, required for every tax-related interaction from opening a bank account to issuing an invoice.
Nine digits. That's your entire tax identity in Portugal. The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is the number that ties you to the Portuguese tax system, and you'll use it for everything: opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, issuing invoices, buying a phone plan, getting a receipt at a restaurant.
Everyone in Portugal has one. Citizens get theirs at birth. Residents get one when they register. Even non-residents can get a NIF if they need to interact with the Portuguese system (buying property, for example).
Getting yours
For EU citizens, the process is straightforward. Walk into a Finanças office (the local tax office, every city has one) with your passport or national ID, and you'll walk out with a NIF. It takes about 30 minutes on a good day, longer if you hit a busy office without an appointment.
For non-EU citizens, there's an extra step: you need a fiscal representative (representante fiscal). This is a Portuguese tax resident who agrees to receive your tax correspondence and is, in a limited sense, responsible for making sure you meet your obligations. It's a legal requirement, not optional. Many accountants and legal services offer this for a monthly or annual fee.
Once you have a Portuguese address and residency, the fiscal representative requirement drops away. But for the initial NIF application as a non-EU non-resident, you can't skip it.
Some online services now handle the NIF application remotely, which saves you a trip to the Finanças office. The cost varies, but it's typically under 100 euros.
Why it matters so much
The NIF isn't just for tax returns. It's woven into daily life in a way that tax IDs in other countries aren't.
At a restaurant, the waiter asks "com NIF?" (with NIF?) when printing your receipt. Saying yes registers that expense in the e-fatura system and can earn you small tax deductions. At a store, the cashier asks the same thing. Your electricity bill, internet contract, gym membership, everything can be linked to your NIF.
For business, it's non-negotiable. Your NIF appears on every Recibo Verde you issue, every invoice you send, every contract you sign. Portuguese clients will need it to register your invoices as expenses. Foreign clients will include it on their records as your tax identification.
Personal NIF vs. company NIPC
As a trabalhador independente (sole entrepreneur), you use your personal NIF for business. There's no separate business registration number. This surprises expats from countries where freelancing means registering a company with its own tax number.
Companies in Portugal get a NIPC (Número de Identificação de Pessoa Coletiva), same format, 9 digits, but starting with 5 instead of 1, 2, or 3. If you ever incorporate, you'd get a NIPC for the company. But as a freelancer, your personal NIF is your business NIF. One number for everything.
Verifying a NIF
You can check whether a NIF is registered for intra-EU VAT (VIES) using our free NIF business check. For companies, VIES also returns the registered name and address. For more on why this matters and what the results mean, read Before you hire anyone in Portugal, check their NIF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a NIF in Portugal as a foreigner?
EU citizens can get a NIF at any Finanças office with their passport or ID card. Non-EU citizens need a fiscal representative (a Portuguese resident who accepts responsibility for your tax communications) unless they have a Portuguese address. Some services handle this online for a fee.
What's the difference between a NIF and a NIPC?
A NIF is for individuals (9 digits, usually starting with 1, 2, or 3). A NIPC (Número de Identificação de Pessoa Coletiva) is for companies and other legal entities, also 9 digits but starting with 5. As a solo entrepreneur, you use your personal NIF for everything, there's no separate business number.
Do I need a NIF before I can open a bank account in Portugal?
Yes. Portuguese banks require a NIF to open any account. This is often the first bureaucratic hurdle expats face, you need the NIF before the bank account, but some landlords want a bank account before signing a lease. Getting your NIF should be your first step.
Can I get a NIF without living in Portugal?
Yes. Non-residents can obtain a NIF, but non-EU citizens need to appoint a fiscal representative first. EU citizens can get one directly at a Finanças office or through certain online services. The NIF you get as a non-resident is the same one you'll use if you later move to Portugal.
Where does my NIF appear on invoices?
Your NIF goes on every invoice you issue and every invoice you receive. When you issue a Recibo Verde, the portal fills in your NIF automatically. When you receive an invoice as a customer, you should always ask for your NIF to be included, this registers the expense in the e-fatura system and can affect your tax deductions.
Related terms
The Portuguese term for an independent worker or sole entrepreneur, the equivalent of a freelancer or sole trader in other countries.
NIPCNúmero de Identificação de Pessoa Coletiva · Company Tax NumberPortugal's 9-digit tax identification number for companies and legal entities, the corporate equivalent of a personal NIF.
FaturaInvoiceA formal invoice issued through certified software or the AT portal. For solo entrepreneurs on the simplified regime, income tax and Social Security remain cash-basis (tied to payment) regardless of when the invoice is issued.
Recibo VerdeGreen ReceiptA combined invoice-receipt (fatura-recibo) issued by solo entrepreneurs in Portugal through the Portal das Finanças when they receive payment for services.
VIESVAT Information Exchange SystemThe EU's free online tool for verifying VAT numbers. Confirms whether a business is VAT-registered and, in Portugal's case, reveals the name and address behind the number.