How to get NIF and NISS
- NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is a tax identification number that is needed to open a bank account, obtain a salary, pay taxes and other tax procedures in Portugal.
- NISS (Número de Identificação de Segurança Social) is a social security number issued to citizens living and working in Portugal.
NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal)
The NIF is a unique tax number that is required for anyone living in Portugal. From opening a bank account to renting an apartment and using medical services, a NIF is needed.
You can get your NIF yourself at any branch of the Portuguese Tax Finanças.
Documents needed
Identity document: passport or EU national identity card.
Proof of address, which can be one of the following documents:
- Bank statement (issued within the last 3 months)
- Utility bill (issued within the last 3 months)
When applying for a NIF for a minor, you will also need:
- Birth certificate with a notarized translation into Portuguese
- Copies of both parents' passports
If you were born in Portugal or have Portuguese nationality, a copy of your birth certificate issued in Portugal will be required.
You can find out more about the NIF process and the required documents on the Finanças website.
NISS (Número Identificação Segurança Social)
The Social Security Number (Número Identificação Segurança Social - NISS) is obtained from the Segurança Social, a budgetary organization that provides social support and budget revenues.
The execution period is 1 week (depending on the method of receipt).
Option 1: Labor contract.
Required documents:
- Labor contract.
- Passport, visa, residence permit - legal stay in the country.
- NIF.
Get NISS without the employment contract is impossible, and by law without the NISS labor contract will not work. Therefore, first you sign a pre-contract - Contrato de promessa, which contains information about the reserved workplace for the employee. This will allow him to get a social security number for foreigners. And then sign a valid employment contract.
Option 2: The IE.
When a sole proprietorship is registered with the Tax Office, the entrepreneur's employment commencement data is automatically transmitted to Segurança Social. A letter with a social security number will be sent to his home address (email).
Option 3. Student Visa.
Students can obtain an NISS by providing the following documents:
- Passport, student visa, residency.
- Matrícula - confirmation of enrollment from the educational institution.
Option 4. Family Reinstatement.
A prerequisite for NISS is that at least one family member has a Segurança Social number. An employment contract is not required.