How to Apply for a NIF in Portugal Online as a Non-Resident

If you live outside Portugal and need a Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF), here is how to apply for a NIF in Portugal online — “como pedir o NIF em Portugal” — without needing to travel to Lisbon. The NIF is a 9-digit number issued by Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT), Portugal’s tax authority. As a non-resident, you can request the NIF remotely through a fiscal representative or an authorized legal service. This guide covers who can apply, which documents are needed, how the process works for EU and non-EU citizens, and what to expect.

Quick answers

Who can apply for a NIF in Portugal as a non-resident?

Any foreign individual can apply, regardless of nationality. The process differs slightly for EU/EEA citizens and third-country nationals: non-EU applicants must appoint a fiscal representative, while EU/EEA citizens can opt for electronic notifications instead.

What documents are needed?

A valid passport (non-EU citizens) or an EU national ID card, plus a proof of address issued outside Portugal — a utility bill, bank statement, or driver’s license less than three months old. The full list is on the document requirements page.

Do non-residents need a fiscal representative?

Non-EU citizens are required by Portuguese law to appoint one. EU/EEA citizens are not, provided they activate electronic notifications through Portal das Finanças. The official rules on the Representante Fiscal and the Registo de Não Residente are published by AT at info.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt.

EU or non-EU — which route applies to you

If you are an EU or EEA citizen, you have two options for requesting a NIF in Portugal as a non-resident. You can apply without a fiscal representative by activating electronic notifications (NCEPF) through Portal das Finanças — all correspondence from Autoridade Tributária is then delivered electronically instead of by post. Or you can apply with a fiscal representative if you prefer an intermediary in Portugal to handle tax notifications and the access password — optional, but practical if you do not read Portuguese.

If you are a non-EU citizen — holding a passport from a country outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland — Portuguese law requires you to appoint a fiscal representative when applying for the NIF as a non-resident. This includes UK citizens after Brexit. The fiscal representative must be a tax resident of Portugal or a company registered in Portugal. Without a fiscal representative, Autoridade Tributária will refuse the application.

Step-by-step process

Here is how to apply for a NIF in Portugal online, step by step:

1. Prepare your documents. Take a clear, color scan of your passport or EU national ID card (300 dpi, JPEG or PNG). Have a proof of address — utility bill, bank statement, or driver’s license — issued outside Portugal in the last three months, showing your full name and address.
2. Submit your application. Upload both documents through our secure portal and fill in your application details. We review the documents and let you know if anything needs correcting before filing.
3. Sign the Power of Attorney. You sign a Power of Attorney (procuração) authorizing our Portuguese legal team to request the NIF on your behalf. Signing is fully remote — no notary visit needed. For non-EU applicants, the procuração also appoints us as your fiscal representative for the first 12 months.
4. We file with Autoridade Tributária. Our team delivers the application directly to AT. You receive your official NIF certificate by email as a signed PDF once it is issued.