Journey · Door 01 · NIF
The NIF journey
From signing a power of attorney to the official NIF in your inbox, in five steps and without leaving home.
BOCEAN IMMIGRATION PORTUGAL, LDA · NIPC 519043731 · Payments by Stripe
At a glance
What you get, who decides, what it costs
- What you get
- Your Portuguese NIF as an official PDF, plus 12 months of fiscal representation
- Who decides
- The tax authority (Autoridade Tributária)
- Official timeframe
- 5 to 14 business days. The authority sets the pace.
- NIF Express fee
- €49.99 flat, year one (about $58). Renewal $59 per year.
- Left out
- Courier costs and any fee a bank or landlord charges. The NIF itself is free.
01 · The map
Every step, and who acts in it
- 01
Pay, sign and send
Day 0. You pay, sign the power of attorney and upload two documents.
You - 02
We check the file
Day 1. We check the documents before anything is filed.
Reside - 03
Filing in Lisbon
Days 1 to 5. We file in person at the Lisbon tax office under your power of attorney.
Authority - 04
NIF delivered
Days 5 to 14. The tax authority issues the number and we send you the official PDF.
Authority - 05
Your year of representation
12 months. We stay your fiscal representative and forward tax mail.
Reside
The label shows who acts in that step: You, Reside or the Authority that decides. In your client area the same path shows as Details, Documents, Sign and Filed.
02 · The steps
Each step in detail
What happens, what you do, what we do, and what the authority does.
Pay, sign and send
You- What happens
- You pay the fee, sign the power of attorney electronically in the portal and upload your passport and proof of address.
- Your part
- Pay by card through Stripe. Sign in the portal. Upload a clear scan or photo of your passport data page and a proof of address from your country.
- Our part
- We prepare the power of attorney for you to sign.
- Documents
- Passport data page. Proof of address dated within the last 3 months.
- What can delay it
- A blurry passport scan or a proof of address older than 3 months.
- In your client area
- Details, Documents and Sign steps. Each upload shows Received, then the power of attorney shows Signed.
We check the file
Reside- What happens
- We look at what you uploaded before it goes to the tax office, so the filing is complete the first time.
- Your part
- If something is unreadable or out of date, you replace it.
- Our part
- We check the passport and the proof of address against what the application needs.
- What can delay it
- A document that has to be replaced.
- In your client area
- Each document moves from Received to Checked, or shows that it needs a new file.
Filing in Lisbon
Authority- What happens
- We file the application in person at the Lisbon Serviço de Finanças on your behalf. As a non-EU, non-EEA resident you must have a fiscal representative in Portugal, and Reside acts as that representative.
- Your part
- Nothing. You do not travel.
- Our part
- We file in person and act as your named fiscal representative.
- The authority
- The tax authority (Autoridade Tributária) receives the filing and issues the NIF. Processing time at the authority varies by case.
- What can delay it
- Processing time at the tax authority.
- In your client area
- The case shows Filed, with the date.
NIF delivered
Authority- What happens
- You receive the official PDF issued by the tax authority by email and can use the number at once. There is no plastic card for non-residents.
- Your part
- Save the PDF. Use the number for a bank account, a lease, property or a visa.
- Our part
- We deliver the official PDF to your inbox.
- The authority
- The tax authority issues the NIF free of charge.
- In your client area
- The official PDF appears in your documents and you get an email.
Your year of representation
Reside- What happens
- Twelve months of fiscal representation are included. We forward tax correspondence to you in English and monitor notices and deadlines.
- Your part
- Read what we forward. Cancel if you become a Portuguese tax resident and no longer need a representative.
- Our part
- We forward tax mail, monitor notices and deadlines, and ask before renewing.
- In your client area
- Forwarded notices appear in your messages and documents.
03 · Documents
What to have ready
| Document | What it is for | Where to get it | Format | Typical status in your area | Translation or apostille |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport data page | Identifies you in the application | Your passport | PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB | Missing until you upload, then Received and Checked | None listed on the service page |
| Proof of address from your country | Shows where you live | A utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months | PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB | Missing, then Received and Checked | None listed on the service page |
| Power of attorney | Lets us file and represent you | Prepared by us, signed electronically in the portal | Signed in the portal | Waiting for your signature, then Signed | Not applicable |
04 · Costs
Who charges what
The fee is flat. Year one is included.
Reside fee
- €49.99 flat for year one (about $58), through NIF Express: 12 months of fiscal representation, the power of attorney, the filing in Lisbon, forwarding of tax mail in English, delivery of the official PDF
- Renewal after year one: $59 per year, cancellable at any time
Government and official fees
- The NIF itself costs nothing. The tax authority does not charge to issue it
Third parties
- Courier costs if you ask for paper originals
- Any fee a bank or landlord may charge for using the NIF
05 · Timeline
How long it takes
- Day 0Pay, sign, upload
- Days 1 to 5We file in person in Lisbon
- Days 5 to 14NIF delivered by email
- 12 monthsFiscal representation, then renewal or cancel
5 to 14 business days is the range the service page gives. It is not a promise: processing time at the tax authority varies by case.
06 · After
What happens next
- Open a Portuguese bank account remotely, sign a lease, buy property. The NIF is the starting point for each.
- Apply for a visa: the D7, the D8, the D2 or the Golden Visa. The NIF is included in each.
- Get a street address in Lisbon for your mail: Lisbon address and mail.
- Once you are a Portuguese tax resident you no longer need a fiscal representative and can cancel.
07 · Risks
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
- A proof of address older than 3 months. Use a recent utility bill or bank statement.
- A passport scan with cut corners or glare. Make sure the whole data page is visible.
- Assuming the number arrives on day 5. The range is 5 to 14 business days, and the tax authority sets the pace.
- Forgetting the renewal date. It is $59 per year after year one, and you can cancel at any time.
- Expecting a card. Non-residents receive the NIF as an official PDF only.
08 · Glossary
Words you will meet
- NIF
- Número de Identificação Fiscal, the 9-digit Portuguese taxpayer number.
- AT
- Autoridade Tributária, the Portuguese tax authority. It issues the NIF.
- Fiscal representative
- A person or company resident in Portugal named to receive tax mail for a non-EU, non-EEA resident.
- Power of attorney
- The document you sign so we can file and represent you.
- Serviço de Finanças
- The local tax office. We file at the one in Lisbon.
Questions
About this journey
How long does the NIF take?
5 to 14 business days from the moment you sign the power of attorney and send your passport. The tax authority sets the pace.
Do I have to be in Portugal?
No. You sign electronically, we file in person at the Lisbon tax office, and you receive the NIF by email.
What do I see in my client area?
Your uploads as Received, the power of attorney as Signed, the filing as Filed, and finally the official PDF.
What if I already live in Portugal or in the EU or EEA?
You can request a NIF in person at any tax office for free and do not need a representative. This service is for non-residents who want to do it remotely.
What happens after year one?
Renewal is $59 per year and you can cancel at any time. Most D7, D8 and Golden Visa holders become tax residents within the first year and no longer need a representative.
Go further
The service page and other doors
The service page has the full requirements and the price box: Portuguese NIF, €49.99 through NIF Express.
Open door 01
Ready when you are
Start with the first step and the rest follows the map above.