Good tips: important documents for you to start living in Portugal
What do you need to know about living in Portugal?
There are some important things and obligations you need.
You will need to register with the Finance Department and Social Security that will allow you to work, open a bank account or comply with taxi obligations.
NIF:
What is it : it’s a Tax Identification Number (NIF) given by the Finance Department
A foreign person, resident or non-resident in Portugal, who works and pays taxes in Portugal must have a Tax Identification Number (NIF).
To request the NIF, you need the following documents:
– Resident in Portugal – civil identification document from the country of origin or passport* and the residence permit
– Non-resident in Portugal – identification document or passport* and have a fiscal representative (individual or collective) with residence in national territory
*For people who are from European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Swiss citizens who wish to stay in Portugal for more than three months, you need to present the CRUE (Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia)
more info here: Residency
Where to request it : By the person himself
At the Tax Office – make an appointment for personal attendance through the Call Centre (CAT) – 217 206 707, working days, from 9am to 7pm
Or go to one of these offices in Lisbon:
If you decide to go to the office, take this in mind!
It’s quite difficult to be attended on the day: usually people start the line really early in the mornings to get their “Senha” (the ticket at the balcony) and the office has only a maximum of tickets to give. This means you should go really early in the morning!
INSERT WAITING IN LINE PHOTO
When to use it: everytime you are buying something you can ask to put your NIF on the invoice “fatura”: it will help you once you have the declaration of incomes between April and June. It’s a way to reduce taxes you pay every year.
Check this article if you need specific information: How to request NIF for foreigners
Cost: free of charge
NISS
What is it: Social Security Identification Number (NISS), which allows you to access rights such as support and subsidies, and to fulfill obligations related to contributions, registering into Social Security.
Where to request it :
- attach a scanned copy of your ID document (People from the European Union, European Economic State or Switzerland)
- Persons from a non EU country:
- Passport
- Residence Permit
- Residence Authorization (temporary or permanent)
- other civilian identification document from the country of origin
Cost: free of charge
Numero de Utente
What is it: it’s a number provided once you’ve enrolled yourself into a Public Health Center (Centro de Saúde).
Where to request: You should go to the closer Centro de Saude from your area of residency.
(If you don’t know what is the one, you can call the SNS 24, 808 24 24 24 and ask for it – there are english options)
You need to have all the following documents to enroll, so be sure to have registered to all the previous document before
- Identification document
- Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF)
- Authorization of residency (CRUE for EU citizens)
Cost: free of charge
Criminal Records:
What is it: it’s a certification of your criminal records, usually asked by some specific jobs especially working with children to prove you don’t have any kind of criminal accusation.
If you want to request for yourself, you must present a valid and official identification document (citizen card, passport, residence permit).
Where to ask for it: Loja de Cidadão
Cost: The criminal record certificate costs €5.
Two important platform that you will be using a lot to have access to all your informations:
Portal das finanças
https://www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt/at/html/index.html
What to use for: all your tax information, declaration of incomes, working information
Subscribe as soon as possible with email and your information and request the password: it will be sent to your residential address in 5-7 business days.
Go to the Portal
Click on: Registar-se
Use the NIF or the Chave Movel Digital
Chave Movel Digital – The Digital Mobile Key
What is a Chave Movel Digital?
It’s a way you can access various public or private portals, and sign digital documents, always with the same access credentials.
Where to request it: it must be activated at the desk.
You need an ID number and must be associated with a cell phone number that is not associated with another CMD.
Where? Loja de Cidadão
More info:
https://www.gov.pt/servicos/ativar-a-chave-movel-digital
TIPS:
There is an app https://siga.marcacaodeatendimento.pt/ that can be used to make appointments for a lot of the services in Lisbon. This will help you to avoid queues!
Download it and don’t lose a lot of time with queues 🙂
