The NIF is Portugal's personal tax identification number, normally needed by employees and self-employed workers who work in Portugal.
What it is
The NIF (tax identification number) is a personal number that identifies a person for tax purposes in Portugal. It is issued by the AT (the tax authority) and stays the same for life, no matter how many jobs or contracts that person has over the years. It is a purely personal number, separate from any number a company might have.
What it is for
The NIF is used whenever a person deals with taxes, such as filing a tax return or being paid a salary. It is also needed for many everyday matters, like opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, or buying a phone plan. On a construction site, employers have to keep a record of each of their workers on site, including the worker's NIF (Decree-Law 273/2003, article 21).
Who needs it?
A person who works in Portugal, whether as an employee or as a self-employed worker, and who has tax obligations or is paid there, normally needs an NIF. This applies to people from Portugal and to people from other countries who come to work there. Whether a very short assignment, for example a posting where tax stays in the home country, creates a need for a Portuguese NIF depends on the facts, so ask the AT or a tax adviser if it is unclear.
Where to get it?
A person requests an NIF from the AT. Someone who does not live in Portugal may need a local representative to apply on their behalf, depending on their situation and where they normally live. The NIF is usually one of the first things a new worker or self-employed person arranges.
What to watch out for
An NIF on its own only covers tax identification. It does not automatically register a person with social security. That registration uses a different number, the NISS, covered in a separate article. Getting an NIF is often an early step, but not the only one, so it should not be treated as the end of the process.