The NIF is Portugal's personal tax identification number, needed by employees and self-employed workers alike.
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, both employees and self-employed workers need a NIF before they can be paid, and before they can be registered with social security.
Who needs it
Anyone working in Portugal, whether as an employee or as a self-employed worker, needs a NIF. This applies to people from Portugal and to people from other countries who come to work there, even if only for a short time. Without a NIF, a person cannot be properly registered for tax or, in most cases, be paid legally.
Where to get it
A person requests a 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
A 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 a NIF is usually the first step, not the only one, so it should not be treated as the end of the process.