Several Portuguese authorities handle construction-sector paperwork, and this article explains what each one does.
Which authorities you'll come across
Several different authorities are involved in construction work in Portugal. Each one has a different job, and most of them issue or check a specific document. Knowing which authority does what makes it easier to understand why a document is needed and where it comes from. Applications, notifications and payments are always made to the authority responsible for the matter itself.
What each one does
The AT (the tax authority) manages taxes and tax numbers. It issues the NIF, a personal tax number, and tax clearance certificates that show the tax position is in order.
The Segurança Social, also called the ISS (the social security institute), manages social security registration and contributions. It issues the NISS, a social security number, and contribution clearance certificates.
The ACT (the labour inspectorate) inspects construction sites and checks working conditions. It also receives notifications when workers are posted to Portugal from another country.
The IEFP (the employment and vocational training institute) licenses temporary work agencies and keeps a public register of them.
The IMPIC (the institute for public procurement, real estate, and construction) issues the construction licences that contractors need, known as the alvará or the certificado.
The AIMA (the agency for integration, migration, and asylum) handles residence procedures for foreign nationals, including the residence titles linked to employment or to independent activity. Other bodies may be involved in related matters, so AIMA is not a single point for every work-permit question.
The IRN (the institute of registries and notaries) runs the commercial registry. It issues the certidão permanente, the official company registration extract.
What to watch out for
Some of these bodies rely on each other's records without automatically sharing them. For example, a construction licence from the IMPIC can depend on proof of insurance and a clear tax record held elsewhere. A missing document from one authority can hold up a step with another. It helps to keep documents current rather than dealing with each authority only when a problem comes up.
These authorities work separately. A document from one does not automatically inform another, so each one usually has to be requested on its own.