As an American you can get a Portuguese tax number (NIF) entirely from the US. You need your US passport and a recent US proof of address, and you sign a power of attorney online so a Portuguese lawyer can file for you. No notary, no apostille, no trip. With Coepi it costs €39.99 including VAT, charged once, and the application is filed the same day your documents are complete.
TL;DR: As an American you can get a Portuguese tax number (NIF) entirely from the US. You need your US passport and a recent US proof of address, and you sign a power of attorney online so a Portuguese lawyer can file for you. No notary, no apostille, no trip. With Coepi it costs €39.99 including VAT, charged once, and the application is filed the same day your documents are complete.
Why Americans need a NIF first
The NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is Portugal's nine-digit tax number. Almost every step of a move needs it: opening a bank account, signing a lease, buying property, setting up utilities and, for most visas, showing that you can support yourself from a Portuguese account. That is why Americans planning a D7 or D8 visa usually get the NIF before anything else. If you are new to the term, start with what a NIF is.
What you need from the US
Only two documents:
| Document | What works | Common mistakes |
|---|---|---|
| US passport | The photo page, sharp and uncropped | A US ID card or driver's license instead of the passport |
| Proof of address | A recent utility bill, bank statement or lease showing your US address | A document older than three months, or one in someone else's name |
As a non-EU citizen you apply with your passport. You do not need a Social Security number, a US tax return or an apostille for the NIF itself. If other relocation paperwork asks for apostilled documents, our apostille guide explains how that works from the US.
How the application works
- Upload your passport and proof of address. We check both before anything is filed, so a blurry photo or an old bill is caught before it reaches the Tax Authority.
- Sign the power of attorney online. You sign on screen. Because the power of attorney is given to a lawyer, it needs no notary and no apostille.
- A Portuguese lawyer files your application with the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira the same day your documents are complete.
- You receive the official NIF document as a PDF. How long the Tax Authority is taking right now is on our live turnaround page.
Do Americans need a fiscal representative?
Not to get the NIF. Since 2022 the law lets non-residents outside the EU meet the representative duty by switching on electronic notifications in the Portal das Finanças, and the duty only starts once you have something taxable in Portugal, such as property, a car or Portuguese income. The rule, with the Tax Authority's own documents, is in you do not need a fiscal representative to get a NIF. Some services still sell representation as a yearly subscription. Coepi charges once and never renews.
What it costs
The NIF itself is free at a Finanças office in Portugal. From the US you pay for the service around it. Coepi charges €39.99 including VAT, once. Bordr charges $150 and then $150 a year after the first 12 months, and NIF Express charges €49.99 and then €49.99 a year (both checked on 21 October 2026). Every provider is compared, with dates, on our NIF price comparison.
After the NIF arrives
- Get your Portal das Finanças password. It is posted to your address on file; our password guide explains the steps.
- Open a bank account. See opening a Portuguese bank account.
- Keep your US address on file until you move. You update it with Finanças when you become resident; the NIF itself never changes.
Who charges what, by name: cheapest NIF in Portugal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply while I am still in the US? Yes. The whole process is online, and most Americans apply months before they travel.
Does a NIF make me a Portuguese tax resident? No. A NIF is a tax number, not a residency status. Tax residence depends on where you live, not on holding the number.
Is a NIF filed through a lawyer the same as one from the Finanças counter? Yes. It is the same official number from the same Tax Authority, valid for life.
Ready to apply from the US? Get your Portuguese NIF online for €39.99, filed by a lawyer the same day.
Reviewed for legal accuracy by Thaís R. Garrido, Advogada, OA n.º 58735L.