For Portugal's digital nomad visa (D8) you need a Portuguese tax number (NIF) before you can open the Portuguese bank account most applicants use for proof of funds, and before you submit the application. You can get the NIF online from anywhere: a passport, a proof of address and a power of attorney signed on screen. With Coepi it costs €39.99 including VAT, once, filed by a lawyer the same day.
TL;DR: For Portugal's digital nomad visa (D8) you need a Portuguese tax number (NIF) before you can open the Portuguese bank account most applicants use for proof of funds, and before you submit the application. You can get the NIF online from anywhere: a passport, a proof of address and a power of attorney signed on screen. With Coepi it costs €39.99 including VAT, once, filed by a lawyer the same day.
Where the NIF fits in a D8 application
The order matters, because each step needs the one before it:
- NIF. Get it remotely, before you travel.
- Portuguese bank account. Every bank asks for your NIF; see opening a Portuguese bank account.
- Proof of funds and income. You show that you earn enough from remote work outside Portugal. The income threshold follows the Portuguese minimum wage and changes every year, so check the current figure with the consulate before you apply.
- Accommodation in Portugal. A lease or booking, which a landlord will also want your NIF for.
- Visa application at the consulate or visa centre in your country of residence.
A slow NIF delays everything after it, which is why most nomads do it first. The D7 and D8 guide explains how the two visas differ.
What you need for the NIF
- Your passport (or, for EU citizens, a national ID card).
- A recent proof of address from where you live now: a utility bill, bank statement or lease.
That is all. No notary, no apostille and no certified translation for the NIF itself.
Do digital nomads need a fiscal representative?
Not to get the NIF. Since 2022, a non-resident outside the EU can meet the representative duty with the Portal das Finanças electronic notifications, and the duty only starts once you have something taxable in Portugal. Once you live in Portugal and change your address to a Portuguese one, the question no longer applies. The full rule is in you do not need a fiscal representative to get a NIF.
How long it takes
Coepi files every complete application the same day. After that, the Tax Authority's speed decides; our live turnaround page shows how long it is taking right now, measured on recent applications.
What it costs
Coepi: €39.99 including VAT, charged once. Bordr: $150, then $150 a year after the first 12 months. NIF Express: €49.99, then €49.99 a year (both checked on 21 October 2026). On a visa timeline of a year or more, the yearly fees add up. Every provider is on our NIF price comparison.
After the visa
When you move and register your Portuguese address, your NIF stays the same; you update the address in the Portal das Finanças (how to update your NIF address). If you become a tax resident, look at the IFICI regime that replaced the NHR.
Who charges what, by name: cheapest NIF in Portugal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the NIF before I have the visa? Yes, and you should. The NIF has no link to your visa status.
Does the NIF make me a Portuguese tax resident? No. Residence depends on where you live, not on the number.
Can my partner and children get one too? Yes. Children apply with their own passport or ID card and a birth certificate; see NIF for children and families.
Start here: get your Portuguese NIF online for €39.99.
Reviewed for legal accuracy by Thaís R. Garrido, Advogada, OA n.º 58735L.