Your Portal das Finanças password arrives by post, not email. Here is the registration form field by field, the address you must type, how long the letter takes, and how to reset it.
Portal das Finanças is the online tax portal that lets you manage your tax affairs in Portugal, from your Domicílio Fiscal to your Notificações and Liquidação documents. To log in you need your NIF and an access password, and that password does not arrive by email. It comes by post, to your fiscal address. Here is the whole process, field by field.
What you need before you start
- Your NIF. Nine digits, printed at the top of your NIF document.
- Your fiscal address, exactly as Finanças holds it. It is printed on your NIF document under Domicílio Fiscal. If you live outside Portugal, it is the block called Residência (Morada no Estrangeiro): the Morada, Cidade, Código Postal and Província lines, in that order. Copy it as printed, including the capitals and any odd line (a country in the Cidade line is normal).
If you got your NIF through Coepi, your account shows both, each with a copy button, and the delivery email lists them too.
If you do not have a NIF yet, you can get your Portuguese NIF online first. If you are unsure whether you need one at all, our explainer on what a NIF is and why you need one covers the basics.
Step 1: open the registration page
Open the Finanças registration at acesso.gov.pt. The page asks "Como pretende fazer o seu registo?" and shows two boxes.
Step 2: choose Registo NIF
The box Registo Gov.pt is for people with a Portuguese Cartão de Cidadão or the Chave Móvel Digital. Most foreigners have neither, so use the other box, Registo NIF. Type your NIF into Nº Contribuinte and press Registar.
Step 3: fill in the Novo Utilizador form
The next page, Novo Utilizador, has your NIF already filled in and asks for:
- E-mail and Telefone. Optional. With an email address and a Portuguese mobile number you can later cancel and recover the password online and get alerts. Tick Desejo receber emails if you want them.
- Morada Fiscal. Required. Paste your fiscal address exactly as it appears on your NIF document. If it does not match what Finanças holds, the registration does not go through.
- Pergunta Secreta and Resposta à pergunta. Pick a secret question and write an answer you will remember. You need it if you ever lose access.
Press Registar. That is everything you do online.
Step 4: wait for the letter
Your access password (senha) is generated and posted by CTT, the Portuguese postal service, to your fiscal address. The portal never sends it by email or SMS, so do not wait for one in your inbox.
The official timeframe is about 5 working days (5 dias úteis). In practice it often takes around 2 weeks, and longer abroad because of international post.
Make sure your address is correct first
Because the letter goes to your fiscal address, an out-of-date address means a lost password. If you have moved since your NIF was issued, update your Domicílio Fiscal before you register. Our guide on updating your NIF address on Portal das Finanças walks through how to change it. It is also worth confirming your email on Portal das Finanças once you can log in, so you receive notifications even though the password itself comes by post.
How to reset or change your password
If you are logged in and simply want a new password, search "dados de acesso" inside the portal and open Alterar Dados de Acesso. Tick Alterar Senha and set your new password. The rules require at least 8 characters with 1 number, 1 uppercase letter, 1 lowercase letter, and 1 special character.
Since January 2025, a temporary password must be changed before you can use other sections of the portal, so expect to set your own password on first login. Two-step authentication is available too, which adds a second layer of security.
If you have lost the password and cannot log in at all, use Recuperar Senha de Acesso on the same site. Without an email address and Portuguese mobile on file, the new password is posted again, so the same waiting time applies.
Quick answers
Which address do I type? The fiscal address printed on your NIF document, exactly as printed.
Can I get the password by email? No. It is always posted to your fiscal address.
How long does it take? Officially about 5 working days, often closer to 2 weeks, and longer abroad.
What if I lost it? Use Recuperar Senha de Acesso. Without email and a Portuguese mobile on file, it is posted again.
Whether you are setting up access for the first time or starting over after a lost letter, the foundation is a valid NIF tied to a correct address. Get your Portuguese NIF online today and start managing your taxes the right way.