This material is going to be extremely handy if you have heard of NIF already and want to familiarize yourself with this matter in a closer way. Well, follow us, and we will try to be as specific as possible!
Starting with What It Is
NIF is an individual tax ID number. It is going to be necessary for those who work in Portugal or are involved in any other activities there.
You shouldn’t postpone applying for NIF in Portugal if you stay in this country. And, it doesn’t really matter how long you plan to be here. Keep in mind that NIF is given by the Portuguese authorities. You can do everything officially but at the same time, there is an option of sticking to the assistance of the experts who will help you with dealing with the basic documents. If you feel uncertain about the details of the process or just want it to go smoother and faster, it may be a really nice idea.
NIF consists of nine digits and is going to be displayed on the identity cards.
What Happens if You Do Not Apply for NIF?
Well, you won’t be punished for this. Nevertheless, you are likely to experience some difficulties if you do not have it. This is what we mean:
- You are not going to be able to sign a mobile phone contract;
- You will come across some hardships when trying to get a loan;
- You are about to inherit Portuguese assets according to the last will;
- You won’t be able to buy a property and accept some job opportunities in case they appear.
But this is not even it! You are going to need NIF if you make a decision to buy a car, open a bank account, set up the Internet, and sure, pay annual income taxes. It will also be necessary in case you plan to attend a local university.
That is why you’d better apply for NIF. This will help you to get rid of some of the obstacles that may arise on your way when you continue to live in Portugal.
Applying for NIF: Differentiating Two Different Scenarios
Well, things are going to be different if you are a Portuguese resident and if you are considered to be a non-resident. Let us start with the first variant.
So, you can visit the local tax office or ask the lawyer to complete all the stuff for you in case you are a resident of Portugal. And, you are also free to ask the experts to assist you with getting your NIF, and there is a chance to do so online, so you won’t even have to go anywhere. In this case, the faster you want to receive your NIF, the more you will have to pay for this kind of services.
If you are a non-resident, you can also receive a NIF but it will be temporary. It will be replaced with the permanent one as long as you spend a few months in Portugal or become its constant resident.
What Happens When You Visit the Office to Apply for NIF?
First of all, you need to check where the nearest office is located. The wisest way to do so is to use Google Maps. As for when you should go there, try to arrive right before the office opens because it will help you to avoid waiting for too long in the queue.
Once you arrive, you will have to show the proof of address and your passport to the local office. So, it is going to be reasonable to get ready with this beforehand because these are the vital documents you will have to provide when you start to deal with the representative in the office.
If you wonder what is going to be provided in case a NIF has to be received for a kid, this is just a birth certificate. However, it works only for children who do not have a passport or ID (both for the EU and non-EU ones).
Do not worry if you do not speak Portuguese. In most cases, the employees of such offices speak at least a bit of English. Well, your documents will be accepted as long as you state that you want to receive a NIF. By the way, you will also be charged a small fee. However, the process of getting a NIF is free. This is it!
If you make a decision to get NIF online, you can expect to get it about in a week. If you stick to the professional help that requires just paying for the services and enclosing the necessary docs, you are likely to wait for a shorter time.
Getting NIF Online: What Has to Be Considered in This Case?
First of all, you need to be aware of the fact that this is the simplest option ever. If you have no wish to bother about the details of getting NIF and visit the office in person, this variant is going to be the most rational one.
The only thing you have to do is provide fine scans of the documents. They have to be done in a proper way and be of high quality. Only in this case, you will receive NIF quickly and without any problems.
By the way, it is not going to be too expensive if you choose experts who offer fine and fair prices. You will avoid standing in the queues and experiencing pain in the neck as a result of dealing with all this. That is why such an idea is rather good.
This is what you need to know about NIF if you are planning to receive it soon. Hope the info stated here was clear and useful!
