Before you start

A valid passport
For non-EU non-residents: a fiscal representative in Portugal to obtain the NIF (a legal requirement until you are resident)
For the residence permit: an approved long-stay visa (e.g. D7 or D8) issued by a Portuguese consulate before you arrive, OR an eligible in-country route
Proof of accommodation (a 12-month lease is commonly expected for D8) and proof of income/means

Step-by-step

1
Get your NIF (tax number) first
The NIF (Numero de Identificacao Fiscal) is needed to sign a lease, open a bank account, get a phone contract, or sign almost anything. Apply free at a Financas office or Loja do Cidadao with your passport and proof of address. Non-EU/EEA citizens who are not yet resident must appoint a fiscal representative; many use an online service instead of queueing.
In personWho: You (with a fiscal representative if non-EU and non-resident)Same day in person; 1-2 weeks via an online serviceFree at Financas; online/representative services typically charge a fee
2
Apply for your long-stay visa at a consulate
Most people start abroad. The D7 (passive income, roughly 870-920 EUR/month of stable income at the 2026 minimum-wage level) suits retirees and the financially independent; the D8 digital-nomad visa targets remote workers and freelancers and needs a much higher income (around 4x the minimum wage). The consulate issues a visa valid ~4 months to enter Portugal and apply for the residence permit.
In personWho: You (at a Portuguese consulate via vistos.mne.gov.pt)~30-60 days for a decision (varies widely by consulate)Consular visa fee around EUR 75-90 (verify with your consulate)
3
Get a NISS (social security number) and other basics
Open a Portuguese bank account and, since 2025, obtain a NISS (Numero de Identificacao de Seguranca Social). A NISS is now commonly required to complete a residence-permit application or renewal, even for non-workers.
In personWho: YouDays to a few weeksFree
4
Complete your residence permit with AIMA
AIMA (Agencia para a Integracao, Migracoes e Asilo) replaced SEF in late 2023 and handles residence permits for non-EU nationals. You attend an appointment for biometrics and to submit your complete file. Since April 2025 files must be complete on submission - missing items mean rejection. The hard part is securing the appointment at all.
In personWho: You (appointment booked via AIMA)Long: appointments and processing can take many months, sometimes over a yearResidence-permit issuance roughly EUR 150-170 (verify current AIMA fees)

Documents you’ll need

Passport (valid)
NIF (Portuguese tax number)
NISS (social security number)
Approved long-stay visa (D7/D8) or proof of eligible in-country status
Proof of accommodation (lease, often 12-month for D8)
Proof of income / means and a Portuguese bank account
Criminal record certificate and proof of health insurance

Things most newcomers don’t know

Get your NIF first - nothing works without it.

You cannot sign a lease, open a bank account, or get a phone contract without a NIF. It is the very first thing to sort, ideally before or immediately on arrival.

Source: official + provider consensus

Brace for the AIMA appointment backlog.

AIMA inherited a backlog reported in the hundreds of thousands of pending cases. Getting any appointment can take months, and processing can stretch past a year - plan your timeline and travel around it.

Source: Portuguese government / news reports 2025-2026

Non-EU non-residents legally need a fiscal representative for the NIF.

If your address is outside the EU/EEA and you are not yet resident, the tax authority requires a fiscal representative. Once you are resident you can usually remove them - factor in the recurring cost until then.

Source: portaldasfinancas.gov.pt / provider consensus

Since April 2025, an incomplete AIMA file is rejected outright.

AIMA now requires applications to be fully complete at submission. One missing translation, apostille, or the NISS can bounce the whole file and send you back to the queue.

Source: AIMA / Portuguese government

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying to lease an apartment or open a bank account before you have a NIF
Underestimating AIMA wait times when booking flights, leases, or a job start date
Turning up to an AIMA appointment with an incomplete file (missing NISS, translations, or apostilles)
Confusing the simpler EU-citizen registration with the AIMA process - they are different