Get NIF and open a bank account in 1 week, done in-person?

basil3 · 2021-09-27T23:30:42+02:00

Find out how to secure your NIF and open a bank account in Lisbon within a week as a non-EU citizen, including tips for local legal representatives.

basil3 New member

Member since 14 September 2021

basil3New member27 September 2021 21:30:42

My wife and I are looking to move to Portugal next year and we are in the process of getting ready for the D7 application process. We plan on traveling to Lisbon next month for a week to look around and get the NIFs and open a bank account.

1. Can we get a NIF immediately if we apply in person, at one of the financas offices? We are in the US and we understand that as non-EU citizens,聽 we need a local fiscal/legal representative that we will have to take with us to the financas office to apply for the NIF. We are hoping we can find people in Lisbon, before we arrive there, who are willing to act as our legal representatives and meet us when we get there. We understand that we can do this online as well, but we are keen to do it in person. Information security is a constant worry and we are keen to do as much as possible in person.

2. Open a bank account.

Is it possible to get both of the above steps done in a week?

We appreciate all those who answer on this forum and we've gleaned a great deal of good advice and pointers thus far!

JohnnyPT Portugal Expert

Member since 23 May 2020

JohnnyPTPortugal Expert27 September 2021 22:04:12

4906

Hi Basil,

Of course you can do these steps in a week.
You can easily apply to a solicitor to help you with these issues. There is usually a solicitor's office near a tax office (i.e "reparti莽茫o de finan莽as").

You can also look for one solicitor near where you will be staying, and contact them by email before you arrive to Portugal. Find out in advance from the solicitor what documentation you will need to open a bank account.

Solicitors, Lawyers & Administrative division of Portugal:
/forum/viewtopic.php?id=941009

Best Regards

basil3 New member

Member since 14 September 2021

basil3New member27 September 2021 23:24:38

Johnny, thanks for the quick response. Your article on Solicitors and Lawyers @ /forum/viewtopic.php?id=941009 was invaluable. We'll start calling some solicitors in Lisbon till we find someone who speaks English. Thanks again and if we make it to Portugal, I hope we can find a way to show you our gratitude, in person, for sharing all your expertise.