Portugal NIF services compared: price, tax representation and turnaround (2026)

A Portuguese NIF costs nothing at Finanças. Online services still charge you anything from €79 to €170, or $150 at the one that prices in dollars. Two of them don’t show a price on their NIF pages at all.

And the prices aren’t for the same thing. One includes 6 months of tax representation, another 12, another doesn’t mention it. Some are quoted with VAT on top, some don’t say.

So you can’t line up the headline numbers and pick. This post puts seven services side by side on the same basis: first-year price, months of representation included, what you pay after that, stated turnaround and VAT. Each figure comes from the provider’s own page and is footnoted.

One thing to know first: we run one of these services, Novomove. So every service, ours included, gets the same columns. Where a page doesn’t say something, the table says “Not stated”.

If you’d like the details of our own service, they’re on our Portugal NIF online service page.

In this guide8 sections

1. What are you actually paying for when you buy a NIF service?
2. How do the online NIF services compare in 2026?
3. Do you need a tax representative to get a NIF?
4. Which service fits your situation?
5. What should you check before you pay any NIF service?
6. When might another service suit you better?
7. Where does Novomove fit, and what are its limits?
8. What do the providers' own pages show?

What are you actually paying for when you buy a NIF service?

You’re paying someone to file your NIF application and, in most cases, to act as your tax representative for a set period. The number itself is free from Finanças, Portugal’s tax authority.^[1]

Those are two different jobs, and Finanças treats them as two different roles:^[2]

• The filer. Someone you give a power of attorney, who applies for the NIF for you. Their job ends when the number is issued.
• The tax representative. Someone based in Portugal who accepts the role, and whom Finanças can contact about your tax affairs. That role stays in place until it’s removed.

Most services also deal with your Finanças password, the login for Portal das Finanças. Some request it for you, some send you instructions, some don’t say.

You can also skip the services. As a non-resident, you can apply in person at a Finanças office, by appointment, or give someone a power of attorney to apply for you online.^[3] Either way, the NIF is yours for life, and each person gets one.^[4]

How do the online NIF services compare in 2026?

Here’s what each provider publishes about its NIF service. Read the price together with the representation column, then check what you pay after that.

Service	First-year price (as published)	Representation included	After that	Stated turnaround	VAT
Novomove[5]	€79	12 months	€79/year on auto-renew, or a one-time plan with no renewal	Usually 3 to 7 business days; Express +€40, 3 business days from power-of-attorney approval	Ex VAT (EU billing address adds 23% Portuguese VAT; non-EU none)
AnchorLess[6]	From €99 (price shown when we checked; €149 shown struck through)	6 months	€149/year	FAQ: 3 to 10 business days after documents; 24-hour option offered	VAT not stated
Bordr[7]	$150	12 months	$150/year	1 to 2 weeks (its estimate from recent customers); no express option	VAT not stated
Step Inside Portugal[8]	€100 + VAT	Not stated on its NIF page	Not stated	Filed within 1 business day; NIF usually within 5 business days	+ VAT
MigRun[9]	€109; urgent €170	Not stated	Not stated	Urgent: up to 3 business days. Standard: see its page	VAT not stated
Lexidy[10]	Fixed-price proposal after a consultation	Arranged for non-EU residents who need one; months not stated	Not stated	Not stated on its NIF page	No price shown
e-Residence[11]	Not shown on its NIF pages (quoted in its application form)	12 months for non-EU applicants	Renews yearly; fee in its terms	See its page	No price shown

Prices checked on 10 November 2026. Every figure is as the provider publishes it on its own pages. Where a cell says “See its page”, check the provider’s page for its current figure.

How to read the table

Start with the months of representation. AnchorLess’s from-€99 price includes 6 months, and after that its representation is €149 a year. Novomove’s €79 and Bordr’s $150 each include 12 months.

Then look at the “After that” column. That’s what you pay each year to keep the representative: €79 with us, $150 with Bordr, and €149 with AnchorLess once its first 6 months are up.

Then adjust for VAT. Our €79 becomes €97.17 if your billing address is in the EU, because 23% Portuguese VAT applies. Step Inside Portugal’s €100 is also quoted plus VAT. AnchorLess, Bordr and MigRun don’t state VAT on their NIF pages.

Bordr prices in US dollars, so what $150 costs you in euros moves with the exchange rate.^[12]

Do you need a tax representative to get a NIF?

No. You don’t need a tax representative to get the number. Finanças says so in its own guidance on the 2022 rule change.^[13]

Whether you need one later depends on where you live and what ties you have to Portugal:

• If you live in the EU or EEA (which includes Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), you never need one.^[14]
• If you live outside the EU or EEA and have no Portuguese tax ties, you don’t need one either.
• If you live outside the EU or EEA and take on Portuguese tax ties, such as owning property, registering a car in Portugal, signing an employment contract or starting self-employed work, you have 15 days to appoint a representative or switch on electronic notifications from Finanças.^[13]

Our longer guide on whether you need a fiscal representative in Portugal goes through each case.

“So why would I pay for one?”

Because of the post. Finanças sends your password by letter to the address on your NIF, about 3 to 4 weeks after the number is issued. If that’s your representative’s address, it reaches someone in Portugal who can pass it on.

In our experience, some formal letters still arrive on paper even after you’ve switched on electronic notifications. With us, anything that reaches our partner lawyer’s address is scanned to your Novomove account, usually within 24 hours.

That’s a practical reason, and the legal rule above still applies. If you won’t have Portuguese ties for a while and you’re happy to check Portal das Finanças yourself, you may decide you don’t need one.

Which service fits your situation?

It depends on whether you’ll need a representative, how fast you need the number, and what else you’re setting up.

If you live in the EU or EEA

You never need a tax representative, so compare the filing price and the turnaround. Step Inside Portugal’s NIF page quotes €100 + VAT and doesn’t state representation. Our €79 includes 12 months of representation anyway, and you can choose the one-time plan so nothing renews.

If you live outside the EU and have no Portuguese ties yet

You don’t need a representative for the number. But once you take on a Portuguese tax tie, like buying property, signing a job contract or starting work for yourself in Portugal, you have 15 days to appoint one or switch on electronic notifications.

So the months of representation matter:

• 12 months: Novomove, Bordr, and e-Residence for non-EU applicants.
• 6 months: AnchorLess.
• Arranged if you need one, months not stated: Lexidy.
• Not stated on their NIF pages: Step Inside Portugal and MigRun.

If you need it fast

Here’s what each provider states about speed:

• Novomove Express: +€40 per NIF, 3 business days from power-of-attorney approval.
• MigRun urgent: €170, up to 3 business days.
• AnchorLess: offers a 24-hour option; its NIF page doesn’t show the price.
• Step Inside Portugal: files within 1 business day, and you usually have the NIF within 5 business days.

Bordr states that it doesn’t offer expedited services.

If you also need a bank account

Our Solo bundle covers the NIF and a Portuguese bank account for €359 ex VAT. You open the account through our partner bank, and the steps are on our Portuguese bank account page.

Step Inside Portugal’s NIF page also lists a NIF and bank account package at €300 + VAT, with €350 shown struck through.^[8]

If you’d rather do it yourself

Book an appointment at a Finanças office and apply in person. It costs nothing. You’ll need to be in Portugal, or give someone you trust a power of attorney to apply for you. Either way, you’ll handle the password letter and any representative question yourself.

What should you check before you pay any NIF service?

Ask these six things, whichever provider you choose:

Here is what to look for on each point.

• How many months of representation are included, and what does renewal cost? Put the two numbers side by side before you compare prices.
• How is renewal billed, and how do you stop it? With us, you choose auto-renew at €79 a year or a one-time plan. Bordr says representation is billed yearly after 12 months.
• Who files your application, and who represents you? Our partner lawyer files under a power of attorney you e-sign. AnchorLess says its partner lawyers submit your application once you sign a power of attorney online. Step Inside Portugal has you sign a proxy and files within 1 business day. Bordr connects you with a Portuguese lawyer as your fiscal representative. MigRun forwards your application to a lawyer. e-Residence says the power of attorney you sign also makes it your fiscal representative for the first 12 months. Lexidy’s NIF page says its team of immigration lawyers handles it.
• What happens with your Finanças password? We request it for you, and so do Bordr and AnchorLess. AnchorLess adds that it can take 3 to 4 weeks to arrive by post. MigRun sends you instructions to request it yourself.
• What happens after year one? Ask what renewal costs and how you leave. When you move to Portugal, you’ll update your NIF address and can remove the representative.
• Is VAT included, and which currency is the price in? Ask if the page doesn’t say.

When might another service suit you better?

Here’s where another provider’s published offer may fit you better than ours:

• Bordr, if you want 12 months’ representation priced in US dollars. Its page says ongoing representation covers getting your NIF and forwarding messages from the tax office until you appoint a new representative.
• Step Inside Portugal, if you want the number and plan to handle representation yourself. It quotes €100 + VAT, for adults and minors alike.
• Lexidy, if you want a law firm with offices in Lisbon and Porto. It gives you a fixed-price proposal after a consultation.
• e-Residence, if you also have Spanish paperwork, such as an NIE. It offers Spain and Portugal services from one firm.
• AnchorLess, if you also need help in Spain or Italy. It sells help with Spanish NIE and NIF numbers and the Italian codice fiscale.
• MigRun, if you want a stated urgent option: €170 for up to 3 business days. Its page says your application goes to a lawyer who starts it the next business day.

Where does Novomove fit, and what are its limits?

Novomove charges €79 ex VAT for a NIF with 12 months of tax representation and the Finanças password request. Our partner lawyer files under a power of attorney you e-sign. The NIF usually arrives in 3 to 7 business days, or 7 to 10 when Finanças has a backlog.

Once it arrives, you can check the number with our free NIF checker.

After 12 months, you choose: €79 a year on auto-renew, or a one-time plan with no renewal. If you need the number sooner, Express is +€40 per NIF for 3 business days from power-of-attorney approval.

The limits, plainly:

• If your billing address is in the EU, you pay 23% Portuguese VAT on top, so €79 becomes €97.17.
• Finanças issues the number, so we can’t control its pace. Our turnarounds are what usually happens. When Finanças has a backlog, ours runs 7 to 10 business days.
• Representation renews each year on auto-renew unless you pick the one-time plan. Our tax representative service page explains how renewal works.
• Removing the representative later is free if you do it yourself on Portal das Finanças, or €50 if we do it. Here’s how representative removal works.

If that fits what you need, our prices page lists the NIF, Express and the €359 Solo bundle.^[5]

Frequently asked questions

Is a NIF free in Portugal?

Yes. Finanças issues the NIF free of charge.^[1] What you pay a service for is the filing, and usually the tax representation.

Can I get a NIF without a tax representative?

Yes. You don’t need a representative to get the number.^[13] You may need one later if you live outside the EU or EEA and take on Portuguese tax ties.

Do EU citizens need a fiscal representative in Portugal?

No, if you live in the EU or EEA, including Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.^[14] The rule follows where you live, so an EU citizen living in the US is treated like any other non-EU resident. You can still use a service to file the NIF for you.

How long does it take to get a NIF online?

It depends on the service and on Finanças. Ours usually takes 3 to 7 business days, or 3 business days from power-of-attorney approval with Express. The table above shows what each other provider states.

Does a NIF expire?

No. You get one NIF for life.^[4] What renews is the tax representation, if your service includes it.

Does getting a NIF make me tax resident in Portugal?

No. Tax residence depends on spending more than 183 days in Portugal or having your habitual home here.^[15] Our guide on whether a NIF makes you tax resident explains the tests.

What happens after the first 12 months of representation?

It depends on the service. With us, it’s €79 a year on auto-renew, or nothing if you chose the one-time plan. Bordr charges $150 a year, and e-Residence renews yearly with the fee in its terms.

Can I change or remove my tax representative later?

Yes. You can appoint a new representative or remove the current one at Finanças. With us, removal is free if you do it yourself on Portal das Finanças, or €50 if we do it.

Are NIF service prices quoted with VAT?

Not always. Our €79 is ex VAT, and EU billing addresses pay 23% Portuguese VAT. Step Inside Portugal quotes €100 + VAT. AnchorLess, Bordr and MigRun don’t state VAT on their NIF pages.

Can I pay for a NIF service in US dollars?

Yes, with Bordr. Bordr publishes its price in US dollars: $150. The other services in our table that show a price publish it in euros, so if you pay with a dollar card, your card provider converts it at its own rate.

Do I need a VAT representative if I’m self-employed?

Yes, if you live outside the EU or EEA and your self-employed work is liable to Portuguese VAT, you need a VAT representative. Switching on electronic notifications doesn’t replace it.^[14]

Can my family get NIFs too?

Yes. Anyone, Portuguese or foreign, resident or not, can get a NIF, children included.^[1] Each person needs their own. With us, each NIF is €79 ex VAT, and our Couple bundle covers two NIFs and a joint bank account for €428 ex VAT.

What do the providers’ own pages show?

These are cropped screenshots of each provider’s own NIF page, showing the price and what’s included, so you can check the table against the source. Lexidy and e-Residence don’t show a NIF price on their NIF pages, so there’s no screenshot for them.

Sources and how we checked

1. gov.pt, “Pedir o número de identificação fiscal para pessoa singular” (NIF request service: free; open to any Portuguese or foreign person, resident or not).
2. Autoridade Tributária, FAQ 4991 on applying through a representative.
3. Autoridade Tributária, “Atribuição de NIF a cidadãos estrangeiros não residentes” (leaflet).
4. Decreto-Lei n.º 14/2013, 28 January 2013, articles 3, 4 and 23(2) (the NIF rules).
5. Novomove, prices and NIF service, checked 10 Nov 2026.
6. AnchorLess, NIF Portugal, checked 10 Nov 2026.
7. Bordr, Portugal NIF and Bordr, turnaround times, checked 10 Nov 2026.
8. Step Inside Portugal, Taxpayer Number (NIF), checked 10 Nov 2026.
9. MigRun, NIF number online in Portugal, checked 10 Nov 2026.
10. Lexidy, Portuguese NIF and ID services and Lexidy, our offices, checked 10 Nov 2026.
11. e-Residence, NIF online and e-Residence, how to apply for a NIF in Portugal online, checked 10 Nov 2026.
12. European Central Bank, euro foreign exchange reference rates, 10 Nov 2026: 1 EUR = 1.1214 USD, so $150 was about €133.76. The rate moves daily.
13. Autoridade Tributária, Ofício Circulado n.º 90054/2022 (representative not required to get a NIF; tax ties and the 15-day rule).
14. Lei Geral Tributária, consolidated, article 19 (paragraphs 6, 8 and 15: tax representation, EU and EEA residents, VAT representative), with the Autoridade Tributária representation page.
15. Código do IRS, consolidated, article 16 (tax residence).