**NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal)** is the first step. It identifies you to the Portuguese tax office (Finanças) and is required in almost every formal interaction — renting, opening a bank account, buying a SIM, filing taxes. Free at any Finanças branch in person. EU citizens apply on their own with a passport and proof of address (which may be abroad). Non-EU non-residents must appoint a **fiscal representative** — any Portuguese resident with a local address, not necessarily a lawyer or accountant. Online services handle the request for €50–100, but in person it's free.
**Once you become resident you no longer need a fiscal representative** — Finanças can contact you directly. Switch your status from non-resident to resident at the Finanças portal or in person as soon as you have a residence permit or EU registration certificate, to avoid paying for fiscal representation year after year.
**NISS (Social Security number)** identifies you to the Social Security office. Since 2025 it's mandatory for AIMA residence permit applications — a recent change that caught many people off guard. Apply at any Segurança Social branch or at a Loja da Cidade desk, with NIF, passport or residence document, and proof of address.
**A bank account** opens with NIF and passport. Mainstream Portuguese banks for residents: Millennium BCP, Santander, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, ActivoBank. Digital banks (Revolut, N26, Wise) work for daily spend but not for most official processes (salary, Finanças) — in 2026 they're still seen as a complement, not a replacement.
**AIMA in 2026**: there's a massive backlog. Estimates put active pending applications at 40,000–60,000 as of April 2026. Appointment wait: 1–3 months in normal periods, up to 6 months at peaks; processing after the appointment can take over a year for initial applications. Since 28 April 2025, AIMA only accepts applications that are 100% complete — one missing document means immediate rejection. Digital renewals via the AIMA portal are faster than in-person.
**The AIMA office serving Setúbal** is usually in Palmela (neighbouring municipality) or Almada. Book online at the AIMA portal — expect 4 to 8 weeks from booking to appointment. If you arrived with a visa issued at a consulate (e.g. D7 from London), the first appointment is to collect the residence card, not to request the visa again. The distinction matters — while waiting for the card, you're not "visa-less," you hold a valid authorisation awaiting issuance.
Official sources
Last reviewed: 2026-04