How to Get a Social Security Number (NISS) in Portugal

To get a NISS in Portugal, you complete form RV 1006, gather your identification documents, and submit the application either in person at a Social Security office through the NISS na Hora service or online through the Segurança Social website. The number is free, it stays with you for life, and you need it before you can legally start work.

Who Has to Get One

Anyone who works in Portugal needs a NISS. That covers employees on formal contracts, domestic workers, and self-employed workers (trabalhadores independentes). Employers are required to register new hires with social security before the contract takes effect, and they cannot do that without your number.¹ Without a valid NISS you cannot legally earn a salary through formal channels, receive social benefits, or have employer contributions credited to your account.

You do not need a NIF (tax identification number) before applying for a NISS. If you already have a Portuguese address, you can request a NIF, a NISS, and an SNS health service number at the same time.² Having a NIF already in hand does speed the NISS process because it links your social security record to the national tax registry.

Documents to Gather

What you need depends on your nationality. The requirements split into two groups.

If You Are an EU, EEA, or Swiss Citizen

Bring one of the following:

Your national ID card from your country of origin, plus an uncertified copy
A valid, scannable passport
A residence card, if one has already been issued to you in Portugal

If You Are a Third-Country National

You need all of the following:

A valid, scannable passport
A work visa or another document authorizing employment
A temporary or permanent residence permit, or another civil identification document from your country of origin

Third-country nationals must also provide proof of a residence application in Portugal, such as confirmation of a pending residence permit or a residence authorization certificate.³

The RV 1006 Form

Foreign applicants use form RV 1006, downloadable from the Segurança Social website. It asks for your full name, your mother’s and father’s names, your current address, phone number, and email.⁴ Fill every field. Incomplete or inconsistent information is the most common reason applications get delayed.

If you cannot apply yourself, you can authorize someone else to do it. The representative needs either a formal power of attorney (Procuração) or a completed Declaration of Authorisation for Third Parties (form PA12), along with their own valid identification.³ This is common for applicants who have not yet arrived in Portugal or who have limited mobility.

Applying in Person Through NISS na Hora

The fastest route is the NISS na Hora service, available at roughly 100 locations across the country, including district Social Security offices and local service centers.⁵ “Na Hora” means “on the spot,” and the service is set up to issue your number during the same visit. Bring the completed RV 1006 and all supporting documents. Staff catch minor paperwork errors right there, which is a real advantage over a remote submission.

Most offices require you to book an appointment in advance. You can schedule through the online Siga portal or by phone. Walk-in availability varies by location and tends to be limited, so booking ahead saves a wasted trip.

Applying Online

You can also apply through the Segurança Social website by completing the digital form and uploading scanned copies of your documents. The official government page states there is no set deadline for the NISS to be assigned after an online submission, so processing times vary.³ In practice, expect anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. If you need the number urgently to start a job, the in-person route is more reliable.

After You Get Your Number

Register on the Segurança Social Direta portal at app.seg-social.pt. You can authenticate with a Portuguese Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão), the Chave Móvel Digital, or a Segurança Social username and password.⁶ Foreign nationals without a Citizen Card typically use the username and password option, which requires registering and activating a verification code.

Through the portal you can view your full contribution history, confirm your employer is reporting payments correctly, download your digital social security card (Cartão da Segurança Social), and, if you are self-employed, file your mandatory quarterly income declarations. Log in periodically. Catching a reporting error early is far simpler than trying to correct years of missing contributions later.

Self-employed workers should know that once registered, quarterly declarations through Segurança Social Direta are mandatory. These cover three-month periods, and missing or late submissions can trigger penalties or inaccurate contribution calculations.

A Note on the SNS Health Number

The NISS is not your health number. A common source of confusion is that Portugal issues a separate SNS utente number (Número de Utente) for the National Health Service. That is what you need to visit a health center, get prescriptions, or use emergency services. You get it by registering at your local Centro de Saúde with your passport, NIF, residence permit, and proof of address such as a utility bill. Some health centers also ask for a NISS, though this is not always officially required. Because both numbers involve similar paperwork, it is worth applying for your NIF, NISS, and SNS number in close succession once your residence documents are in order.²

1
gov.pt. Social Security – Employers’ Rights and Obligations in Portugal
2
gov.pt. How to Request NIF and NISS for Foreign Citizens in Portugal
3
gov.pt. Apply for a Social Security Identification Number (NISS)
4
Segurança Social. Requerimento Atribuição de Número de Identificação de Segurança Social – Cidadão Estrangeiro
5
Junta de Freguesia de Paranhos. NISS na Hora
6
Segurança Social. Serviço de Autenticação da Segurança Social