How to Get a NISS in Portugal: Online Request, Documents and Pickup
You need a Social Security number before your first payslip or green receipt. How the online form works, what to attach and how contributions start.
A NISS (Número de Identificação da Segurança Social) is your Portuguese Social Security number. Foreigners request it free through an online form on the Segurança Social website, attaching ID, proof of work and, for non-EU nationals, proof of a residence application. You then collect the number in person at a Social Security office.
Without a NISS you cannot be registered as an employee, pay contributions as a freelancer or claim benefits such as sick pay. Portuguese citizens get one automatically with their Citizen Card; everyone else applies. The rules below follow the gov.pt guide updated on 3 September 2026 and are as of November 2026.
Who needs a NISS?
Anyone who works in Portugal needs one, whether employed or self-employed. Social Security uses the number to record contributions and to pay benefits such as sickness, parental, unemployment and pension benefits.
Common moments when you will be asked for it: signing an employment contract, opening self-employed activity, joining voluntary social insurance and dealing with AIMA. AIMA keeps your NISS in its records, and a wrong NISS there can hold up residence cases. A NISS is separate from your tax number; you will need a NIF from Finanças as well.
How do I request a NISS online?
The request is made on the form for foreign citizens (Pedido de NISS, Cidadão Estrangeiro) on the Segurança Social website. The process, as described in the gov.pt guide to NIF and NISS for foreigners:
- Open the NISS request form on seg-social.pt and fill in your personal data and Portuguese address.
- Attach scanned, valid documents for your case (see the next section).
- Submit. The request costs nothing.
- Follow the status on Segurança Social Direta, the online Social Security account.
- Wait for a registered letter at the address you gave, saying the NISS is ready to collect.
- Book a pickup on the SIGA platform or SigaApp, or by phone on 210 548 888 or 300 088 888 (working days, 9:00 to 18:00), and collect it with your ID.
Another person can collect it for you with an original power of attorney or the authorization form PA-12, plus ID. A lawyer can collect it with their professional card and a power of attorney.
Which documents do I need?
The gov.pt guide groups the documents into three types: identification, your work situation and, for non-EU nationals, your residence status.
| Document type | What counts (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Identification, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens | National ID card or passport |
| Identification, other nationals | Residence permit (temporary or permanent), passport or another national ID document |
| Work situation (one of these) | Employment contract; start of self-employed activity with receipts or invoices; company registration certificate; contract with a foreign employer (digital nomads); proof of eligibility for voluntary social insurance |
| Residence status (one of these) | Receipt of a residence permit application; receipt of a CPLP residence visa or CPLP residence certificate application |
People under international protection have their own list, such as a provisional residence permit or the receipt for one.
Can my employer request it for me?
Yes. An employer can file the request as your representative, but only after signing your employment contract and reporting the work relationship on Segurança Social Direta. The employer attaches a power of attorney or the PA-12 form and the representative’s ID. That request is only for assigning the NISS.
Foreign residents with an address in Portugal can, in some cases, request the NIF, NISS and SNS user number together in one go. Ask at a Loja do Cidadão or citizen service counter whether it offers that combined service.
How much will I pay in contributions?
For employees, the general rates published on gov.pt are 11% of gross salary from the worker and 23.75% from the employer, as of November 2026. The employer deducts your share from your pay and sends both to Social Security.
Self-employed workers pay 21.4% on a base of 70% of their service income, after a first-year exemption that applies to most people starting out. Our guide to working on recibos verdes explains the quarterly declaration and the minimum contribution.
| Status (as of November 2026) | Worker | Employer |
|---|---|---|
| Employee, general rate | 11% | 23.75% |
| Self-employed (green receipts) | 21.4% of relevant income | None |
When can I claim benefits?
Access to each benefit depends on a minimum contribution record, which differs by benefit. A new NISS gives you the right to register, not immediate entitlement. Check the specific benefit guide on the Segurança Social website, or ask at a Social Security office, before you count on a payment.
Once you have the number, ask for a password for Segurança Social Direta. It lets you see your contribution record, update your address and bank details, and follow requests online.
Bottom line
File the online request as soon as you have a job offer or a residence application receipt, because the registered letter and the pickup appointment can take longer than the request itself. Then check that AIMA, your employer and Finanças all hold the same NISS.
FAQ
Does a NISS cost anything?
No. Both the request and the collection are free, according to gov.pt.
Can I get a NISS before I have a residence permit?
Non-EU nationals need proof of a residence application, such as an AIMA receipt, plus proof of work. The gov.pt guide lists both as required documents. See our guide to AIMA appointments.
Is the NISS the same as the SNS number?
No. The SNS user number is for the National Health Service and comes from a health center; see our guide to the SNS user number.
Do I need a new NISS if I change jobs?
No. You keep the same NISS; your new employer reports the new work relationship under it.
