The AIMA site says you need NISS (and NIF) to get a residence permit from your D7 visa. The government site is very clear on how you do this, you fill the form in and attach a (single) file with your scanned documents (in my case, passport and D7 visa). Ive done it a few times and get emails back saying it failed because the form wasnt filled in properly or the documents not properly scanned or the NISS already exists (doesnt say which of these apply in my case). Has anybody figured out what might be wrong? I will just keep on re-submitting with small changes each time. e.g. giving UK phone instead of PT one; motherās maiden name instead of married, checking different āreasonā boxes. The chat helpline only works if you first enter your NISS ā¦
You may try calling their support line.
Last time I did they answered and it was a human, who spoke English.
Well thanks for the info. I called both numbers and both times, after a 10 minute wait, the lady refused to acknowledge any understanding of English. Or of Dutch, Russian, French or German. The chatbot also is in Portuguese only. The other channels require a NISS. Its a Kafka-esque nightmare. Guess Iāll try resubmitting again and again with subtle random changes each time. Maybe re-do the document scan.
My lawyer got us a NIF while applying for the GV. I imagine, if you just need a NIF, they would be able to do it for you relatively cheaply.
Hold on a sec, I see you mentioned NIF as well, have you already got it?
If not, you wonāt get a NISS without it I am afraid.
Good news is that getting a NIF is fairly easy.
Then for the NISS, you may want to attend in-person or at least email one of the Social Security offices, depending on where you are in the world. It seems they have offices in a lot of places outside Portugal:
My lawyer charged a lot more than these guys who I used for dependant and were zero hassle: e-residence.com
Yes, Ive got NIF, opened bank account, bought the house, got utility bills. As you say,NIF was easy. AFM in Tavira wanted to charge us 00s of Euros for it and wait 2 weeks; we rocked up to the tax office in Olhao, took a ticket, 30 minutes later walked out with 2 NIFs having paid nothing. Someone on some immigration site (maybe this one) said the Tavira tax office was a disaster - overloaded- but Olhao was good. So it proved. Actually, rocking up in person to the social security office sounds a good plan - will try that, thanks. I see thereās one in Olhao.
Oops, I thought you were trying all this from abroad.
If already in PT, then definitely go there in person.
Thatās how I got my own NISS anyway.
One extra tip - put your email onto the NISS application form and remind them to enter it in the system. Makes registering online easier for you later on as you get the code by email instantly rather than through the post.
My lawyer told me a couple of months ago there is a change in obtaining NISS: you need a self/employment contract. Please update us after your visit social security office if it is the case.
Search function is your friend on this forum. From last yearās postsā¦
And if weāre talking about Digital Nomads here, then seems AIMA has created an endless loop for that:
That was my experience when trying to get a NISS in person in December. They also told me that all applications should be submitted online.
But Iām not on a D7 or other visa, as an EEA citizen the process is a bit different, so Iām not certain my experience applies to everyone or across SS offices. One thing Iāve learned about Portuguese bureaucracy is that YMMV is alive and well. E.g. I saw reports of people not being able to obtain a SNS (health number) without a NISS, but that didnāt prove to be an issue in my case.
@AlanWev So go to your local SS office and talk to them. While this is of course YMMV as well, Iāve generally found public servants to be friendly and helpful in Portugal.
Same for me, obtained SNS without NISS. Thatās why i am interested in first hand feedback after interaction with social security.
Itās funny how some things in life we think are for worse are sometimes for the better, and sadly sometimes the other way roundā¦
Though when I tried to apply for an EU health insurance card (EHIC) it was rejected since I didnāt have a NISSā¦ Even though the Gov.pt site does not list that as a requirement 
Again, YMMVā¦
My experience with the health insurance abroad is the UK wouldnt give me one, despite British passport all my life and currently living and paying tax there. I had worked very few years in UK (mostly far away with the oil business) and had also worked marginally more years in Holland than in UK. UK told me Holland is therefore āresponsible for my healthcare abroadā. Havent tested that. So in your case, without NISS you havent paid into the PT social security system, same as my case in UK. Maybe a country youāve previously paid tax (and social security contributions) to will give you one.
So has anyone here recently received a residence permit from AIMA based on a D7 visa WITHOUT having a NISS? The AIMA site clearly says its needed but Im prepared to believe practise over theory.
What would make sense is that NISS it to enable you to pay into the social security system and to receive benefits that follow from having paid. So, you need to be working. But that would mean D7 (retirement) and investment visa holders dont need one, and getting SNS doesnt need one. Logical but not the way its written down.
More evidence of @tkrunningās YMMV, this time at the Agency level.
While AIMA requires digital nomads to obtain a Social Security Registration Number (NISS) to receive their residence permits, Social Security claims that such a requirement is unnecessary.
You actually donāt technically need NISS for the residence permit if you donāt use public services - but you need one for even some basics - if you want to get free Portuguese lessons at the high schools for example. As to the problem on the site it can be as simple as a middle name. In the US my legal name is my first and last name only BUT in Portugal my legal name is first and second names in place of first name and only family name where family name goes. 3rd and 4th names are official in Portugal and messed me up for NISS, Utente, etc.
Hope my fails help you