What kind of proof of employment status do I need to submit for my NISS application?


The Portuguese Social Security office requires individuals to provide proof of their employment status as part of their NISS application.

The type of proof of employment status document(s) that you need to submit depends on your current employment status and the country your employer is registered in. Please see the table below for more details.

Employment Status Required Documents

Employed in Portugal

Directly employed by a company that is legally registered in Portugal

You must provide one of the following:

  1. Complete and signed employment contract
  2. Employment Letter

Self-Employed in Portugal

Legally registered as self-employed in Portugal

You must provide all of the following:

  1. Copy of the document attesting to the self-employment activity (Comprovativo da Declaração de Início de Atividade)
  2. Copy of receipts and invoices

See our visual guide here - What documents do I need to submit to get a NISS if I’m self-employed?

Employed outside of Portugal

Working remotely in Portugal through D8 (Digital Nomad) Visa

  1. Complete and signed employment contract from your foreign employer

*Please note: The final review of your documents rests with the Social Security Office. Their acceptance or rejection of your application is ultimately outside our control.


Source: Atribuição de Número de Identificação de Segurança Social (NISS)

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