Country guide · Portugal
Get an ITIN as a Portuguese citizen
Last updated: August 2026
Bottom line
Get an ITIN as a Portuguese citizen is straightforward once the Portugal paperwork is in order. As a Hague Convention member, Portugal issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization. Treaty status (for ITIN holders): Active US treaty available, use Form W-8BEN to claim reduced withholding once the ITIN is assigned.
NHR + US LLC stack works well if structured before NHR application. The order matters; do not retrofit. This is the country-specific guide for Portuguese citizens to get an itin, apostille, banking, and treaty notes that change by jurisdiction. For the canonical procedural sequence (the steps everyone follows regardless of citizenship), see the main ITIN application page.
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is the IRS-issued tax ID for non-US residents without an SSN. It unlocks US tax filings, US bank accounts at issuers that require a TIN, and, most importantly for digital nomads, a US credit file. The application is Form W-7 + a valid reason code + original ID documents. Wrong reason code is the #1 cause of rejection.
What Portuguese citizens need to apply for an ITIN
Apostille
Procuradoria-Geral da República
~1·3 weeks, ~USD 20. As a Hague Convention member, Portugal issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
Banking flow
Portuguese residents open Mercury remotely. SEPA to Millennium/Caixa is reliable; ActivoBank and Revolut PT also accept Mercury inflows cleanly.
Timezone
UTC+0 (GMT), 5 hours ahead of IRS Austin. IRS Austin is on UTC-6 / Asunción Migración on UTC-3.
Country-specific note
Common: Portuguese freelancers with US clients, especially under the NHR regime, who need an ITIN to claim treaty-rate US withholding.
Treaty status (for ITIN holders): Active US treaty available, use Form W-8BEN to claim reduced withholding once the ITIN is assigned.
Questions Portuguese citizens ask about itin application
How long does the apostille take for Portuguese citizens? +
1·3 weeks through Procuradoria-Geral da República, at roughly USD 20. As a Hague Convention member, Portugal issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
How do Portuguese-resident clients usually handle banking with their US LLC? +
Portuguese residents open Mercury remotely. SEPA to Millennium/Caixa is reliable; ActivoBank and Revolut PT also accept Mercury inflows cleanly.
What is the most common reason Portuguese citizens apply for an ITIN? +
Common: Portuguese freelancers with US clients, especially under the NHR regime, who need an ITIN to claim treaty-rate US withholding.
Apply for your ITIN, Portuguese citizen
See the full procedural sequence on the canonical ITIN application page, or jump straight to the apply form.
Apply for your ITINKeep going
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