How to check a Portuguese VAT number

Format

Portuguese businesses use their número de identificação fiscal (NIF) as their VAT number. For intra-Community transactions it is written with the country prefix: PT + 9 digits. Company numbers usually start with 5; sole traders use their personal NIF, which usually starts with 1, 2 or 3.

The ninth digit is a check digit (modulo 11). iva.pt flags numbers whose check digit does not match before querying VIES, which catches most typing errors.

Checking in VIES

1. Go to iva.pt and enter the number with or without the PT prefix.
2. Use the qualified check — entering your own EU VAT number — to obtain a European Commission consultation number, the best evidence that you checked the number on that date.
3. Compare the name and address returned by VIES with your customer's details.
4. Request the PDF report (in English or Portuguese) and keep it with your invoice.

Valid NIF, invalid in VIES?

Common and important: a Portuguese NIF is only active in VIES if the business is registered for intra-Community transactions. See why a Portuguese NIF may be invalid in VIES.

If you only need to confirm that a Portuguese company exists (not its VAT status), the Portuguese company database at lei.pt can help.