Access Portuguese banking without traveling to Portugal. We manage everything with Novo Banco — from paperwork to account activation, all done online.
A Portuguese bank account opens doors across Europe and simplifies your life in Portugal.
Send and receive money across 36 SEPA countries with minimal fees and fast processing times.
Required for buying property in Portugal. Handle deposits, mortgage payments, and notary fees directly.
Pay utilities, phone bills, subscriptions, and set up direct debits for rent and other regular expenses.
One transparent price with no hidden fees. Everything handled for you.
Full assistance from application to activation
From first click to full banking access — here's exactly what happens.
Start by completing the payment and providing your information through our encrypted online application. This takes about 10 minutes.
Our team will guide you through a brief verification process to confirm your identity and review your submitted documents.
Novo Banco will reach out to validate your phone number and email address — a standard security measure for all new accounts.
Once approved, the bank sends the official account opening contract and related paperwork directly to your email inbox.
Print the contract, review the terms carefully, and sign in the designated areas. We'll guide you on exactly where to sign.
Mail the signed paperwork to our legal partner in Lisbon. They'll certify your signature locally — no need for expensive Apostille authentication.
Your account is live! You'll receive your IBAN, online banking credentials, and your international debit card will be shipped to your address.
Prepare these documents before starting. We'll review everything and guide you if anything needs adjustment.
If you hold a passport from outside the European Union and don't currently reside in an EU country, we can only proceed with your bank account application if you can demonstrate that you're in the process of obtaining a Portuguese visa. You'll need to provide documentation proving your visa application is underway, along with any supporting materials specific to your visa category.
You'll need to submit a high-quality scanned copy of your valid passport. Please note that photographs taken with a mobile phone or camera will not be accepted — the bank requires an actual scan. Make sure the document is clear and legible, showing your photo, personal details, signature, issue and expiry dates, and the machine-readable zone at the bottom. All pages containing stamps or visas should also be included.
Provide official documentation that confirms your residential address in your country of residence. Acceptable documents include recent utility bills (electricity, gas, water, internet), bank statements showing your address, government-issued correspondence, or a residence certificate from local authorities. The document must be dated within the last three months and clearly display your full name and complete address.
The bank needs to understand your financial situation. If you're employed, provide recent payslips (last 3 months), an employment contract, or a letter from your employer confirming your position and salary. Self-employed individuals should submit tax returns or business accounts. If you're retired or living off savings, bank statements showing sufficient funds or pension documentation will be required.
A NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is mandatory for opening any bank account in Portugal. This is your Portuguese tax identification number, issued by the Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária). If you don't have a NIF yet, don't worry — we can help you obtain one before or alongside your bank account application. Many of our clients process both together. Apply for your Portuguese NIF here
If you're a tax resident outside of Portugal, you'll need to provide your tax identification number (TIN) from your home country. This is required for international banking compliance and tax reporting purposes. The country associated with your foreign TIN should match the country of residence listed on your Portuguese NIF certificate. Examples include Social Security Number (USA), National Insurance Number (UK), or equivalent in your country.
If you're not an EU/EEA citizen, you must demonstrate that you're actively pursuing legal residence in Portugal. Acceptable proof includes: a confirmed appointment at a Portuguese consulate or VFS Global center, a receipt showing payment of your visa application fee, or a valid visa sticker already issued in your passport. This requirement ensures compliance with Portuguese banking regulations for non-European clients. Learn more
All documentation submitted must be in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese. If your documents are issued in any other language (German, Italian, Dutch, Chinese, Arabic, etc.), you will need to obtain certified translations before submission. Translations must be performed by a certified translator or official translation service and include their stamp or certification.
Join thousands who've successfully opened Portuguese bank accounts through WelBridge. Start your application today.