This measure eliminates the need for individuals to subsequently visit a Social Security service counter to obtain the document, forming part of the Social Security digital transformation program that has been under development since 2025.
The primary goal is to simplify administrative procedures, reduce bureaucracy, and alleviate the heavy pressure on in-person service counters by enabling the NISS to be assigned in real time during the appointment at AIMA itself.
The new solution stems directly from the creation of a digital link between AIMA and Social Security. As explained by Luís Farrajota, president of the Social Security IT Institute, the previous procedure required immigrants to be referred to different agencies to obtain both the NISS and the Tax Identification Number (NIF) after approaching the agency for regularisation. With the new shared system, AIMA enters the citizen's identification details, and Social Security assigns the number in real time, thereby avoiding additional trips.
The significance of this change is highlighted by data from 2025, a year in which approximately 250,000 people visited Social Security counters solely to request the NISS—and had to return later to collect it—thereby overburdening in-person services.
Starting in late July, immigrant citizens initiating their regularisation process at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) will automatically receive their Social Security Identification Number (NISS).
This measure eliminates the need for individuals to subsequently visit a Social Security service counter to obtain the document, forming part of the Social Security digital transformation program that has been under development since 2025.
The primary goal is to simplify administrative procedures, reduce bureaucracy, and alleviate the heavy pressure on in-person service counters by enabling the NISS to be assigned in real time during the appointment at AIMA itself.
The new solution stems directly from the creation of a digital link between AIMA and Social Security. As explained by Luís Farrajota, president of the Social Security IT Institute, the previous procedure required immigrants to be referred to different agencies to obtain both the NISS and the Tax Identification Number (NIF) after approaching the agency for regularisation.
With the new shared system, AIMA enters the citizen's identification details, and Social Security assigns the number in real time, thereby avoiding additional trips.
The significance of this change is highlighted by data from 2025, a year in which approximately 250,000 people visited Social Security counters solely to request the NISS—and had to return later to collect it—thereby overburdening in-person services.








The digitalization of the social security department needs to include testing of processes before they are released. I recently had assistance in my effort to receive a ss number at the Citizen Space in Lagos. As we worked through the process, we came to a blank where I had to enter my postal code. Then I was presented with about 6 choices of addresses to select from. None of them were my address. The agent said we needed to pick one and correct it later. When I went to social security, they printed a form with my number on it and it had the incorrect address I had previously picked. I pointed this out and the nice lady corrected my address and printed a new form. The problem is that the process automatically changed my address to the incorrect one on the Financas website and the AIMA website. Another agent at Financas said that this was impossible to happen. But I assured here that I would not chance my address to a place that I never lived. The mess has still not been all sorted. It made a lot of work for a lot of people including myself.
By Rune Carlson from Algarve on 16 Jul 2026, 10:30
I see nothing in the article about a NISS being automatically assigned to those of us renewing our residency. Will that be included for renewals?
By Michael Dougherty from Beiras on 16 Jul 2026, 12:59