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Portuguese · Admin & banking · Elementary

How to open a bank account in Portugal

Say “Quero abrir uma conta”, and bring ID, your NIF (tax number) and proof of address. The clerk may ask “Tem comprovativo de morada?”. Before you sign, ask about fees: “Esta conta tem mensalidade?” and “Há alguma comissão?”. Your card usually arrives by post.

Try it · about two minutes

At a bank branch you ask which documents you need and which fees apply to open a current account.

You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. Bank clerk

    Tem marcação?

    Do you have an appointment?

    You

    Não, mas queria abrir uma conta.

    No, but I’d like to open an account.

  2. Bank clerk

    Pode mostrar o passaporte, por favor?

    Can you show me your passport, please?

    You

    Aqui está o meu passaporte.

    Here is my passport.

  3. Bank clerk

    Falta-lhe um documento.

    You’re missing a document.

    You

    Precisa do meu número de contribuinte?

    Do you need my tax number?

  4. Bank clerk

    Tem comprovativo de morada?

    Do you have proof of address?

    You

    Tenho o contrato de arrendamento.

    I have my rental contract.

  5. Bank clerk

    Pode preencher este formulário?

    Could you fill in this form?

    You

    Esta conta tem mensalidade?

    Does this account have a monthly fee?

  6. Bank clerk

    Vamos enviar-lhe uma carta.

    We’ll send you a letter.

    You

    Quanto tempo demora o cartão novo?

    How long does the new card take?

Key phrases

  • Quero abrir uma conta.

    I want to open an account.

  • Que documentos preciso para abrir conta?

    What documents do I need to open an account?

  • Tem marcação?

    Do you have an appointment?

  • Pode mostrar o passaporte, por favor?

    Can you show me your passport, please?

  • Tem comprovativo de morada?

    Do you have proof of address?

  • Pode preencher este formulário?

    Could you fill in this form?

  • Esta conta tem mensalidade?

    Does this account have a monthly fee?

  • Há alguma comissão?

    Are there any fees?

  • Posso fazer isto pela internet?

    Can I do this online?

  • Quanto tempo demora o cartão novo?

    How long does the new card take?

Good to know in Portugal

Get your NIF first

Banks in Portugal ask for your tax number, the NIF, to open an account, so get it before you go. It’s issued by the tax office, the Finanças.

What banks usually ask for

  1. 1

    ID: your passport, or your residence card if you have one.

  2. 2

    Your NIF, the tax number.

  3. 3

    Proof of address, such as a bill or a rental contract.

    Tem comprovativo de morada?Do you have proof of address?

Multibanco

Your debit card works in Multibanco, Portugal’s cash machine network, where you can also pay bills and top up a phone.

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Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.