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What kind of expats ?... As far as I know, NISS is required for all employed or self-employed individuals in Portugal. Retirees and those not engaged in professional activities may not need a NISS.

If you're a pensioner, in order to access the Portuguese NHS you'll need to show your S1 social security document issued by your country.

You can't even get NISS without having residency first, anymore. It's not working. Everyone's failing to get NISS right now before the residency permit.

We tried to get a NISS for my relative. We received a letter saying, essentially, that the request was denied until he had either proof of an AIMA appointment date or a residency card. My relative will take that letter to his appointment

@Johnny PT You also need a NISS to enroll in a government-subsidized Portuguese language course. Even if you manage to enroll without the NISS, you can't be issued your certificate of course completion, which satisfies the Portuguese language proficiency requirement for permanent residence.

    @Johnny PT You also need a NISS to enroll in a government-subsidized Portuguese language course. Even if you manage to enroll without the NISS, you can't be issued your certificate of course completion, which satisfies the Portuguese language proficiency requirement for permanent residence.       -@wordsmith555

That's right

The beneficiaries must have a residence permit, in accordance with the national legislation applicable to foreign citizens, or must present one of the following documents:

a) Proof of initiation of the procedure for the extension of stay in the national territory or for granting or renewing the residence permit;

b) Proof of submission of the application for international protection or temporary protection;

c) Proof of Social Security Identification Number (NISS) attribution.