Chave Móvel Digital: how to get one
Published 1 October 2026 · Ler em português
The Chave Móvel Digital is the practical way into Portuguese public services online: the tax authority, Social Security, registries, and most things that need you to prove who you are. It is free. This guide covers who can request one, where, and what to do when there are no appointments.
What it is for
- Logging in to the Portal das Finanças.
- Logging in to Segurança Social Direta.
- Signing documents digitally, with legal validity.
- Authenticating on public portals and some private services.
It is free
The State does not charge to issue it. If someone asks you for money for the key itself, something is wrong. What can legitimately cost money is having someone handle the booking for you, which is a different thing from the key.
Who can request one
Portuguese citizens can activate it with their citizen card, including online if they have a card reader, or in person.
Foreign citizens can activate it with a passport or with a residence card or title. With a residence title you need a Portuguese NIF.
The mobile number attached does not have to be Portuguese. A number from any country works, as long as it receives the SMS at the moment of the request.
Where to request it
In person, at an Espaços Cidadão counter, a Loja de Cidadão, or a Portuguese consular post. There is also a video-call channel through the ePortugal portal, which is not always available.
Careful, and this catches many people: for foreign citizens, the Chave Móvel Digital is not assigned at every Espaço Cidadão. Only some counters do it. At the time of writing, the listed counters included Braga, Lagos, Loures (Loureshopping), Oeiras (Oeiras Parque), Olhão, Porto, Cascais, Saldanha and Laranjeiras in Lisbon, and Setúbal. This list changes, so confirm at autenticacao.gov.pt before travelling.
What to bring
A valid identity document, the phone you will attach, and yourself. At the counter you set a PIN, which is what you will use afterwards together with a code sent by SMS.
When there are no appointments
This is where most people get stuck. Few counters serve foreign citizens, slots go quickly, and the video-call channel has been intermittent. Some people try for weeks.
Three things that work in practice: check for slots at different times of day, because they open at irregular hours; widen the search to counters outside your own city, which tend to have more availability; and if you have travel planned, consider a Portuguese consular post abroad.
Once you have it
Keep the PIN somewhere you will not lose it. The key is used with the PIN plus a code sent by SMS, so the attached number has to stay reachable. If you change number, update the association before you lose access to the old one.
Is the Chave Móvel Digital free?
Yes. The State does not charge to issue it. Only third-party services that handle the booking for you may cost money, and that is a different thing from the key.
Can a foreigner get a Chave Móvel Digital?
Yes, with a passport or with a residence card or title. With a residence title you need a Portuguese NIF.
Do I need a Portuguese mobile number?
No. A number from any country works, as long as it receives the SMS at the moment of the request.
Can I request it at any Espaço Cidadão?
For foreign citizens, no. Only some counters assign it. Confirm the current list before travelling.
We write these guides because Portuguese bureaucracy is confusing, badly explained, and almost always catches people at a bad moment. They are free and they will stay free.
If you happen to drive for Uber or Bolt, we also handle the accounting side, from 16.90 euros a month. See what we do. If you do not, take the guide and good luck at the counter.
This guide is informational and the rules change. Always confirm at autenticacao.gov.pt before travelling.