Category: Technical Writing

What is a NISS in Portugal and Can You Get a nISS Online?

7/31/2025

In this article you will learn what a NISS is, who needs a NISS, and where to get a NISS online in Portugal.

Tagged: Expats in Portugal • Americans in Portugal

This article is part of the series:
Living in Portugal: Tips for Expats and Anyone Considering Moving to Portugal

What is a Niss?

A NISS is a Portuguese Social Security number.

What does NISS stand for?

Numero de Identificação de Segurança Social

Learn Portuguese!

Numero de Identificação - Identification Number
Segurança Social - Social Security

What Is a Niss For?

As a NISS is a social security number in Portugal, it's purpose is to allow it's holder to access social security benefits.

Having a NISS also allows your Portuguese employer to make necessary Social Security contributions on your behalf.

Do I need a Niss if I am Retired?

In the past, it was generally not necessary and in some cases not even possible for a retired foreigner in Portugal to obtain a NISS.

Some have reported needing a NISS to access state funded Portuguese language courses for foreigners and being able to obtain the number in that context (to attend the language course) without having employment in Portugal.

Currently, for foreigners who are retired and living in Portugal with a residence permit (título de residência), having a NISS is a *new* requirement.

Learn Portuguese!

How to say "retired" in European Portuguese: Reformado.
How to say "I am retired" in European Portuguese: Estou reformado (male) or Estou reformada (female)
You can also say "Sou reformado" or "Sou reformada"

Estou means "I am" and is usually used in the context of a temporary state whereas Sou means "I am" in a more permanent way. As retirement is generally a permanent status, you can correctly say "ou reformado/a" if you wish! :)

Can I get a Niss without a Job?

If you are still looking for a job in Portugal, you may be wondering "Can I get a NISS without a job?" The answer is yes because it is now required to have a NISS before renewing a Portuguese residence permit (título de residência).

Do I need a Niss if I do not work in portugal?

Yes. You will need a NISS. It is a new requirement for foreigners (estrangeiros) holding a Portuguese residence permit (título de residência) to obtain a NISS in order to renew (renovar) their Portuguese residence permit.

Do I need to pay for a NISS?

No. Obtaining a NISS is free and there is no fee for it from the Portuguese government / Social Security (Segurança Social).

Some choose to pay legal representatives to obtain the number in their behalf and in this case, of course, there would be a fee with the understanding that the fee is not for the actual number but for the service of someone else obtaining it for you.

Is a NISS needed to renew temporary residency in Portugal?

Yes. It is currently a new requirement for anyone renewing their Portuguese Residence Permit (título de residência) to have a NISS (Numero de Identificação de Segurança Social).

This will enable those reviewing the permit renewals to verify that the permit holder is in good standing with Social Security in Portugal and does not have any outstanding debts.

What documents do I need to get a Niss?

To get a NISS online you will need:

Portuguese NIF (Numero de Identificação Fiscal)
Identification such as Portuguese Residence Permit (título de residência) or Passport
Address

Can I request a NISS online?

Yes! You can successfully request a NISS online via the Segurança Social website seg-social.pt.

It can be a big challenging to find the correct link to access the form, so please see our tutorial "How To Get a NISS Online: A Step-By-Step Tutorial" for an easy to follow walk through. :)

How to Get A Niss Online: A Step-by-step Tutorial (With Pictures)

Disclaimer

This article was written in good faith, in an effort to assist those who are very confused and possibly distressed trying to understand how they can request a NISS before renewing their temporary residence permit and having their appointment with AIMA. Processes and requirements are dynamic and can change at any time. It is our wish that this resource is helpful to you.

Lisbon Restaurant Reviews:

Hilton Free Night Certificate

9/3/2024

0 Comments

Everything you need to know about Hilton Free Reward Night Certificates:
how to get them, how to redeem them, where you can redeem them, and what to do if yours is about to expire!

Post by: Travel Agent Marissa Books Travel

Conrade Algarve by Hilton

• Stay at Conrad Algarve in Portugal •

What to do when your hilton free night certificate is expiring

Last year I opened a Hilton Honors credit card and earned a great sign up bonus of 70,000 Hilton Honors Points as well as a Hilton free night certificate.

Hilton Honors Sign Up Bonus

Do hilton honors points expire?

While Hilton points do expire within 24 months of inactivity, I was more concerned about when my free night certificate would expire.

How to keep hilton honors points from expiring

To stop your Hilton Points from expiring you can simply use your Hilton Credit Card, stay at a Hilton Hotel, Redeem Hilton Points, Buy or Donate Hilton Points, or even just signing up for a Hilton promotion. When in doubt, buy a pack of gum with your card every so often. :)

Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

• Stay at Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam •

How long are hilton free night certificates good for?

Hilton certificates are good for 12 months from the issue date. My certificate was issued on September 5th. I had a daily reminder on my calendar to use this free night for the past year and here we are on September 3rd and time is up!

What to do if you free reward night is about to expire?

I have great news for you! If your free hotel night is about to expire you can actually contact Hilton for an extension. I logged into my Hilton account, chatted with a lovely agent, and was able to get a one-time extension of 14 days for my Hilton free night certificate!!

Travel Credit Cards:

Where is my hilton free night certificate?

Once a Hilton free night certificate has been awarded to you, whether as a credit card sign up bonus or for your brand loyalty in some other way, you will receive an email from Hilton Honors (mine was from [email protected]) with instructions on how to redeem.

What is the hilton honors customer care phone number?

Call Hilton Honors Customer Care at 1-800-446-6677

Can i redeem my hilton free night reward online?

While you currently cannot redeem the free night by yourself on the website, there is a way to redeem it online.

Hilton Free Night Email

Log into your Hilton account and utilizing the Hilton Chat you will be able to redeem your reward night with the chat agent. Just type "redeem Hilton free night certificate - chat with agent" into the chat box!

Free Hilton Award Nights

Are there exclusions with the hilton free reward nights?

Surprisingly, Hilton has very few restrictions and exclusions on using these certificates. There are no black out dates and you can book any night of the week. You can get a free night at any Hilton property (standard room, double occupancy) with the exception of these properties.

What is the value of a hilton free night certificate?

You may be wondering what a free Hilton award night is actually worth. The truth is, it varies. You can use this (foolishly) on a cheap hotel night costing $50 or you can take advantage of the opportunity to use it for a hotel like Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam that would normally cost upwards of $900 a night!

Where CAn I see my hilton free night CERTIFICATE in my account?

Log in to your Hilton Honors account.

Click near your name at the top right of the page.

Next click Account as shown here.

Scroll down past the section "Manage your stay" and the section about your loyalty status with Hilton.

Hilton Account

Here in your Hilton Account you will see your Free Night Reward(s), the last 4 digits of the certificate number, and their expiration dates.

Hilton Free Night Award

Hilton Best Welcome Bonus

Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay

• Stay at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay •

do i have to travel before the expiration date or just make the reservation in time?

I asked the Hilton Chat representative the very question and she gave such a helpful, clear answer.

"The checkout date must be before expiration or till the expiration date"

"If your coupon is expiring on September 04, then you can make the booking with check out date of September 04"

Hilton Chat

can someone else use my hilton free night certificate?

Yes and no. So the Free Night Reward is not transferable to another person. You can't send the certificate to another Hilton Honors account. But what you can do is contact Hilton and redeem free night award certificates for someone else. Simply have them book the stay in the other person's name. A free night at a nice hotel can be a great gift!

Get the Hilton Honors Card

Hotel Reviews:

Hilton Distinctive Properties List

0 Comments

How to transfer chase points to united to get free flights | Marissa books travel blog

7/8/2024

0 Comments

So you've earned enough Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a free flight and you're ready to transfer them to United to get it booked - congratulations! Few things are more exciting than getting free travel.

It really is not difficult to send your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to your United MileagePlus Account. In this simple tutorial I will show you one of the ways to do this!

-> Current Free Travel Bonuses <-

Step One: Log into your Chase Account and Click "Ultimate Rewards Points"

On a desktop you will see it at the top right of your log in page.

Step two: Select Which card you want to see

In this case since we are transferring to travel partners we need to select the Chase Sapphire Card

Step Three: Select Transfer points to partners

At the top of the page you will see the drop down menu under travel. Select "Transfer points to partners"

Step four: Scroll down to select united airlines

Scroll down to select the travel partner of your choice - in this case United Airlines.

Step five: Click transfer points

Step six: Confirm Your Mileageplus account

You will need to enter your United MileagePlus Account Number here. If you do not have an account, you can sign up for one for free here. Then click next.

Step seven: Confirm how many points

You'll go ahead and type in how many points you want to transfer. Please note, you can only transfer in increments of 1,000.

Example: If you need 38,500 points you will need to round up and transfer 39,000 points.

Click next on the bottom right when you're ready.

Step eight: Confirm details and submit

Take a moment to confirm the details of your transfer. On the left side you will see your Chase card, how many points you are moving and how many you will have left. On the right side you will see the travel partner, in this case United MileagePlus, and how many points that account will be receiving. When you're sure the values are what you need for your trip, click submit! :)

How long will it take for my chase points to show in my united account?

As you can see by the fine print on the image above, officially "most point transfers process by the next business day, but may take up to 7 business days."

In my personal experience, the points have shown up nearly instantaneously - it's amazing! If you are logged into your United account you will need to log out and then log back in to see the points.

You may have a different experience, but all I can do is share what has happened to me 100% of the time in the past 8+ years doing this. I hope you have the same experience I have had so far! :)

Tips for transferring chase UR points to United

I always recommend transferring your chase points directly to a travel partner like United as opposed to booking through their travel platform. You are almost always going to get a better value from your points that way :)
Wait until you're sure you will be booking United flights and know exactly how many points you will need to transfer. Once you make a transfer it is final and you're locked in to that travel partner (airline, hotel etc) so I always do it right before I'm ready to book my flight! :)

how do i get these amazing points for free flights?

Easy peasy lemon squeezy! You just need a Sapphire Card or if you already have one, get the United Card. With both you will get a really great sign up bonus. Bonuses are linked on the Best Travel Credit Cards Page

Are travel agents worth it?

... with tips like these, is it even a question? ;)

Pin for later:

Share this with a friend or save it to your Pinterest Travel Board for later - you're going to need it when all your Chase Points start rolling in ;)

Filed Under:

• Travel Credit cards
• united airline miles
• Marissa books travel
• Technical writing
• travel hacks
• TRAVEL TUTORIAL
• Chase Cards
• are travel agents worth it?

0 Comments

Traveling through food

What is a NISS in Portugal and Can You Get a nISS Online?

​Top NISS Questions Answered:

What is a Niss?

​What does NISS stand for?

Learn Portuguese!

​What Is a Niss For?

​Do I need a Niss if I am Retired?

​Learn Portuguese!

​Can I get a Niss without a Job?

​Do I need a Niss if I do not work in portugal?

​Do I need to pay for a NISS?

​Is a NISS needed to renew temporary residency in Portugal?

​What documents do I need to get a Niss?

​Can I request a NISS online?

​How to Get A Niss Online: A Step-by-step Tutorial (With Pictures)

​Disclaimer

​Lisbon Restaurant Reviews:

Hilton Free Night Certificate

What to do when your hilton free night certificate is expiring

​Do hilton honors points expire?

How to keep hilton honors points from expiring

How long are hilton free night certificates good for?

What to do if you free reward night is about to expire?

Travel Credit Cards:

Where is my hilton free night certificate?

What is the hilton honors customer care phone number?

Can i redeem my hilton free night reward online?

​Are there exclusions with the hilton free reward nights?

What is the value of a hilton free night certificate?

Where CAn I see my hilton free night CERTIFICATE in my account? ​

​do i have to travel before the expiration date or just make the reservation in time? ​

can someone else use my hilton free night certificate?

​Hotel Reviews:

Hilton Distinctive Properties List

How to transfer chase points to united to get free flights | Marissa books travel blog

Step One: Log into your Chase Account and Click "Ultimate Rewards Points"

Step two: Select Which card you want to see

Step Three: Select Transfer points to partners

Step four: Scroll down to select united airlines

Step five: Click transfer points

Step six: Confirm Your Mileageplus account

Step seven: Confirm how many points

Step eight: Confirm details and submit

How long will it take for my chase points to show in my united account?

Tips for transferring chase UR points to United

how do i get these amazing points for free flights?

Are travel agents worth it?

Read Next: HELPING MY ALASKA CRUISE CLIENTS (& YOU!) GET FREE FLIGHTS | MARISSA BOOKS TRAVEL BLOG READ NEXT: Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1

Pin for later:

Filed Under: ​• Travel Credit cards ​• united airline miles ​• Marissa books travel ​• Technical writing ​• travel hacks• TRAVEL TUTORIAL• Chase Cards ​• are travel agents worth it?

Oh, Hey!

Restaurant Guides

Cruise Reviews:

By Cruise Line

By Itinerary:

​Hotel Reviews:

Grocery Reviews:

​Check out this recent Restaurant Review:

​Check out this recent cruise post:

Travel BlogDestinations

Cruises

​Reviews

Travel Agent

Explore

Support

Discounts

Top NISS Questions Answered:

What does NISS stand for?

What Is a Niss For?

Do I need a Niss if I am Retired?

Learn Portuguese!

Can I get a Niss without a Job?

Do I need a Niss if I do not work in portugal?

Do I need to pay for a NISS?

Is a NISS needed to renew temporary residency in Portugal?

What documents do I need to get a Niss?

Can I request a NISS online?

How to Get A Niss Online: A Step-by-step Tutorial (With Pictures)

Disclaimer

Lisbon Restaurant Reviews:

Do hilton honors points expire?

Are there exclusions with the hilton free reward nights?

Where CAn I see my hilton free night CERTIFICATE in my account?

do i have to travel before the expiration date or just make the reservation in time?

Hotel Reviews:

Read Next: HELPING MY ALASKA CRUISE CLIENTS (& YOU!) GET FREE FLIGHTS | MARISSA BOOKS TRAVEL BLOG

READ NEXT: Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise with Greek Isles, Italy & Turkey - Day 1

Filed Under:

• Travel Credit cards
• united airline miles
• Marissa books travel
• Technical writing
• travel hacks
• TRAVEL TUTORIAL
• Chase Cards
• are travel agents worth it?

Hotel Reviews:

Check out this recent Restaurant Review:

Check out this recent cruise post:

Travel Blog
Destinations

Reviews