More simplification, less bureaucracy

In the past month of July 2024, the strategic proposal of the Portuguese Government was made known, which intends to adopt simplification measures, debureaucratization and digitalization of public services.

To this end, several measures were presented, in which we highlight the following:

• Identification Numbers for Foreign Citizens at once

A face-to-face service integrated into the existing service network is being created, where immigrants will be able to request, at once, all identification numbers, such as the tax identification number (NIF), the security identification number social network (NISS) and health user number (NNU). This measure will be applied: i) to citizens with a residence permit granted, ii) to European Union nationals residing in Portugal, iii) to applicants for international protection (includes applicants for asylum and subsidiary protection) and iv) to citizens with status refugees or beneficiaries of international protection. This measure should be implemented by the fourth quarter of 2024. 

• Simplification of the Attribution of Initial Parental Benefit

In this context, the aim is to reformulate the application process for the “Initial Parental Benefit”, with proactive receipt of information about the birth and registration of a child. Here, a prior analysis of the eligibility conditions will be carried out and citizens will be presented with the modalities and possibilities for taking advantage of the subsidy, with a forecast of the amounts to be received in each case, which allows citizens to make an informed decision.  The implementation of this measure should be done by the second quarter 2025.

• Dematerialization of VAT Registration

It is intended to eliminate the need for VAT taxpayers who do not have organized accounting to keep physical registration books, replacing such books with the classification of invoices on the Finance Portal. The implementation of this measure will take place by the second quarter of 2025.

• End of requests for qualifying documents in Public Procurement

With this measure, the aim is to improve the National State Supplier Portal, with the introduction of new functionalities, namely, filling out the Single European Public Procurement Document and interoperable verification of commercial suitability and legal representatives with connection to the Central Beneficial Owner Register database.

It is also intended to ensure that the National State Supplier Portal has the capacity for widespread use by all State suppliers and entities. Furthermore, companies no longer have the need to present the qualification documents that are already in the possession of the State.
The implementation of this measure will take place by the third quarter of 2025.