Glossary

cartão de cidadão

Published 3 November 2026, 17:05

The identity card of a Portuguese citizen, combining ID, NIF, Segurança Social number and utente number on one card. It is issued by IRN. A foreigner with a residence permit does not get one; they have a título de residência instead. The only exception is Brazilian citizens with equal-rights status under the Porto Seguro treaty, who are issued the card with a note of their citizenship.

Where you come across it. After getting citizenship, for a child entitled to citizenship, and when you move house, as the address is changed on the card itself.
A card issued under the Brazilian equal-rights status does not confer Portuguese citizenship, even though it looks the same.