RG or RNE: What’s the Difference?

Brazil is like an alphabet soup when it comes to legal terminology. Everything is abbreviated - from the names of courts to documents to even types of taxes. In a past article, we explained the difference between a CPF and a CNPJ. Now it’s time to look at another confusing but important distinction: RG versus RNE.

RG is short for Registro Geral. Technically, it’s a registration number that all Brazilians have, but the term is used colloquially to refer to a Brazilian’s government issued identity card (Cédula de Identidade or Carteira de Identidade). It has the person’s picture, fingerprint and RG number along with their full name, date of birth and parents’ names.

An RNE or Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros is similar to an RG but for foreigners. And as of 2017, the correct term is actually RNM (Registro Nacional Migratório) although you’ll still see it called RNE. The identity document was previously referred to as Carteira de Identidade de Estrangeiro but now is called Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório or CRNM.

Say you’re studying or working in Brazil. In either case, you’d get an RNM. No need to carry around your passport and risk losing it. Instead, you just flash your RNM any time you’re asked for an ID.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of having an RNM is the ability to open a bank account. Most financial institutions in Brazil simply won’t open a checking or savings account for someone who’s not residing in the country. An RNM will get you past this hurdle.