Brazil Counsel Guide:
Getting a CPF

If you’re living, studying, working, or doing business in Brazil, you’ll need to get a CPF number. Almost everything requires getting a CPF. Starting a company in Brazil? You’ll need a CPF. Buying a house in Brazil? You’ll need a CPF. Opening a bank account in Brazil? You’ll need a CPF. Getting a SIM card for your mobile phone in Brazil? You’ll need a CPF. In fact, there’s very little you can do in Brazil without one.

The good news is that getting a CPF as a foreigner is quick and easy. There’s no need to travel to Brazil (although you can do that if you prefer). After completing an online form, you’ll just need to take a quick trip to your local Brazilian Consulate. Below is a step-by-step of the entire process. The Brazil Counsel Guide to Getting a CPF covers all the basics, including what a CPF is, who needs one, how you get one, how long it takes to get one, and how much it costs to get one.

If you need help, you can hire a professional service company to walk you through the process. But truth be told, you likely won’t need any assistance. Getting a CPF is the first step for anyone who plans on investing or spending time in Brazil, and it’s relatively easy to get as a foreigner. Just follow the steps below and you’ll be on your way.

What is a CPF?

CPF stands for Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas. It’s a taxpayer ID number issued by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal do Brasil) to individuals. Think of it as a Brazilian social security number. Like a US social security number, a CPF number is used to identify Brazilian taxpayers. If you file taxes in Brazil, you’ll use this number in addition to your name and other personally identifiable information. Unlike a US social security number, however, a Brazilian CPF can be gotten by anyone, even foreigners who don’t reside in Brazil. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the Brazilian government having your personal information before you apply.

Who Needs a CPF?

Perhaps a better question is who doesn’t need a CPF, and the answer to that is anyone who’s traveling to Brazil as a visitor. Otherwise, all Brazilian citizens and foreigners residing or doing business in Brazil must have a CPF. You’ll need a CPF to buy and sell real property, start and operate a company, contract with utility companies, enroll in universities, open a bank account, and the list goes on and on. Even where a CPF isn’t required, you’ll often be told you need one. Leasing an apartment in Brazil? The landlord will likely want to know your CPF number. Signing a contract in Brazil? The counterparty will probably tell you the contract must include your CPF. Buying goods online? Many stores have forms that require a buyer to provide their CPF. It’s even common for restaurants to ask for your CPF when you pay. If you’re spending a significant amount of time in Brazil or you’re doing any business in Brazil, you’ll ultimately need a CPF. Finally, it’s worth emphasizing that anyone who’s required to report and pay taxes in Brazil will obviously need a CPF.

How Do You Get a CPF?

If you’re in Brazil…

You can get a CPF in person at an office of the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal do Brasil). The Federal Revenue Service has offices throughout the country, including 10 offices in the city of São Paulo and 11 offices in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Certain notary offices (Cartório de Registro Civil de Pessoas Naturais), banks (Banco do Brasil and Caixa Econômica Federal), and post office locations (Correios) offer the service as well. However, most foreigners need to get a CPF before they travel to Brazil.

Getting a CPF while in the United States used to be extremely simple. In fact, you didn’t even need to leave your home. But since the end of 2023, the Brazilian government added a few extra steps, including an in-person visit to a Brazilian Consulate. The process is still relatively easy, but you’ll spend a little more time and energy to get it done. If you’re in the United States and want to get a CPF, you’ll need to follow the steps below.

If you’re in the United States…

You can request a CPF online using the government’s e-consular system (see the step-by-step below). Select the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate that serves your jurisdiction and register with an e-mail address and password. Once logged in, you can complete the application form, submit the required documents, and schedule your in-person appointment to get your CPF. Just be careful as the government’s website has some translation problems and the formatting in Portuguese and English can be somewhat tricky to follow.

Step 1: Visit the e-consular system. Visit the Brazilian government’s e-consular system at https://econsular.itamaraty.gov.br/. Once on the website, click on the drop-down menu and select United States of America (Estados Unidos da América). Then, select the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over your residential address. You’ll be redirected to the specific e-consular website for that Brazilian Embassy or Consulate.

Step 2: Register with an e-mail address and password. Read the instructions carefully and proceed as directed in the images below. At the bottom of your screen will be a link to enter with an e-mail address and password. Clicking this link will also allow you to create login credentials.

If you don’t have a CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID), click here to enter with email and password.

The link is small and easy to miss, so look carefully.

Next, click on the link to create your account.

If you don’t have a CPF, please login or create an account.

Finally, enter the verification code you receive via e mail and create a strong and unique password.

Step 3: Provide your contact information. Complete the required fields, select the preferred language, and check the box if you agree with the terms of use and privacy policy. It’s critical that the information you provide is accurate and up to date as it will be associated with your CPF going forward. Changing personal information later can be a bureaucratic nightmare, so it’s best that you provide consistent and correct information throughout the application process.

Step 4: Request a consular service. Click on New Service at the My Consular Services webpage to see a list of all of the services provided by the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. On this screen, you can also see available dates for appointments. Then, as shown in the image below, click the Start button next to the consular service related to CPF registration for foreigners.

Next, review the instructions carefully, paying close attention to the list of personal documents you’ll have to bring to your appointment. They must be originals. Generally, you’ll need to provide your US passport and birth certificate, but documents can vary. Then, click the Start Service button below the instructions.

Step 5: Complete the CPF application form. Begin with selecting the applicant’s name and click Next Step.

Then, take your time to properly fill out the Applicant’s Personal Data section of the form with the required information (i.e., the applicant’s full name, gender, date and place of birth, nationality, residential address, and mother’s full name).

Next, upload your birth certificate in the first field indicated below. Continue with the fields that follow by selecting Passaporte in the drop-down menu and entering your passport number, the date of issuance and expiration date. Then, upload your passport in the second field indicated below. You can disregard the section Documento de Identificação com Foto (Verso, Se Houver). At the bottom (assuming you don’t have a Brazilian voter ID number), in the section Número do Título de Eleitor, enter “000000000000”, and upload your passport one more time in the section Certidão de Quitação Eleitoral.

You can skip the next part of the CPF application form if you’re completing it for yourself. Otherwise, if you’re filling it out on behalf of someone else, you’ll need to upload both the front and back sides of the signed Consent Form for Processing Personal Data.

Finally, confirm your agreement with the statements under Document Checking, Damaged Documents or Old Photos, and CPF Registration, and click Next Step to review your information and, if necessary, Make a Correction. Once submitted, the application form will be sent for analysis. You’ll need to wait for a confirmation e-mail from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate to schedule your in-person appointment.

Step 6: Schedule the appointment and go get your CPF. After you receive the confirmation e-mail, log in to the e-consular system and schedule an in-person appointment. Select the date and time that works best for you under the My Consular Services section. Then, all you’ll have to do is show up at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate on the date and time of your scheduled appointment and bring with you the printed CPF application form with the QR Code along with your original valid passport and birth certificate. If everything’s in order, you should be able to leave the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate shortly thereafter with your CPF number. Brazil no longer issues CPF cards, so you’ll likely just get a printout with your CPF number on it.

How Long Does It Take to Get a CPF?

Getting a CPF is quick. If you get it from a branch office of the Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal do Brasil), then you should get it the same day you make the in-person request. The same should be true if you go to an affiliated office, such as Banco do Brasil, Caixa Econômica Federal, Correios, or the appropriate notary office (Cartório de Registro Civil de Pessoas Naturais).

While getting a CPF in the United States is still relatively fast, it won’t be the same day. That’s because you first need to complete the application process. Only then can you schedule an in-person appointment at a Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. The good news, however, is that you should leave the appointment with your CPF. So, it comes down to how long you have to wait for an appointment. As of early 2024, appointments for getting a CPF as a foreigner at the Brazilian Consulate in Miami, Florida, were available within days.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a CPF?

The cost of a CPF depends on where you get it. But if you get your CPF from a Brazilian Embassy or Consulate in the United States, then you won’t have to pay anything - it’s free. There’s also no fee if you get your CPF from the Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal do Brasil) in Brazil. However, affiliated locations in Brazil, including Banco do Brasil, Caixa Econômica Federal, Correios, and notary offices (Cartório de Registro Civil de Pessoas Naturais), may charge BRL$7.00.