My husband and I were able to apply for our Brazilian CPF numbers online without having to go anywhere in person.
It was fast, convenient, and completely FREE! We got our numbers via email in less than a week.
We are having our baby boy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so we definitely needed to apply for CPF numbers as we are staying for a few months, and almost everywhere requires one – especially doctors and hospitals!
I am American and my husband is British, and this process worked for both of us on tourist visas.
The whole process took only a few days (4 days for my husband and 6 days for me because of an error on my part that I’ll share below).
We received our CPFs via email and have been using them without a problem since.
Here are the exact steps to get a CPF in Brazil as a foreigner FAST, easy and free!
This article was written in January 2025. Please let me know if anything has changed since then so I can make the corresponding updates!
What is a CPF?
Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal). It is a unique 11-digit number used for various financial and legal purposes in Brazil, similar to a Social Security Number (SSN) in the United States or a National Insurance Number in the UK.
Both residents and non-residents (including tourists) can obtain a CPF if they need to engage in legal or financial transactions in Brazil.
Usually, people will say you need to apply for one at a local Receita Federal office or certain banks and post offices, but in this guide I’ll show you how to do it all online.
Step 1: Gather All Your Documents (What You Will Need)
Here is everything you need to get your CPF online via email without having to go to a local Receita Federal office, without having to go to a bank or a post office or anywhere in person, or pay anything!
I will bold and put a ⭐️ STAR next to all the steps that require an action on your part.
Disclaimer: I am NOT a licensed expert on this, but my husband and I have done our research and this process worked for us. If you need anything more advanced, I would consider reaching out to a lawyer.
1) Copy of your passport as a PDF
⭐️ Take a picture of your passport and save it as a pdf onto your computer.
⭐️ Save the pdf and name it “Passport – YOUR NAME”
💡 Tip: Create a folder on your computer and save all of the documents in one place. You’re going to need to attach all of them to an email and you don’t want any missing information!
2) Selfie with your passport using these guidelines
⭐️ Take a selfie with your passport following the guidelines below:
Here is the English translation:
- Face photo (selfie) of the interested party or their representative, holding their identification document.
- The identity document must be open (front and back), with the photo and the document number clearly visible for checking. If the identity document is laminated, two photos must be sent: one with the front and one with the back of the document.
- If the person is under 16 years of age, the legal guardian must send a selfie with their own document and not that of the minor.
- In the case of an incapacitated person, the guardian must send a selfie with their own document and not that of the incapacitated citizen.
- In the case of a power of attorney, the grantor must send a selfie with their own document and not that of the attorney.
- In the case of a deceased holder, the applicant (executor, spouse, partner, successor or guardian) must send a selfie with their own document and not that of the deceased.
⭐️ Save the photo and name it “Passport Selfie – YOUR NAME”
3) Completed CPF Application Form (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas)
⭐️ Complete the CPF Application Form. In case that link isn’t working, you can go to this page and then click START (Iniciar).
Once finished, you will be redirected to an internet registration completion form.
⭐️ Save the pdf and name it “Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas“
4) Proof of Address
⭐️ Download a copy of your proof of address. If you’re staying at an Airbnb, you can download a copy from your reservation.
⭐️ Save the pdf and name it “Comprovante de Endereço”
5) CPF Tax Status Document (DECLARAÇÃO DE CONDIÇÃO FISCAL)
⭐️ Complete and sign the CPF Tax Status Document here.
This can be done in Adobe or you can print it out, complete, and scan.
⭐️ Save the pdf and name it (cpf-condicao-fiscal.pdf)
Step 2: Attach Documents and Send to Corresponding Email
Depending on where in Brazil you are located, you will send your documents to a different email address.
Since my proof of address was in Rio de Janeiro, I sent my email to the 7th Tax Region.
⭐️ Find the corresponding email for your region below:
⭐️ Then, copy and paste this subject line and email:
Subject: Solicitação de CPF [YOUR NAME HERE] – Envio de Documentos
To: [YOUR CORRESPONDING JURISDICTION EMAIL]
A quem possa interessar,
Estou enviando os documentos necessários para a minha solicitação de CPF. Seguem os anexos:
- Cópia do meu passaporte (Passport PDF)
- Selfie segurando meu passaporte (Passport Selfie.jpg)
- Formulário de solicitação de CPF preenchido (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas.pdf).
- Comprovante de endereço (COMPROVANTE DE ENDEREÇO.pdf).
- Documento de Condição Fiscal do CPF (cpf-condicao-fiscal.pdf).
Por favor, me informe caso seja necessário fornecer informações adicionais ou outros documentos.
Agradeço pela atenção e aguardo o retorno.
Atenciosamente,
[YOUR NAME]
⭐️ Finally, attach your documents and send them in FULL RESOLUTION.
I made the mistake of compressing my images as they were large and it ended up making my photo blurry and I had to resend.
Learn from my mistake as this took an extra two days for me to get my CPF.
Step 3: ⭐️ Send Additional Information (If Needed)
If there is anything missing, or if you did something wrong like I did, they will email you asking for additional information.
In my case, I got an email back asking for a legible selfie.
Translation:
Dear
The passport is illegible in the selfie photo. Please resend the documents adding the selfie photo with the legible passport.
I received this email 3 days after submitting all my documents.
Receive Confirmation Email
If you did everything correctly (as was the case of my husband), after 3 days, you will receive a confirmation email.
Translation:
Dear Sir/Madam,
This is an automatic reply to inform you that your message has been received and will be forwarded to the Federal Revenue Service’s customer service team.
Please wait, as you will soon receive an email with the response to your request or instructions on how to follow up on the process in cases of document filing.
If you need to add to the original request, reply to this email using the ‘Reply’ function, without changing the ‘Subject’ field.
If you had to submit additional information, you will receive the same confirmation email after 2 days.
Step 4: Receive Your CPF
Either way, if there is nothing else missing and after receiving the confirmation email, you will then get your CPF the day after.
This is what it looks like:
Translation:
Dear,
Name of Interested Party: DANIELLE DANYU HU
CPF: [NUMBER HERE]
Registration Status: Regular
Digital Service Process:
Your request was analyzed by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service, with the following result:
Request granted.What to do?
Print your proof of registration with the CPF or registration status through the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service website
(www.gov.br/receitafederal), following the steps below:
- Click on “My CPF”
- Choose the desired service (“Get the CPF card” or “Check CPF”)
- Click on “Steps to perform this service” and select the desired option
Note: In the case of a deceased person, it is usually not necessary to issue proof of registration; proof of registration status is sufficient.Important:
- Accents or special characters (such as Ç, – or ‘, for example) are not used in CPF registration.
- Some registrations/changes take a few days to be reflected in systems outside the Federal Revenue Service. If your data is correct in the message, there are no more services to be provided by this service.
If you notice any discrepancy in the data, contact this Corporate Box, preferably in response to this message, or via email to atendimentorfb.07@rfb.gov.br, mentioning the process number, requesting a change of CPF.
Messages that are not sent in response to this message or mention the process number will not be answered.
Remember: There is no need to return to the in-person service.
Step 5: Get Your CPF Card and/or Copy CPF Into Notes
As you can see above, there are steps to get a physical CPF card, which neither my husband and I opted to do.
Instead, we just copied our CPF numbers into our notes app and have been using it ever since receiving them.
For our purposes staying the country, we have not needed to ever show a physical CPF card and usually just telling people our numbers is more than enough to get whatever product or service you need.
And there you have it! These are all the steps to get your Brazilian CPF fast, easy, and FREE!
Do You Need a CPF to Travel Brazil?
No, you do not need a CPF to travel to Brazil. A CPF is not required for entry into the country as a tourist. You only need a valid passport and, if applicable, a visa based on your nationality.
However, if you plan to stay in Brazil for an extended period, open a bank account, rent property, or conduct certain financial transactions, having a CPF may be necessary.
Tourists can apply for a CPF if needed for specific activities, such as making larger purchases or getting a SIM card.
Can You Apply Before Entering Brazil?
I know some people who applied for a CPF at their nearest Brazilian consulate in their home country.
Using the way mentioned above, there is technically no reason why you wouldn’t be able to apply for a CPF before entering Brazil, unless they catch that your Airbnb/accommodation date starts in the future.
Theoretically, this process could work and there are some people in the Digital Nomad WhatsApp groups here who have said it worked while abroad.
However, I personally have no experience and don’t know if this way will work before entering Brazil.
I personally applied within the country and received my CPF in less than a week, so I would recommend doing so after you arrive.
Can you get a SIM card after getting your CPF?
Even after receiving your CPF, it might not be possible to get a SIM card.
This is because a CPF is tied to a credit system, so when you first receive it, you won’t have enough credit history.
Think of it like getting your SSN in the US and then trying to immediately get a credit card. It won’t work with many businesses.
However, we ended up somehow getting prepaid Claro SIM cards with our CPF numbers even though it wasn’t showing up in their system, and have been topping up credit and data every month without a problem.
Many other foreigners report problems so I think it depends on which store you go to!
Why does everything require a CPF in Brazil?
A CPF is required for many activities in Brazil because it serves as a centralized system for identifying individuals in financial, legal, and administrative matters.
The Brazilian government uses the CPF to monitor and manage a person’s interactions with public and private systems, ensuring accountability.
1. Tax and Financial Tracking
- The CPF links individuals to their financial activities, such as paying taxes, making investments, and earning income. This helps the government monitor compliance with tax laws and prevent fraud.
2. Legal Identification
- While it is not a substitute for an official photo ID, the CPF acts as a unique identifier for individuals in various legal and contractual arrangements. This helps prevent identity theft and ensures secure record-keeping.
3. Streamlined Systems
- Many institutions, such as banks, healthcare providers, and utility companies, use the CPF to unify and simplify processes. It allows these organizations to quickly identify clients and access relevant data.
4. Universal Accessibility
- The CPF system applies to residents, non-residents, and foreigners, making it a universal tool for ensuring fairness and accessibility to public services and private markets.
5. Mandatory for Certain Transactions
- Activities such as opening a bank account, filing taxes, buying property, signing contracts, and even online shopping often require a CPF. This requirement ensures transparency and accountability in financial and legal matters.
By centralizing identification, Brazil reduces bureaucratic complications and improves the integrity of its systems.
Can I Use a Fake CPF for iFood/Mercado Livre etc?
Technically, this is illegal, but again there are random CPF generators online and people who have used fake CPFs to create accounts in certain apps like iFood, Amazon, and Mercado Livre.
You can do so at your own risk.
Conclusion
Although a CPF is not mandatory for tourists, and you may not even need one when you’re visiting, having one makes life so much easier in Brazil.
I hope this guide helps you get your number quickly and easily without having to go anywhere in person!
If you tried this process yourself and there is anything you’d like to add, or if anything has changed since publishing, please let me know by DMing me on Instagram.
I will try to keep this as updated as possible for everyone applying! Have an amazing trip to Brazil.
Read Next
Rio de Janeiro vs Florianopolis: Which Brazilian City is Better?
Top 5 Beaches in Florianopolis, Brasil
Travel to Puerto Escondido, Mexico with Me!
Best Surf Destinations for Longboarders
Praia do Rosa Brazil Travel Guide
The Ultimate Chacahua Oaxaca Travel and Surf Guide
How I Travel for Free Using Credit Card Points
What Time Freedom, Location Freedom, and Financial Freedom Mean To Me
