How to Get a CPF Number in Brazil – Cadastro de Pessoa Física

I get asked this question a lot: “How do I get a CPF number and why can’t I get anything done in Brazil without it?”.  Today I will explain exactly what it is and 3 easy steps to get one right away, even if you are a tourist in Brazil and don’t speak Portuguese!

Note: make sure and out if you are looking for useful information to start a life in Brazil.

A CPF number is called a or translated “Registration of a Physical Person” and is the ’s (The Brazilian Tax Authority) way of keeping information about a person in a centralized database.

You could compare it in many ways to how the American is used except that it is required to make pretty much any purchases beyond basic items.  Here are a few things to give you an idea what you need a CPF for:

  • To buy a dresser
  • To buy an air conditioner
  • To buy a house
  • To buy airline tickets
  • To open a bank account
  • To buy a car
  • To get a cell phone
  • To have an online membership

So in essence, you will need a CPF for everything and to be honest, it is not as hard as you would think to get one.  You can get a temporary or permanent CPF depending on if you are:

  • A tourist in Brazil (1 day)
  • A resident in Brazil (1 or more days)
  • A non-domiciled tourist*

*To get one as a non-domiciled tourist, you will have to do it through your local Brazilian consulate, which is more time consuming and very expensive compared to getting one in Brazil.  on how to do that.

Be aware that as a tourist, you can get either a temporary one for just your immediate visit or a permanent one if your stay allows.  A permanent one will allow you to buy and maintain real estate etc.

Update: have been told that many from our community haven’t been successful in doing this, this could be due to them fazing out plastic cards and giving everyone CPF print outs on the spot.

Step 1: Filling out a CPF Application

Whether you are applying for a temporary CPF number as a tourist in Brazil, permanent CPF number as resident in Brazil or a non-domiciled tourist, you will have to fill out the online form and print it out – these are the same exact steps for all three scenarios.

It is ALL 100% in Portuguese (not fair for tourists!) making it pretty annoying if you don’t speak the language.  Therefore I feel your pain and will spell out the step-by-step instructions for filling it out and translate the different fields for you in this video.

UPDATE: if you can get around Portuguese or get help, you can do this all at either the post office or Banco do Brasil instead!

Before you watch the video though, click on for the Foreign CPF Application so that you can do it together with me.

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

Not so bad huh?  After you have printed this piece of paper, you are ready for the next step in the process (skip to step 3 if you are only applying for a temporary CPF).

Step 2: Paying the Fee

If you chose to get a permanent CPF, you will need to bring this printed piece of paper with you to either the bank or post office.  I would personally recommend doing it at your local post office as they are easy to find and the lines are a lot shorter.

Update: as mentioned above, you can do it all at the post office.

Make sure as well that you have a proof of a physical mailing address (or borrow one) so that they can send you your card!  Make sure that you have the mailing address printed somewhere (utility bill etc) if not, you can request a proof of residence from your land lord and get it notarized at a “Cartorio” (notary public) that has his/her signature on file.  Note: you will not need a proof of residence to get a CPF, only a mailing address.

Once you have found your local branch, you are ready to go down and pay your fee.  I will go over how to do that now.

UPDATE: I was kindly warned by a reader against getting it done at Banco do Brasil – they gave him a 6 hour runaround whereas the post office only took him 5 minutes – thanks for the heads up!

Finding a Post Office Near You



The post office is known as “Correios” and you will need to pay at one of their branches.

And of course, the website is only available in Portuguese, so here is a little video on how to find your local branch.

(Click here to watch  on YouTube)

Once you have found your local post office location and copied the address down, proceed to the next step (skip the “Finding a Bank Near You” part if you chose to do it via the post office).

Finding a Bank Near You



It must be done at Banco do Brasil and to find your local branch will require that you navigate in Portuguese.  So I created another little video for you to help you out.

Here is to the Banco do Brasil website.

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

After you have found your branch and copied the location, proceed to the next step of paying the fee.

When in the Bank or at the Post Office



There are a few important things you need to know once you are at the bank or post office:

  1. They don’t usually speak English
  2. They may not have done it for a foreigner before
  3. They don’t always know what they are talking about

Here is what you do:

  1. Approach and say “Preciso pagar por meu CPF” (I need to pay for my CPF)
  2. Give her/him the piece of paper you printed from step 1 (or just the relevant information they ask for if you decided not to fill out the paper online)
  3. Give her/him another piece of paper with your mailing address on it (this can even be temporary), a telephone number and your father and mother’s full names (a Brazilian thing).
  4. Give her/him $R5.80 in cash.
  5. You will receive a long receipt with a sticker on it – keep this in a safe place

Proceed to step 3.

Step 3: Finishing up at the Receita Federal (Tax Authority)

Once you have printed your application from step one and paid your fee from step 2 (step 2 is not applicable if you are getting a temporary CPF – it is free), you are then ready to finish up the process.

I will separate the instructions based on whether you are getting a temporary CPF or permanent CPF.

Finding your local Receita Federal (Tax Authority)

Since the Receita Federal’s website is all in Portuguese, I made you one more little video on how to locate your nearest one:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

Write down the location address and proceed to the one of two instructions below.

A. Temporary CPF

If you chose to get a temporary CPF, here are the steps you need to take to get it at the Receita Federal.

  1. Take a number*
  2. Wait until they call upon you and approach the desk.
  3. Tell them in Portuguese “Eu preciso obter um CPF Temporario de tourista” (if they tell you to pay a fee, then they understood incorrectly, it is immediate and free for the temporary one).
  4. Present the printed form and your passport (no translation of passport needed!).
  5. Wait for them to do their job…
  6. They will then print out a temporary CPF on the spot and you will now have your CPF number!

*A good trick: the lines are usually huge and you could wait a couple of hours easily, so if you have a child or can loan someone’s, there is a law that requires that you get a special number and skip the line.  We did this and were attended to within a matter of minutes!

This number on the paper will be the one you utilize and present every time someone asks for it.

B. Permanent CPF

If you chose to get a permanent CPF, here are the steps in order to attain one once at the Receita Federal:

  1. Take a number*
  2. Wait until you get called upon and approach the desk.
  3. Tell them in Portuguese “Eu preciso obter um CPF”.
  4. They will ask you if you paid the fee etc
  5. Present them with the printed piece of paper, address it will be sent to, passport and receipt from either the bank or post office for fee payment.
  6. Wait for them to do their job….
  7. They will then present you with a piece of paper containing the CPF card on it as a printout – this is your CPF card!
  8. Proceed to a “papelaria”(paper store) to get the printout “plastificado”(laminated)

 *A good trick: the lines are usually huge and you could wait a couple of hours easily, so if you have a child or can loan someone’s, there is a law that requires that you get a special number and skip the line.  We did this and were attended to within a matter of minutes!

Note: it is no longer required to maintain your CPF number yearly – once you get it, you have it for life.

Final Note

My intention with this little “how to” was to demystify knowledge around what a CPF is and how to obtain one.  I myself thought that it was a hassle when I had to get one with very unclear information – and that was despite the fact that I spoke Portuguese!

Please make sure and share this to anyone you know that is planning on travel to or live in Brazil, as they will be looking for this information.

All the best – valeu!

Kevin

P.S. if you are looking for more specific information about moving to Brazil including FAQ, !

About the author

admin

82 Comments

Leave a comment
  • hi Kevin, what documents do I need to apply for CPF? the information is quite confusing from I have found in different webpages. would like to get a permanent one for non brazilian resident… thanks

    • Hi Patrique. It can be confusing as sometimes even the proper authorities tell conflicting information. All you need is your passport – nothing else document-wise. Beyond that you will need to provide them with a mailing address (to send the card to) and phone number.

      I hope that helps!

  • Hello, thanks for the guide..I have one question. Can I get a CPF number before I register with the federal police to obtain my RNE number (protocolo)?

  • Hello, thanks for the guide..I have one question. Is it possible to get a CPF number before I register with the Federal Police to obtain a RNE number (protocolo)?

  • What not to do: Go and try at a small post office for your cpf. So I went Saturday to a big one, armed with my Spanish. They told me they can’t do it, and after lot of insisting they explained I should come back Monday. They all recogniced me, I greeted them as old lost friends and twenty Minutes later I had the payment done. Thanks to Kevin, this post is very helpfull.

    • Exactly the same for me. They can only do it on weekdays. Went back yesterday (Monday) and after waiting 30 minutes for my number to be called, spent about 15 minutes entering the data (for 3 people). I am off to the Receita Federal today. I have had about a dozen Portuguese lessons and far from proficient, but it was painless compared to many of the other adventures in Brazilian bureaucracy. Getting a pre-paid sim card for my phone took twice as long.

        • HM, I just bought a prepaid sim at a news kiosk. Then with the passport ready, and the hotel address. called the number for activating it. They didn’t need a CPF, but kept asking if I really was in RIO, and where I came from. It’s was activated after a couple of hours.

          • Dear friend,

            I am Mrs.Lina Thompson Moore am the manager of auditing and accounting
            department Bank of African(B.O.A) in Burkina faso. I would like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of$10.7 Million. I will like you to stand as the next of
            kin to my late client whose account is presently dormant, for claim.

            (1) Full names:………………
            (2) Private phone number:…………………
            (3) Current residential address:………………..
            (4) Occupation:……………..
            (5) Age and Sex:…………………….

            Yours faithful,
            please reply to this email address

  • Thank you Kevin for the very helpful post! I just wanted to share my experience and how it diverged at times from the (wonderful) advice given here. I speak fluent Portuguese so when a few things came up I was able to grill them as politely as I could. Everything at the post office went great, when I finally found the Receita Federal (in Brasilia) and it was my turn, I asked them about the temporary CPF, and she said it doesn’t exist. I insisted a bit and she asked three superiors, who all said it doesn’t exist. My question here is, can I only get the temporary one from my own country? If not, is there anything on the government website that a foreigner could bring and show them to prove that it’s a real thing? I definitely lost the four to one argument with no other proof 🙂

    Second, I asked them about having to maintain the permanent CPF every year and they said I don’t have to do anything, although I’m guessing they just don’t realize that they’re maintaining theirs when they file taxes?? Lastly, they printed out a sheet of paper right then and there, and told me to cut it out, fold it, and get it laminated (plastificar = laminate): I was surprised to find out that that was my official CPF card! (I think it’s hilarious that I cut out and laminated my own offical government document!). So there was no waiting for the card in the mail. Hope this info helps, and hoping to hear back from you Kevin about some of those differences I ran into. Thanks again!

    • My pleasure Dan!

      Yeah, they have been making some changes recently to the CPF scenario.

      They have actually fazed out the plastic cards and give you a print out to laminate as you mentioned – I need to update the guide.

      Another thing they just fazed out is the need to maintaine the CPF each year. So you no longer have to keep it active or file anything – it will last you a lifetime. Need to update the guide there too 😉

      Wonder what went on about the temporary CPF though – could they have decided to faze that out too? I’ll have to look into it.

      Thanks for your feedback!

      • Hi Kevin! I’m going to Brazil next week, so I want to apply for temp CPF. Thanks for a link to online form where I was able to fill out the CPF application. The only thing I want to stress your attention on is that the the present time there’s another form to do that (as far as I can see) – please visit and try to click on “Inscrição CPF Internet” and this will get you to a similar, but different form. Do you know if the form you pointed out before is still valid or it’s better to fill out a different (new) form? Thanks!

        • Hey! Hmm, they are always changing the forms and rules so thanks!

          Always better with a new form but maybe it would be just worth it to go down to the Post office and do everything there without the form?

      • I’m also curious about if it’s true or not that there’s no such a thing as temporary CPF anymore – it would be great if you can bring any light 😉 Thanks!

  • Is the address on the application the address in Brazil or the one back home? Do they actually mail you the documents, or is it all do-it-yourself for tourist CPFs?

  • Great post Kevin. I obtained my CPF in 2006 in exactly the same way, too easy, surprisingly.
    Shouldn’t you update this post for the e-CPF now though? 😉 It’s as easy, I obtained the e-CNPJ for my company, the process should be very similar.
    Abraço do Campeche 😉 Michel

  • I’m gonna visit brazil in September for three weeks. It’s just three weeks but I want to have a temp. CPF to buy a data sim card for my Mifi connector. I’m Dutch, from The Netherlands. I can’t find my country in the drop downlist on the first page :s. I think it should called Holanda in Portuguese. Thanks in advance.

  • I’m going to Brazil in September for three weeks. I used your ‘manual’ to get a temporary CPF. I used my home address in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I read somewhere that you need to use a address in brazil, I can use my hostel address. Can I change this address, or do I need to fill in a new form? Thanks in advance.

    • Yes, this is correct. You can just use whatever address you are staying at. They used to send you a CPF card to that address but not any more, now it’s just a formality.

      You can fill out a new form at the Brazilian post office if need be.

  • Hi Kevin, I just called the Brazilian consulate in Montevideo, where I’m from and they said there is no such thing as the temporary CPF for tourists.
    Do you know if this can be obtained online?

  • So, I wouldn’t recommend going to Banco de Chile unless you have proof of your residency….i.e…gas bill or some kind of bill in your name. I went and paid the fee..no big deal but then they wouldn’t give me the long yellow receipt you need to take to Receita bc I didn’t have proof of residency. After going to Receita they sent me to the post office (correios) to pay the fee again and get the yellow receipt I needed. pain in the ass…but it was painless at the post office. they just asked for the info you mentioned. so my advice is to go straight to Correios instead of Banco de Chile! Thanks for the great info though!

  • Necessitamos urgentemente de um fundo de pessoal para 2014

    Olá,

    Você está em dívida? Alguma vez você já se recusou a fundos do Banco? Ou você precisa de fundos para pagar as contas? não se preocupe mais, sua ajuda vem agora, JACKSON FUND empresa é uma empresa de fundo, que oferece todos os tipos de fundos para pessoas, empresas que necessitam de um dos fundos com baixa taxa de juros de 3% entre em contato conosco através do email:

    por favor, responda apenas a este e-mail:

  • Thanks for this post Kevin, it was a big help. I did the process today in Floripa and it was a total breeze. I think I was lucky and hit the post office and the Receita Federal at the right times. The entire process took me less than 30 minutes! 10 minutes at the post office in Lagoa. They filled out the form for me at the teller. Then a 15 minute drive to the Receita Federal, now located near the ponte and mercado central downtown. I was in and out of the R.F. in 5 minutes with a CPF! Took a book expecting a few hour wait, but I was the only person in there.

  • Brilliant guide, thanks Kevin! Two tips from my side:
    1) Don’t wear a tank top. I got bounced from the tax office and had to get my jacket 🙂
    2) If a post office is nearby, you might wanna pay directly, even if you only want a temporary one. They didn’t know about any free CPF in Boa Viagem (Recife), and my Portuguese is not good enough to discuss, yet. So I walked to the post office at Extra Supermercado, paid 5.70R$ (the process took me 5mins), and went back to get my CPF. Just my 2 reais.
    Cheers, Erik

  • Hi, I have lost the piece of paper with my CPF on it. I know what my number is but have been told I need the paper to open a bank account. Is it possible to find this online to reprint it? Thanks for any help.

  • Hi everyone, in Sao Paulo (the city) when you visit the Receita Federal to complete the process you need to bring either your RNE, RNE protocol number or if you don’t have these you need to have the page of your passport containing your data and photograph translated by a judicial translator and this costs at least R$46 in Sao Paulo at the moment.

  • how long does the temporary CPF last? I see that it prompts me to select the day I will be leaving the country. Is that the day my CPF ends?

    • Apparently it does not have an expiry date … it’s yours to keep unless you ask to have yours decommissioned (which requires another application process)

  • I found out that not all Receita Federal offices are processing new CPFs. In Sao Paulo it is only at three locactions: CAC CPF Ramos de Azevedo on Rua Coronel Xavier de Toledo, 23, (the Shopping Light Shopping mall); CAC Santo Amaro on Rua Padre Jose de Anchieta, 76, Santo Amaro; CAC Poupatempo Itaquera on Avenida do Contorno, 60, Ala Azul – B, Itaquera. The one at the Shopping Light shopping mall is on the second floor, where there is also a post office, making this location a one-stop-shop for getting the CPF. Give yourself about an hour.

    • What a legend! Shopping Light mall was 5 mins walk from Anhangabaú station. Took me about 20 mins at the post office, only because there were lots of people and less than 10 mins at Receita Federal! There is also a Policia Federal on the third floor of the same mall if anyone needs to register with them (in my case, a working holiday visa form)

  • Thanks for the guide! I did mine overseas so as to avoid headache … so it is possible however it will take about 1 1/2 – 2 months to get the CPF

    Hope this helps

  • There’s a new box at the bottom of the form “Data de saída do país (DD/MM/AAAA)”. I want a permanent CPF, should I leave this blank? (My visa is a 90 day work visa, temporary III, which will be extended later on)

  • My address that I has used to get my CPF has changed. Do I need to request an other CPF with my current address?

  • Hello thank you for this post I got my CPF yesterday.
    followed this page to the T. went to the post office and showed her the printed peace of paper also showed her on paper Preciso pagar por meu CPF she was confused with my passport so I gave her my marriage certificate that I got a month ago as I married an Brasilian so it’s in Portuguese she was happy then and gave the passport back lol filled out the form again on her pc no clue why then paid R$5.70 she gave me receipt. then went to the other place waited one hour and half my number was called sat down she looked at my passport, marriage certificate & my receipt then typed some stuff on her pc and printed out my CPF happy days this was done in Belo Horizonte left my house at 13:30 at 16:00 was walking out of a building with my CPF only really took that long cos my house was one and half hours away I also recommend having google translate app installed on your phone also download the language pack so you can use offline.
    many thanks

  • My wife and I will be working and living in Brazil for 10 months on a senior fellowship from Georgetown University working with the ministry of education. Should I get a permanent or Tourist CPF? How long is the tourist CPF good for.

  • Not a big deal to get a CPF. I strongly recommend the Light Shopping Mall. It took me 10 minutes in the post office and 10 minutes in the CA.. CPF.

    @the author: I feel really embarrassed by our “*trick” recommendation. When I was in the post office a guy who was blind could get first on the desk. In the CAF CPF I was served by a handicapped person. Shame on you for giving loaning baby recommendation.

  • Hi Kevin, thank you. This is the most thorough directions I’ve found so far on this process. One point for clarification please? On the application, do we enter our home country address or our address in Brazil? Thank you! Diane

  • I had a lot of trouble with the online form (nothing happened when I submitted) until I turned the pop-up blocker off in my browser – the form that you need to print out IS a pop-up. After I turned the pop-up blocker off it worked first time, printed it off, paid at the UFSC post office (10 mins) and picked up the CPF (40 mins) at the new Receita Federal near the coach station in Floripa so all works fine.

  • i went to the post ofice,and the girl wanted a document,with the name of one of my parents,ofcourse i didnt think to bring something like this to brasil,anyone else got in trouble with this?

  • This is a good post, and was helpful. I wanted to share my own experience with those who are looking to get their CPF in São Paulo.

    I went to obtain my CPF on a Wednesday morning. I looked on Shopping Light’s website to see when Correios and Receita Federal opened. The info I read said 9am – however when I got to Shopping Light at about 8:20 – 8:30am the security guard said both would not open until 10am. He suggested I go to the Central dos Correios – which is a short walk from Shopping Light. Central dos Correios opens at 9:00am.

    The process at the Central dos Correios was very simple. I was first in line, once building was opened, went to Correios office, I got a ticket from automated machine (selected “other” from the list of services offered). Waited for ticket to be called – I didn’t even sit down before I was called. Told them I was getting CPF. They asked for passport, and I gave them the R$5.70 – they soon handed me a receipt to take to Receita Federal. And thats it. If you don’t speak much/any Portuguese – don’t worry – you can do this by yourself.

    When I returned to Shopping Light at about 9:20am-ish the mall was open. What happened to the 10am open? – who knows, but this is Brazil – so you must always go with the flow. The Receita Federal was open at this time – BUT the Correios was not… and a line was forming there. Since I had already taken care of the Correios portion of my CPF process I didn’t have to wait in that line, thankfully. I handed my receipt from Correios along with my passport to the nice lady at the Receita Federal and she handed me a ticket to “wait in line” – I didn’t even sit down to wait before I was called to be assisted. I handed the next person my passport and receipt and within 5 minutes I had my CPF in hand.

    The process was so easy. I recommend doing exactly what I did. Go to Central dos Correios at 9:00am for opening (maybe get there a few minutes early), then head over to Shopping Light’s Receita Federal to complete the process. You’ll bypass the line at the Correios in Shopping Light. Remember you can also complete the Correios process days before going to Receita Federal. I think my receipt from Correios said it was good for a couple months after I received it.

    Note: I did not fill out any forms online, and I did not have to provide proof of address – though I did bring it just in case.
    I do not speak Portuguese – so I took a good friend along with me to help. I wouldn’t have understood to go to Central does Correios without him – BUT I could have easily done this process without him.

    I think the key is to get there as early as you can – I had a friend go in mid afternoon and she had to schedule an appointment at Receita Federal for a couple hours after her arrival there.

    Address for Central dos Correios:
    Praça do Correio, s/n – Centro
    São Paulo – SP
    01031-970

      • Didnt mater what time of day:
        Process:
        1. Present to Central dos Correios
        2. As enter electronic doors, on right is information, the attendant asks for passport and address in brasil
        3. You pay 7 reis
        4. Take receipt and present to Receita Federal in Shopping Light (a shopping centre about 200m away- second level). Use google maps if cant find.
        5. Wait and BOOM a COF awaits you.
        Boa sorte

  • Hi, thanks for the guide, very useful. For me the post office in Rio (Largo do Machado) took ages so worth going early to avoid the queues maybe.

    Those from the UK: When filling out the online form we are listed as Reino Unido 😉

    In Rio the Ipanema office worked well. Some had mentioned booking ahead but this was not necessary for me, CPF processing ends at 16:00 (not 19:00 as listed on Google).
    I also tried the main CPF in the centre 5 min from Carioca and a CPF office near Largo do Machado, these two place are not for the public so don’t bother.

    Cheers, Paul

  • […] call me by name. I was called after about 10 minutes and they handed me my CPF number. The CPF is used for many things like obtaining cellphone, buying a house, buying a car or opening a bank […]

  • Procura uma empresa de empréstimo privado respeitável e credenciado? Foram rejeitadas pelos bancos e outras instituições financeiras? Precisa de um empréstimo de consolidação ou uma hipoteca? Busca-se não mais como estamos aqui para fazer todos os seus problemas financeiros, uma coisa do passado.
    Então, envie-nos hoje em: (fernandohenrietta@gmail.com) para aplicar agora para um empréstimo

  • So, Is there any way to get a CPF just to purchase an online membership or have the government made it impossible for foreigners to bring money to Brazil trough internet business?

    • Are you in Brazil or outside of Brazil? You can either apply for a CPF at the receita federal or you can apply for one through the Brazilian Consulate-General/Embassy in your home country.

  • Dear Kevin
    We are planning to deliver our new baby in brazil
    Please elaborate on the period required to get the permanent residency and is it mandatory to stay in brazil to obtain the Brazilian passport
    As per the Brazilian nationality law after one year residency

    • As we’ve discussed on the phone recently, permanent residency is instantaneous, citizenship requires living in the country for a year on this visa.

  • I would like to share my 2 cents.

    I am a national of Europe and currently on a 3 month tourist visa. Unfortunately I found out too late about this website or the fact that a tourist can get a CPF number. So with 1 month left I decided to follow everyones advice. Well, initially it didn’t go as planned.

    I reside in Moema so going to the city centre is not something I want to do every day. Through Uber is quite cheap compare to other cities in Brasil. Anyway, I first went to the Central Correios in Sao Paulo as some person mentioned above. I guess it was my unlucky day because literally the system to registrar the CPF did not work that day at ALL the post offices in the city. So I was told to go a large Banco do Brasil nearby. Well those fuckers took so long I kind of lost my patience. And just when I paid to them 7 Reais (PLEAS UPDATE: THERE IS NO FREE CPF FOR TOURISTS TEMPORARY ANYMORE. JUST 1 CPF FOR EVERYONE) they asked for PROOF of address, which I told them is not necessary. This must be printed on paper and signed or some official document. I am renting an Airbnb…

    Anyway, I went to the Receito Federal and they told me to go back again to the bank to reclaim my money and then go again to the post office. Well after walking around back and forth I gave up for the day because the CPF registration system did not work. So today I decided I will call first before going through a lot of hoops for no reason. Since I speak Portuguese, they told me the system was up and running. So I went to a nearby post office here in Moema. They were kind, I paid the fees and et voila I requested an Uber to drive me immediately to the Recite Federal. Well, I guess I am not the only person getting a CPF. I felt like I was in an immigration camp in Syria, no offence! When I got a ticket number and lots of waiting I was finally served and I tried to sweet talk to the woman who was helping because everyone seems so stressed. So the last thing I want is someone being moody to me. When I broke the ice and she smiled and we talked, she finally gave me the paper (WHICH IS SIMPLY PRINTED OUT) with a number on it and your name. Very unofficial. I mean I could have typed it myself.

    But across the Receita Federal which btw is located in the Shopping Light building near the large Central Correios in Sao Paulo, there is a internet cafe and you can laminate your piece of paper to make it a bit more secure and formal.

    And that was my story to get the CPF. I lost some time and spent 2 full days running around, but I guess it will be worth it because this number is for life. So whatever/whenever you come back to Brasil and you need this number at least you will have it.

    Peace

    • Sounds like you really got the run around! Yes, it’s always worth going straight to the receita federal and insisting on your rights to a cpf, because a lot of staff aren’t even trained in how it all works…

  • Hy.. I just would like ti ask if i can get my cpf number done if im a tourist but I expanded my 3 months stay in brazil?? Or theyll gpna lock me up or send me hpme?? Thx very much m8

    • Sorry for the late reply. Basically nobody will come and track you down or lock you up, although if you overstay your visa you will get a fine, and every time you come and go from Brazil after that you’ll be questioned at the border.

  • Hey Kevin! Just one question: I read that an original birth certificate is also needed for the permanent CPF. Is that right?
    Thanks!

  • Kevin, thank you soo much for this step by step guide on getting a CPF. Thank you so much for your efforts and time invested in making this available to people! Monica

  • Hello,

    The address to be filled in the CPF application is it my home country address or my temporary address in Brazil?
    Do I need CPF for my wife and me or is it sufficient to have one CPF for one of us to register our baby?

    Many thanks for assistance

    • If you are applying for a tourist cpf (which most do initially) then you just put your home address (your home country) on the form.

  • Isso pode ser mais um grande ajuda amigo . Eu tmbm um médico do índia . É quero fica lá na Brasil . Vamos ver se assim vai dar certo . Eu tmbm ala portuguese bem .e vamos ver se Deus abençoe lá .né amigo.

    Dr. Aman

  • Hey Kevin, I am applying for a permanent residency through a stable union I have in Brazil and I need a CPF for the final document that I need as evidence for my application.
    My question is can I obtain a permanent CPF as I am applying for a permanent residence or will I only be able to get a tourist CPF because I am currently not a legal PR?

    Kind Regards
    David

  • Hello mr. I live in Romania localizezld in Europe. I completed and i am registration the paper CPF online. But not put pay of our bank from Brasil cause i am in Romania. I am from Romania. How put proceded?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Copyright 2024 Live In Brazil · All Rights Reserved · · ·