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🇧🇷Brazil8 min readFebruary 20, 2025

Brazil CPF Number for Tourists — How to Get One and Why You Need It

A CPF number is Brazil's universal digital ID. Here's why tourists need one, how to get it in 10 minutes, and what to do without it.

Brazil CPF Number for Tourists — How to Get One and Why You Need It

You land in São Paulo. You try to buy a SIM card. "CPF, por favor?" You try to set up Pix to pay at a restaurant. "CPF required." You try to order something online. "Enter your CPF."

CPF — Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas — is Brazil's universal tax identification number. Brazilians use it for everything. And increasingly, tourists need one too.

Here's what it is, whether you actually need one, and how to get it.

What Is a CPF?

CPF is an 11-digit number assigned by Brazil's Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal). Think of it as Brazil's Social Security Number, but used far more broadly:

  • Opening bank accounts
  • Buying SIM cards
  • Using Pix (Brazil's dominant digital payment system)
  • Making online purchases
  • Checking into some hotels
  • Signing up for loyalty programs
  • Even buying tickets for some events

Unlike most countries where a passport is sufficient ID for tourists, Brazil's digital infrastructure is built around CPF. Without one, you hit walls.

Do Tourists Actually Need a CPF?

Short answer: You can survive without one, but your trip will be easier with one.

You NEED a CPF for:

  • Setting up Pix (Brazil's instant payment — 80%+ of digital transactions use Pix)
  • Buying a Brazilian SIM card (most carriers require CPF for activation)
  • Opening a Brazilian bank account (Nubank, Banco do Brasil, etc.)
  • Purchasing from many Brazilian e-commerce sites (Mercado Livre, Americanas)

You DON'T need a CPF for:

  • Paying with international Visa/Mastercard at restaurants, hotels, and shops
  • Withdrawing cash from ATMs
  • Using Uber/99 (accepts international cards without CPF)
  • Hotel check-in (passport is sufficient at most hotels)

The Pix question is the deciding factor. Pix is everywhere in Brazil — from fancy restaurants to açaí stands on the beach. Many small vendors ONLY accept Pix or cash. Without Pix, you're limited to cash and card, which narrows your options significantly.

How to Get a CPF as a Tourist

Option A: Online (Recommended — Before Your Trip)

The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service allows foreigners to apply for a CPF online:

  1. Go to the Receita Federal website: servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br
  2. Select "Inscrição no CPF" (CPF Registration)
  3. Choose "Estrangeiro" (Foreigner)
  4. Fill in your details:
    • Full name (as on passport)
    • Date of birth
    • Nationality
    • Passport number
    • Mother's name (required field — use your actual mother's name)
    • Email address
  5. Submit and note your CPF number immediately

Time: 5–10 minutes Cost: Free Languages: Portuguese only (use browser translation)

Important: This online process has been inconsistent — sometimes it works for foreigners, sometimes it doesn't. If the online portal rejects your application, use Option B.

Option B: In Person at Receita Federal

Visit any Receita Federal office in Brazil:

  1. Locate the nearest office (Google "Receita Federal" + your city)
  2. Bring:
    • Passport (original)
    • Proof of address (hotel reservation or booking confirmation works)
    • Completed form available at the office
  3. Take a number, wait for your turn
  4. Staff will process your application and give you your CPF number on the spot

Time: 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on queue) Cost: Free Hours: Monday–Friday, typically 8:00–16:00

Option C: At a Brazilian Consulate (Before Your Trip)

Some Brazilian consulates abroad process CPF applications:

  • Check with the consulate in your country
  • Processing time varies (days to weeks)
  • Not all consulates offer this service

Setting Up Pix After Getting Your CPF

Once you have a CPF:

  1. Download a bank app — Nubank is the most foreigner-friendly (some features available without Brazilian address)
  2. Open a tourist/basic account — Passport + CPF required
  3. Register for Pix — Within the bank app, link your Pix to your CPF, email, or phone number
  4. Fund your account — Transfer from international card or deposit cash at a bank branch

Realistic expectation: Opening a full bank account as a tourist is difficult. Nubank has been the most consistent option, but policies change. Some tourists report success, others are rejected.

Alternative: Some payment platforms like PicPay accept foreign registration with CPF and allow limited Pix functionality.

Without a CPF — Your Backup Plan

If you don't have and can't get a CPF:

Cash

  • ATM network: Banco24Horas (yellow machines) accept Visa/MC, found in malls, airports, and gas stations
  • Bank ATMs: Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itaú accept international cards
  • Withdrawal limit: Usually R$1,000–2,000 per transaction
  • Fee: R$8–15 per withdrawal + your bank's foreign fee

International Cards

  • Visa and Mastercard accepted at most restaurants, hotels, shops, and supermarkets
  • Street vendors, food trucks, and small businesses: cash or Pix only
  • Always ask "Aceita cartão?" (Accept card?) before ordering

Uber / 99

  • Both ride-hailing apps work with international cards without CPF
  • 99 is Brazilian and often cheaper than Uber in Brazil
  • Add your credit card in the app before arriving

Hotel Assistance

  • Many hotels will make restaurant reservations, book tours, and handle purchases on your behalf
  • Ask the concierge — this is common practice in Brazil

Common Scams to Watch For

  • CPF number sellers — never buy a CPF from unofficial sources. These are stolen identities and using one is a federal crime in Brazil
  • "I'll register for you" offers — street hustlers near tourist areas who offer to get you a CPF. They'll take your passport photos and personal info. Don't do this.
  • Fake Receita Federal websites — only use the official .gov.br domain

Emergency Portuguese Phrases

| Situation | Portuguese | Pronunciation | English | |-----------|-----------|---------------|---------| | I don't have CPF | Não tenho CPF | Now teng-yo CPF | I don't have a CPF | | Accept card? | Aceita cartão? | Ah-say-ta car-tow? | Do you accept card? | | Where is ATM? | Onde tem caixa eletrônico? | On-jee teng kai-sha ele-tron-iko? | Where is an ATM? | | Cash please | Dinheiro, por favor | Jin-yay-ro, por fa-vor | Cash, please | | Help | Socorro | So-ko-ho | Help |

Before Your Trip

  1. Apply for CPF online (try 2–3 weeks before departure)
  2. If online fails, plan a Receita Federal visit on day 1
  3. Download Uber and 99, add your international card
  4. Carry R$500–1,000 equivalent in USD for initial exchange
  5. Tell your bank you'll be in Brazil

Use our Brazil Setup Kit for the complete checklist, or check your readiness with the Risk Scanner.

Last updated: February 2025.

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🇧🇷 Brazil Guide🚨 Crisis Playbook🔍 Risk ScannerAll Guides