CPF - Individual Taxpayer Registration

Publicado em 01/04/2022 11h37 Atualizado em 06/10/2025 18h51

The Individual Taxpayer Registration (CPF) is the registry maintained by the Federal Revenue of Brazil, where any natural person must register once, regardless of age or nationality. Each registered person is identified in the country by a unique 11-digit number.

Law no. 14.534/23, makes the CPF the only general identification number in the country. This law will come into force in 2024, but everyone needs to have a CPF by then: the document will become mandatory for the provision of services, in Brazil and abroad, including requesting certificates and renewing passports.

In addition, if you want to take an entrance exam or public tender, open a bank account, take out loans, take out financing, apply for a credit card, obtain a work permit, purchase or rent a property or vehicle, issue a power of attorney, receive amounts, be part of an inventory, open or do business of any nature in Brazil will need your CPF.

For Brazilian nationals, registration, regularization or change of CPF services are free and provided exclusively by e-mail from the Federal Revenue Service. It is not necessary to visit the Consulate at any stage of the process, which can be done quickly and conveniently from home.

The CPF number is issued only once (unique and definitive), and it is not possible to register twice. The CPF number will be generated upon registration and recorded on the receipt provided to the applicant. The number must be kept in a safe place or memorized, as "CPF cards" are no longer issued.

Note that the physical CPF card in plastic format is no longer issued.

Due to tax privacy regulations, those who have lost/forgotten their CPF number must retrieve it directly at one of the units of the Federal Revenue ("Receita Federal") in Brazil. If necessary, the request can be done by proxy by a representative of the person concerned. Further clarifications can be obtained by e-mail: cpf.residente.exterior@receita.fazenda.gov.br

MANDATORY ANNUAL UPDATE OF CPF REGISTRATION DATA FOR FOREIGNERS LIVING OUTSIDE BRAZIL

Starting in 2025, all non-Brazilian citizens who already have a CPF number and live abroad must update their CPF registration data with Receita Federal (Brazilian Revenue Service). The procedure must be repeated annually by foreign CPF holders with an address abroad. The new service aims to assure the integrity of the CPF database and thus prevent the improper use of registrations by third parties to commit fraud.

All update services must be done through the Receita Federal app, which is available for iOS and Android. In order to do so, the foreigner must download the Receita Federal app, choose the option "Serviços sem Senha”, then click on “Atualizar CPF no Exterior” and follow the instructions:

1. Insert their CPF number and date of birth;

2. In the app, take a selfie with the passport identification page open, below the face;

3. Fill out the information requested.

Applicants who are unable to complete the online process due to inconsistencies in their data will need to set an appointment with the Consulate. To do that, create an account on the e-consular system and start the request there. After pre-screening is approved, schedule an in-person appointment using the e-consular system. On the day of your appointment, present the following:

a) Passport;

b) Identification page of the passport or RNE/CRNM. Foreigners who have an identification document issued by a Mercosul member or associated country may use it until June 30th, 2025. After that date, only passport photos will be accepted as identification.

c) Printscreen of the error message generated by the Receita Federal app.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CPF REGISTRATION, UPDATING OR CHANGE OF RECORDS

BRAZILIAN NATIONALS

We have a step-by-step tutorial on how to request your CPF online directly with "Receita Federal" for Brazilian citizens (only available in Portuguese).

The service is free of charge and provided exclusively over the internet by e-mail sent to the Brazilian Revenue Agency (Receita Federal).

The presence at the Consulate is NOT necessary in any phase of the process.

To request registration, regularization or change of the CPF, the interested party of Brazilian nationality must:

1) Complete the online form on the Federal Revenue website, available through the links:

ATTENTION: the browser's "pop-ups" blocker must be disabled. Otherwise, it will not be possible to send the request.

2) After clicking on "send", a registration form (FCPF) containing a service code will be generated.

3) Print and sign the form.

4) Send a message to the e-mail cpf.residente.exterior@rfb.gov.br, with:

- information about the desired service (registration, change or regularization of CPF); and

- the following documents attached, in PDF or JPEG format (the Federal Revenue does not accept other formats or links to storage clouds):

- Individual registration form (FCPF) mentioned in item 2 above, signed;

- Identification document with photo proving name, date of birth and nationality (eg, passport, national identification document, RNE/CRNM);

- "Selfie" holding an identification document open, close to the face, for the purpose of proof of identity. For minors under 16, send a "selfie" of the father or mother, holding their own identification document (not the minor's);

- Document listing parents' names (for example, Brazilian birth certificate).

To check the status of your CPF: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/servicos/cpf/consultasituacao/consultapublica.asp

To view your application: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/servicos/cpf/consultaandamento/consultaandamento.asp

To print the CPF card: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/servicos/cpf/consultaandamento/consultaandamento.asp

FOREIGN NATIONALS (ONLY REGISTRATION)

The service is free of charge and must be requested at the Consulate of Brazil

To apply for registration, the foreign citizen must:

1) Complete the online form on the Federal Revenue website, available at the following links:

-In Portuguese: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/Servicos/CPF/cpfEstrangeiro/Fcpf.asp

-In English: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/Servicos/CPF/cpfEstrangeiro/FcpfIng.asp

-In Spanish: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/Servicos/CPF/cpfEstrangeiro/FcpfEsp.asp

*Note: the "Título Eleitoral" (Voter's Registration) field of the form must be left blank.

ATTENTION: the browser's "pop-ups" blocker must be disabled. Otherwise, it will not be possible to send the request.

2) After clicking on "send", a registration form (FCPF) will be generated that contains a service code.

3) Print and sign the form.

4) Acess E-Consular at https://ec-chicago.itamaraty.gov.br/ and fill the "CPF (somente inscrição)" option, including:

- Individual registration form (FCPF) mentioned in item 2) above, signed;

- Identification document with photo proving name, date of birth, and nationality (eg, passport, national identification document, RNE/CRNM);

- Document listing parents' names (for example, birth certificate).

After sending your request at e-Consular, the Consulate requires a period of ten (10) business days to validate the application and enable scheduling. The applicant must then attend the Consulate on the scheduled date and bring all original documentation for verification.

To check the status of your CPF: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/servicos/cpf/consultasituacao/consultapublica.asp

To view your application: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/servicos/cpf/consultaandamento/consultaandamento.asp

To print the CPF card: https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov.br/Servicos/CPF/ImpressaoComprovante/ConsultaImpressao.asp

MORE INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS REGARDING CPF/TAX/DECLARATIONS

Brazilian Consulates and Embassies abroad do not have a delegation from the Federal Revenue Service to provide information on CPF, income tax returns, refunds, final departure, customs and foreign trade, etc. These matters are the exclusive competence of the Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) in Brazil.

Doubts on these matters should be addressed to the competent body - Federal Revenue Service - Service of Taxpayers Domiciled Abroad through its service channels or by e-mail:

a) Legislation / Tax Declarations: residente.exterior@receita.fazenda.gov.br

b) CPF: cpf.residente.exterior@receita.fazenda.gov.br