When a Gringo needs a CPF (Natural Persons Register)

“The Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF; Portuguese for “Natural Persons Register”) is the Brazilian individual taxpayer registry identification, a number attributed by the Brazilian Federal Revenue to both Brazilians and resident aliens who pay taxes or take part, directly or indirectly, in activities that provide revenue for any of the dozens of different types of taxes existing in Brazil. By means of this universal number the Federal Revenue computers can estimate the income tax that is due, thus directing fiscalisation.” (information  from here )

Joel is an american guy living in Brazil and someone have told him how important it is to get a CPF. It is a register required whenever you need to get a bank account, to take a loan, to buy a property…if you expect to live in Brazil for a while, receive money here or do any business, you eventually will need this document.

When you do all the procedures to request yours, you will receive a plastic card (about the size of a credit card) with 11 numbers but you just have to memorize these numbers and your life in Brazil will become easier.

Ok! You are in Brazil and you want to get a CPF. How can you get a CPF being a foreigner? Don’t worry! It is pretty simple:

First step: You will find someone to make a certified translation of the pages of your passport that contains your identity information. Be cautious: you have to find someone able (with the proper license) to make this kind of translation. We suggest the website www.juramentada.com.br, www.sintra.org  (you can find translators for nearly any languages), or [email protected] (Giselle´s brother, for English to Portuguese);

Second step: You have to go to a post office (Correios), or to any branch of a federal bank, etither Banco do Brasil (Bank of Brasil) or Caixa Econômica Federal (another Federal bank) and there you can ask for a CPF. They will ask your documents and will pay a tax (BRL 7,00) .Then they will print a paper for you.

==>Some post office workers don´t know how to do it so it is possible you go to a Correio Agency and hear “We can’t do it here this way”. Insist! Central agencies (either Correios or banks are always better). It is even better if you can go with somebody able to speak Portuguese and that you can trust (you can ask for a friend or work/ university colleague);

Third step: You will take that paper (the one I´ve mentioned before) and take it to a Receita Federal office (find one here) . You can also ask for the translator who made your document translation to help you to find an office, in the case you find it difficult. After this it is done! You´ve got your CPF.

You can do everything in just one day (at least second and third steps for sure)!

Does it help you? We hope so. 😉

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