Support Services

Sim Card or Phone Carrier

To your convinence

📱 SIM Cards in Brazil Getting connected is fast. Walk into any Claro, TIM or Vivo store, ask for a chip, and get it activated on the spot. TIM is usually the easiest if you don't have a CPF yet, since it can activate SIMs on passport alone. 💳 Prepaid (pré-pago) means you load reais onto the chip whenever you want, and usage gets deducted from that balance as you go. No contract, no monthly bill, no commitment. If you run out of data or credit, you just buy a top-up, nothing gets charged automatically and nothing keeps running if you stop paying. 📄 Postpaid (pós-pago) works the opposite way, closer to a phone bill back home. You sign an agreement, usually for a minimum of a year, and the carrier bills you monthly based on what you used. Cancelling early can involve fees, and as a foreigner without a long term address or credit history in Brazil, it's often harder to even qualify for one. 👉 For visitors, prepaid is the clear choice. It's what locals recommend to anyone who isn't planning to stay in Brazil for years, since you stay in control of spending and can walk away anytime without paperwork. 🔋 Recharges are everywhere: newsstands, supermarkets, the carrier's own store. 🌐 Compare data packages on each carrier's site before you recharge, prices and internet amounts vary.

🚨 Emergency Numbers in Brazil

To your convinience

These calls are free from any phone, even without credit or a SIM card. 🚓 190, police. Call for robbery, assault, threats, or any situation involving danger to people. 🚑 192, SAMU, ambulance and medical emergencies. Call for a heart attack, accident with injuries, seizure, or fainting. 🚒 193, fire department. Call for fire, rescue, drowning, or anyone trapped. 🌧️ 199, civil defense. Call for floods, landslides, or natural disasters. 👮 197, civil police. This is for filing a report after something happened, not for an emergency in progress. 🛂 194, federal police. Relevant for immigration matters, visas, and RNM issues. 👩 180, women's support hotline. For domestic violence or gender based violence. 📍 When you call, be ready to describe your location in Portuguese, street name, number, and a nearby landmark. Dispatchers usually don't speak English, so having your address written down in Portuguese ahead of time can save critical minutes.

CPF

Av. Olegário Maciel, 2360 - Lourdes/Santo Agostinho

Getting Your CPF in Brazil your guide Why this matters, and why the order trips people up First thing you do is follow the link below to fill out your form. Make sure that your institution has provided you with some information and read the whole page before beginning the step by step. Most guides for foreigners jump straight into the Federal Police / RNM registration, because it has a hard 90-day deadline and feels urgent. But there's a step that usually needs to happen **before** that, and almost nobody flags it clearly: the CPF - CPF (Cadastro de Pessoa Física) = your tax ID number, issued by the Receita Federal (Brazil's IRS). It's what identifies you for money-related things. - RNM/CRNM = your immigration registration, issued by the Federal Police. It's what proves your legal migratory status. They're independent documents, but in practice you'll want the CPF first, because it's the one that unlocks everyday life: opening a bank account, signing a lease, getting a phone plan, or even enrolling somewhere often requires a CPF not an RNM. So while your 90-day RNM clock is running, having the CPF sorted early means you're not stuck waiting to do basic things. What you need to bring - Valid passport, ideally showing your Brazil entry stamp (proves you're actually in the country) - Proof of address in Brazil this trips people up because they just landed and don't have a utility bill yet. In practice, a signed lease, a hosting/accommodation letter, or a declaration from your school or employer is usually accepted. Ask the specific location beforehand if you're unsure. You generally do not need sworn translations or apostilles for the passport itself — that's more commonly required for supporting documents issued abroad, not for this process. Where you can go You have a few options pick based on convenience, since they all issue the same CPF: - Banco do Brasil branch; usually fastest, and you don't need to be a customer - Caixa Econômica Federal branch; same as above, widely available - Receita Federal office; free and thorough, but often has longer lines/requires scheduling - Correios (select branches); convenient if nearby, but not all branches offer this, so call ahead For someone in BH, a Banco do Brasil or Caixa branch near where you're staying is usually the path of least resistance, versus dealing with the Receita Federal queue. Step-by-step - Step 1: (Optional) Start online. Go to gov.br/cpf, create a gov.br account if you don't have one, and fill out the CPF registration form (personal data, address, document info). This gets you a protocol number, which can speed up your in-person visit but it's not mandatory to start this way. - Step 2: Go in person. Bring your passport and proof of address (plus the protocol number, if you have one) to whichever location you chose. - Step 3: Document validation. Staff will check your documents; in some cases you'll also go through biometric verification (photo/fingerprint). - Step 4: Receive your CPF. In most cases it's issued the same visit. The number is typically active in the national banking system within 2–4 hours meaning you could open a bank account the same day. - Step 5: Save your confirmation. Download the PDF confirmation from the Receita Federal website. This document alone is accepted almost everywhere as proof of your CPF: you don't strictly need the physical plastic card. Good to know - It's free when done directly through the Receita Federal. Banks or Correios may charge a small optional fee (roughly R$20–40) only if you want a physical card skippable if the PDF works for your purposes. - **CPF never expires.** No renewals, ever even if your visa later expires, the CPF number stays valid and usable. - **CPF ≠ visa ≠ RNM.** Having a CPF does not replace your obligation to register with the Federal Police within 90 days of arrival. They serve different purposes and are checked by different institutions. - **You can request it before traveling**, at a Brazilian consulate in your home country but it's slower (20–30 days) and involves a consular fee. Because of the wait, most people find it simpler to just handle it after arriving in Brazil.