How to get a CPF – Personal Tax ID Number
If you are thinking of investing in Brazil, you are probably wondering how to get a CPF. And if you came here looking for this information, you are on the right track!
But before you apply for one, it is really important you spend some minutes reading this page. Below we have detailed what is a CPF and why it is so important in Brazil.
What is a CPF? Why should I get one?
A CPF number is the Personal Tax ID number for national and foreign individuals in Brazil. It identifies each individual taxpayer dealing with Receita Federal do Brasil (Brazilian Federal Revenue Bureau – the IRS equivalent in Brazil).
The acronym CPF stands for Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (Physical Persons Registry) and it is very similar to the Social Security Number (SSN) in the United States.
Having this Brazilian tax ID is essential for all Brazilian citizens and foreigners who intent to apply for a job, open a bank account in Brazil, apply for loans, obtain a driver’s license or buy and sell real estate in Brazil.
The importance of this tax ID number in Brazil is so great that nowadays some Brazilian parents already issue them to their children even before they reach adolescence!
Once it is a taxpayer identification number, it is required for foreign investors who intend to start a business in Brazil or perform financial transactions like purchasing real estate.
How to apply for a CPF
In order to get this Brazilian tax ID number, you must fill an online form at Brazilian Federal Revenue Bureau (link is available below), then print, sign and deliver it to a Brazilian diplomatic representation within 15 days, along with the documents requested (see a list of mandatory documents here 
).
Official page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, with all instructions on how to obtain the CPF:
Online form for requesting your CPF:
https://www.receita.fazenda.gov.br/Aplicacoes/Atcta/CpfEstrangeiro/fcpf.asp
CKSA Consultation
If you are getting trouble in getting your tax ID at a Brazilian Consulate, our team of consultants may assist you.
Fee: US$ 200
Related:
Open a bank account in Brazil remotely
Incorporate a company in Brazil
How to get a CNPJ in Brazil