Updated April 2026
CPF for International Students in Brazil
If you are studying in Brazil on an exchange, scholarship, or full degree, a CPF is not optional. Your university will ask for it. Your landlord will ask for it. Your bank will ask for it. The sooner you get it, the smoother your semester starts.
Why students need a CPF immediately
- ✓ University enrollment and online portal access
- ✓ Student housing contracts require it
- ✓ Bank account for receiving scholarship funds or managing money
- ✓ Local SIM card for calls and data
- ✓ Student discounts often require CPF-linked student ID
- ✓ Exam registration at most institutions
Documents for student visa holders
- 1 Valid passport (original, since Jan 2026 only passports are accepted)
- 2 Proof of address (housing contract, utility bill, or host declaration letter)
- 3 University enrollment letter (helpful but not always required)
- 4 R$7 for Correios fee
The address problem for new arrivals
You just landed. You have not signed a lease yet. Maybe you are in temporary housing, a hostel, or staying with a friend. You need a CPF to get an apartment, but you need an address to get a CPF.
The workaround: a host declaration letter from whoever you are staying with temporarily. Or use your university's international office address with an enrollment letter as backup. GET CPF generates the host declaration in the correct format.
Sort it before orientation week
GET CPF prepares everything in 5 minutes. Get your CPF on day one so you are ready for enrollment, housing, and everything else.
Get started for $29Pro tips for students
- Ask your university's international office. Some have a dedicated process for helping foreign students get CPFs. They may even have a contact at the local Correios.
- Do it in the first week. The longer you wait, the more things pile up that need a CPF. Housing, banking, phone, university portal. Get it done early.
- Check if your consulate offers CPF. Brazilian consulates in some countries process CPF applications. If you can get it before you fly, even better.
- Your CPF never expires. Even after your program ends, the CPF remains valid. If you return to Brazil years later, same number works.
2026 update
Since January 2026, only passports are accepted for CPF applications (no national ID cards). And if you leave Brazil after your studies, you will need to do an annual re-registration via the Receita Federal app to keep your CPF active. GET CPF walks you through both of these.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a CPF to enroll at a Brazilian university?
Yes. Most universities require it for enrollment, portal access, and exam registration.
Can I get a CPF on a student visa?
Yes. Student visa holders can apply at any Correios or Receita Federal office.
What address do I use before finding housing?
Use a host declaration letter from your temporary host, or your university's address with an enrollment letter.
Should I get it before arriving?
If your local Brazilian consulate offers CPF services, yes. Otherwise, first few days after arrival.
Does my CPF expire when my visa ends?
No. Your CPF never expires. It stays valid regardless of visa status.
Start your semester right
Pre-filled forms, right office, document checker, host declaration generator. $29, one time.
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