Updated April 2026

CPF vs RNE vs CRNM: Brazilian Documents for Foreigners Explained

Q: What is the difference between CPF and CRNM?

A CPF is a tax identification number for financial activities (banking, payments, contracts). A CRNM is a physical identity card issued to foreign residents by the Federal Police, proving your legal right to reside in Brazil. You need both for full integration, but they serve different purposes.

Q: Do tourists need a CRNM?

No. The CRNM is only for foreign residents with a valid visa that grants temporary or permanent residency. Tourists only need a CPF for financial activities. Your passport serves as your identity document.

Q: What happened to the RNE?

The RNE (Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros) was replaced by the CRNM in 2017 when Brazil passed the new Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017). If you have an old RNE, it remains valid but you should update to a CRNM when you renew.

Q: What is the difference between RNM and CRNM?

RNM is your registration number (the number itself, generated from biometric data). CRNM is the physical card that contains your RNM number, photo, and other details. People use the terms interchangeably, but technically RNM is the number and CRNM is the card.

Q: Can I open a bank account with just a CPF?

Some digital banks like Nubank allow account opening with just a CPF and passport. Traditional banks typically require both a CPF and CRNM for full banking access. Requirements vary by bank.

Foreigners in Brazil encounter a confusing alphabet soup of document abbreviations: CPF, RNE, RNM, CRNM. They sound similar and people use them interchangeably, but they are different documents issued by different agencies for different purposes. Here is a clear breakdown of what each one is and which ones you actually need.

The quick comparison

	CPF	RNE (old)	CRNM
Full name	Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas	Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros	Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratorio
What it is	Tax identification number	Old foreigner ID card (discontinued)	Current foreigner ID card
Issued by	Receita Federal	Federal Police (discontinued)	Federal Police
Who needs it	Everyone (tourists included)	Replaced by CRNM	Foreign residents only
Purpose	Financial: banking, Pix, contracts, taxes	Identity: proving legal residency	Identity: proving legal residency
How to get it	Correios or Receita Federal, 15 min	No longer issued	Federal Police, 50-90 days
Cost	Free or R$7	N/A	R$204.77 (2026)
Validity	Lifetime (never expires)	Expired documents still valid	Matches visa duration (up to 10 years for permanent)

CPF: your tax and financial identity

The CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas) is an 11-digit tax identification number. Think of it like a US Social Security Number or a UK National Insurance Number, except it is used far more broadly in daily life.

You need a CPF to open a bank account, use Pix, get a phone plan, rent an apartment, order food delivery, shop online, and do almost anything that involves money in Brazil. It is not a physical card (though you can print one). It is a number that follows you through every financial interaction.

Who needs it: Everyone. Tourists, digital nomads, expats, residents, retirees. If you are going to spend money in Brazil beyond cash at restaurants, you need a CPF.

How to get it: Visit a Correios post office (R$7, 15 minutes) or Receita Federal office (free). You can also get one at a Brazilian consulate before you travel.

RNE: the old foreigner ID (discontinued)

The RNE (Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros) was the identity card issued to foreign residents in Brazil before 2017. If you got your residency before the new migration law, you may still have an RNE card.

The RNE was replaced by the CRNM when Brazil passed Lei 13.445/2017 (the new Migration Law). Old RNE cards remain legally valid, but they are no longer issued. When your RNE expires, you will receive a CRNM as the replacement.

You will still see "RNE" on some Brazilian forms and websites. Most of the time, they mean the CRNM. The terminology is catching up slowly.

RNM vs CRNM: the number vs the card

This is where the confusion peaks. People use RNM and CRNM interchangeably, but they are technically different things:

✓ RNM (Registro Nacional Migratorio) is your registration number. It is generated from your biometric data when you register with the Federal Police.
✓ CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratorio) is the physical ID card. It contains your RNM number, photo, nationality, visa type, and other details.

In practice: when someone says "I need to get my RNM" or "I need to get my CRNM," they mean the same thing. You go to the Federal Police, provide biometrics, and receive a physical card (the CRNM) with your registration number (the RNM) printed on it.

Start with the CPF

Whether or not you need a CRNM later, a CPF is always the first step. GET CPF makes sure you get it right on the first visit.

Get started for $29

CRNM: the current foreigner ID card

The CRNM is the identity document for foreign residents in Brazil. It replaced the RNE in 2017 and includes biometric security features (fingerprints, digital photo). It is the Brazilian equivalent of a green card or residence permit in other countries.

Who needs a CRNM

✓ Anyone with a work visa
✓ Anyone with a permanent residency visa
✓ Students on student visas
✓ Spouses of Brazilian citizens on family reunion visas
✓ Anyone with a temporary or permanent residence authorization

Who does NOT need a CRNM

— Tourists (your passport is your ID)
— Digital nomads on tourist visas
— Short-term visitors

How long it takes

The CRNM process takes 50 to 90 days total:

7-15 days to schedule an appointment at the Federal Police
30-60 days for processing after biometric collection
5-10 days for delivery of the physical card

Work visa holders can sometimes get expedited processing in 15 to 20 days.

Which documents do you need?

Your situation	CPF	CRNM
Tourist (under 90 days)	Recommended	Not needed
Digital nomad (tourist visa)	Essential	Not needed
Digital nomad (digital nomad visa)	Essential	Required
Work visa holder	Essential	Required
Student visa holder	Essential	Required
Permanent resident	Essential	Required
Married to Brazilian (family visa)	Essential	Required

The order of operations

If you need both a CPF and a CRNM, get the CPF first. It takes 15 minutes. The CRNM takes months. You need the CPF for immediate daily life (banking, phone, payments), while the CRNM formalizes your residency status.

Get your CPF at a Correios or Receita Federal office (day 1-2)
Open a bank account with your CPF and passport (day 2-3)
Schedule your CRNM appointment at the Federal Police (if applicable)
Provide biometrics at your Federal Police appointment
Receive your CRNM card (50-90 days later)
Update your bank with your CRNM for full account access

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CPF and CRNM?

CPF is a tax number for financial activities. CRNM is a physical ID card proving residency. Different agencies issue them for different purposes. You may need both.

Do tourists need a CRNM?

No. The CRNM is only for foreign residents with a visa granting temporary or permanent residency. Tourists use their passport as ID and only need a CPF for financial activities.

What happened to the RNE?

Replaced by the CRNM in 2017 under the new Migration Law. Old RNE cards remain valid but are no longer issued. You will receive a CRNM at renewal.

What is the difference between RNM and CRNM?

RNM is the registration number. CRNM is the physical card containing that number. People use them interchangeably in conversation.

Can I open a bank account with just a CPF?

Some digital banks (like Nubank) allow it with CPF plus passport. Traditional banks typically require both CPF and CRNM for full access. It varies by bank.

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