Updated April 2026 · 4 min read

Do you need a CPF to rent on QuintoAndar?

Yes, QuintoAndar requires a CPF. Here is how to get one and start apartment hunting in Brazil.

No CPF, no QuintoAndar

QuintoAndar is Brazil's largest digital rental platform. It eliminated the need for a fiador (guarantor), which was the biggest barrier foreigners faced when trying to rent. But it still requires a CPF to create an account.

Without a CPF, you cannot register, search with filters, schedule visits, or apply for apartments on QuintoAndar. You are stuck with Airbnb, informal arrangements, or the old-fashioned approach of walking into brokerages.

Why QuintoAndar matters for foreigners

Before QuintoAndar, renting in Brazil as a foreigner was a nightmare. You needed a Brazilian guarantor who owned property, or had to pay 12 months upfront. QuintoAndar does its own credit analysis on your CPF and approves you directly.

The platform has professional photos, virtual tours, standardised contracts, and handles the entire process digitally. It is the difference between spending weeks apartment hunting and finding a place in a few days.

Apartments in Brazil offer incredible value. A nice one-bedroom in a good neighbourhood costs R$1,500-3,000/month, depending on the city. That is a fraction of equivalent cities in the US, Europe, or Australia.

How to get your CPF for QuintoAndar

Get your CPF first, then create your QuintoAndar account. Most foreigners start apartment hunting within a day of getting their CPF. The process at the Receita Federal takes about an hour with the right documents.

Having your CPF and a Brazilian bank account (Nubank, for example) before you start apartment hunting shows landlords you are serious. You go from 'foreigner who might leave' to 'properly set up tenant.'