Handbook

This process might take quite some time, so we higly recommend you to start it as soon as possible.

You should apply for a Temporary Visa type I (VITEM I): research, teaching or academic extension, which will be valid during your whole stay. 

Check the specific instructions of the Brazilian Consulate of your Country. Many Brazilian Consulates offer digital services through the e-consular system. When searching for your country on the link above, you will see if this is available in your case. An online subscription will be required to access the system.

In any case, some documents will be asked regardless of your place of application:

1. Valid passport.
2. Visa Application Form
3. Letter confirming you will be developing research activities in Brazil

If Mecila directly remunerates you:

4a. Confirmation letter from Mecila that the fellows will receive funds that covers travel expenses, accommodation and living costs

If your Fellowship is a buy-out:

4b. Confirmation of continued payment of your salary by your home institution.

Documents 3, and 4a will be provided to you by Mecila.

            5. For some cases a criminal record might be required. 

All foreigners staying for more than 90 days in Brazil must obtain an individual registration with the Federal Police, the Foreign Nationals Enrollment Number (Registro Nacional Migratório – RNM).

This is a rather bureaucratic process involving many forms. Follow our step-by-step below, and this task will be tedious but not annoying.

1. Fill out this Registration Form at the Federal Police website

Some fields might raise questions. See some tips below:

PERSONAL DATA:

Type of Registration: Registro de Visto Consular (it means you have a Visa, not a residence permit)

Primary Occupation: Even though the form is in English, this field will only accept answers in Portuguese. You can type “Estudante” or “Professor” and click on the appropriate option to fill out this field.

REGISTRY DATA

RNM Data: Leave it blankBrazilian Register of Foreign Nationals Enrollment Number (RNM): Leave it blank

ADDRESS – Business Address/School Address

Name of the School: Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento

Zip Code: 04015-051

Address: Rua Morgado de Mateus

Additional Details: 615

District/Neighborhood: Vila Mariana

City: São Paulo

State: SP

Work Phone Number: 11 5574 0399

A form will be issued following the completion of this process. Print it or save it as a PDF file.

2. Schedule an appointment at the Federal Police

After filling the registration form, you will have to schedule an appointment at the Federal Police. Choose the time slot that suits you best.

3. Issue the invoice to pay for this service fee

Fill out this form to generate the invoice, also known as GRU. Again, some fields might be tricky. Fill it out as below:

Unidade Arrecadadora (which unit will receive your payment): SP (0272) Superintendência Regional de Polícia Federal em São Paulo

Código Receita STN: 140120

Valor total: R$ 204,77

4. Print and fill out the Contact Information Form

The fields in this form translate as follows:

Identificação – Personal information
Nome completo – Your full name
Filiação 1 – Your mother’s full name
Filiação 2 – Your father’s full name
CPF number (not mandatory)
Data de nascimento – Date of birth
Documento de Identidade – Passport number
Nacionalidade – Nationality (options will be displayed in Portuguese)
Telefones – Phone numbers (if you do not have one, use CEBRAP’s (11) 5574-0399
Endereço eletrônico/E-mail – Email
Endereço residencial – Home address in Brazil
Endereço do trabalho – Business address in Brazil
Cidade/UF – City/State (São Paulo/SP_
Data (dia, mês, ano) – Date (dd/mm/yyyy)
Assinatura do declarante – Your signature

5. Gather all the required documents to your appointment at the Federal Police

Most of these documents are the forms you have just filled in. But there is more. Here is everything that you need:

• The registration form of the Federal Police (filled on step 1)
• Proof of payment of the fee (generated on step 3)
• Contact Information form (filled on step 4)
• One 3×4 colour photo of your face, taken with a plain white or off-white background and undated
• Your passport
• Original visa application form

Note: If your passport does not include your parents’ name, you will have to present a document that has it, such as your visa form or a birth or marriage certificate.

6. Attend the interview at the Federal Police

And don’t forget your documents!

7. Receive your receipt (protocolo)

After your interview, you will receive a receipt (protocolo) that proves your legal status in Brazil. You will have to keep it until your document is ready, which can take several days.

Check the status of your requirement here. Once your document is ready, you will have to pick it up at the Federal Police Office.

The Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) is required for Brazilians or foreign nationals who want to own assets and rights in Brazil, subject to public registration. If you’re going to buy real estate, vehicles, or open bank accounts, for example, you will need it.

The CPF consists of an 11-digit number, which you will receive right after registration. A physical copy of this document is no longer issued. In your case, the CPF will most probably be helpful when searching for a mobile phone plan since the options for foreigners without a CPF are quite restricted and more expensive.

There are two ways of obtaining it:

Request your CPF while in your country of origin

In many countries where Brazil has a local representation, it is already possible to request your CPF through the e-consular system.

Check this list to see if your local consulate(s) offer this possibility. The ones that provide the e-consular services will show you the link where you read “solicitar serviços nesta repartição consular” (request services at this consular post).

You will need to create an account in the e-consular system. After your registration, you will be able to request the service through the system itself.

This service is free of charge.

Request your CPF in Brazil

While in Brazil, the procedure to request your CPF is slightly different.

I. Fill the requirement form

You will fill out this form (available only in Portuguese) directly on Brazil’s Federal Revenue (Receita Federal) website.

You will need your passport number. If you already have an address in Brazil, you can use it to fill the fields under the “localização” (place of residence) section. If not, you can use your country of residence address.

In the section “Contatos” (People of reference), you can fill the field “e-mail” with Mecila’s Coordination Office’s address (mecila@cebrap.org.br) and Cebrap’s telephone number: DDI: 55, DDD: 11, Telefone: 5574 0399

2. Fill the declaration of tax residence

You will print, fill out and sign this form (also available only in Portuguese and directly on Brazil’s Federal Revenue website).

You will need to fill out your home address (where you pay your taxes), and declare that you do not pay taxes in Brazil.

3. Send documents and CPF requirement to the Federal Revenue

After receiving the confirmation of your requirement, you can proceed online to obtain your CPF number. You will need to send via email to one of the Federal Revenue Offices in São Paulo the following documents:

• A picture of your passport’s main page
• Proof of residence (such as the reservation proof of your accomodation in São Paulo)
• A portrait of yourself holding your passport open on its main page
• Requirement form
• Declaration of tax residence

We recommend sending your documents to the Federal Revenue Office of Bela Vista in São Paulo: atendimentorfb.08@rfb.gov.br

In 5 to 7 working days your CPF number will be sent to you.

Currently, there is one company, Airalo, that offers eSIM services that allow travelers to access mobile data without the need for physical SIM cards. By downloading the Airalo app and purchasing an eSIM plan, users can seamlessly activate and use data in Brazil and other countries without the need for a CPF or any other kind of registration.  To acess it you can follow this instructions: 

1. Check Device Compatibility:
– Ensure your smartphone is eSIM compatible. Most newer models, like the iPhone XS and later or Google Pixel 3 and later, support eSIM.

2. Download the Airalo App:
– Visit the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for the “Airalo” app.
– Download and install the app on your device.

3. Create an Account:
– Open the Airalo app.
– Sign up for a new account using your email address or log in if you already have an account.

4. Select a Destination:
– Within the app, browse for eSIMs based on your destination. Airalo offers country-specific, regional, and global eSIM plans.
– Select the eSIM plan that best suits your needs in terms of data and duration.

5. Purchase the eSIM:
– Add the selected eSIM plan to your cart.
– Proceed to checkout and complete the payment process using a credit card, PayPal, or other available payment methods.

6. Install the eSIM:
– After purchase, go to your eSIMs in the app.
– Select the purchased eSIM and follow the on-screen instructions to install it. This typically involves scanning a QR code provided by Airalo or manually entering the activation details.

7. Activate the eSIM:
– Once installed, go to your device’s settings:
– For iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan and scan the QR code or enter the details manually.
– For Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Carrier > Add Carrier and scan the QR code or enter the details manually.
– Ensure that the eSIM is set as the active data plan. You might need to enable it in the cellular or mobile network settings.

8. Configure Settings:
– Make sure data roaming is enabled for the eSIM to function properly.
– Set the eSIM as the primary or secondary data line based on your preference.

9. Start Using Your Data:
– Once activated, you can start using the eSIM for data.
– Monitor your data usage through the Airalo app to ensure you stay within your plan’s limits.

If your device is not supported or if you wish to have a brazilian number, you will have different brazilian companies to choose from such as Claro, Tim, Vivo, Correios and Fluke. In the city of São Paulo, you should have a stable 4G connection regardless of the company you choose.

If you do not have a CPF number, your options are limited since this document is required when subscribing to a service. Just one company offers an option for people for international visitors, TIM, with their plan Tim Visitors. However, this plan is much more limited and expensive than regular options. Consider it as an emergency solution.

The customer should go to a TIM store and ask for the TIM Visitors SIM card. This is similar to a pre-paid plan: you insert credits corresponding to the services used.

• Internet data: R$25,00 for 1,5 Gb, valid for one week. Additional weekly packs of 1,5 Gb can be purchased in advance for another R$25,00.
• SMS: each message will cost R$0,50
• Phone: Calls within Brazil cost R$0,50 per minute. International calls are R$1,00 per minute

For the sake of comparison, you can find regular plans by other companies that offer a data 9Gb of data and unlimited calls within Brazil for R$45,00/month

With a CPF in hand, you will have multiple options. It might be better to consider plans that have non-binding contracts (contratos sem fidelidade) since some companies require the customer to keep the service for at least 12 months.

You can buy a SIM card in kiosks or regular stores (except in the case of Fluke, which operates entirely online and sends the card to the customer’s house). To find the most suitable plan for your needs, you can use comparison tools. The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) offers an app to compare plans. These comparisons are also available through websites such as “melhorplano”.

If you still need assistance, please get in touch with us.

Throughout Brazil, you can pay for almost everything using your credit card. However, withdrawing cash from your credit card can be more challenging.

Even with an international credit card (like DKB), which should work worldwide, it might only function at 24hour ATMs (Caixa 24horas) in Brazil, incurring withdrawal fees and possible value limits. For security reasons, we strongly advise against withdrawing cash at the airport. Official taxis typically accept credit card payments. Therefore, we recommend using the  Caixa 24horas ATM nearest located to your residency (easily located through Google Maps).  Alternatively, consider bringing some cash and exchanging it at a “casa de câmbio” (currency exchange office). Several options are available on Avenida Paulista, relatively close to Cebrap.

Regarding banking:

Opening a local bank account requires the RNM (Foreigners National Enrollment Number ID). Once you have your RNM, digital banks like Nubank, C6, and Inter are recommended. In the interim, consider international banks like Wise or Nomad. These offer low fees, enable transfers from your home country’s bank account, and allow in-app currency conversion to Brazilian Reais (BRL). These banks also allow you to use instant mobile phone app transfers (Pix), widely used in Brazil.