Registering SIM Cards: how it works in Brazil — first-hand
Short answer
Tourists can obtain a physical SIM card by visiting official provider stores in large shopping malls, where staff may register the service using only a passport. Alternatively, eSIMs are often easier to acquire without a CPF, or you can purchase a SIM at pharmacies and register it via the provider's mobile app.
From real experience
SIM cards in Brazil: 1) Obtaining a physical SIM without a CPF is possible but inconsistent.
2) Recommended strategy: Visit large shopping malls (shoppers centers) or multi-carrier retail kiosks rather than small service offices. 3) Claro offers prepaid plans (e.g., ~40 BRL for 12GB/30 days) that can sometimes be registered with a foreign passport. 4) eSIMs are often easier to register without a CPF.
✓ 3 reports from chats
Foreigners face difficulties acquiring a local SIM card in Brazil without a physical Brazilian identification document.
Options include:
1. Asking a local resident to register a SIM card in their name. This has been successfully done, sometimes for free.
2. Obtaining a CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) and registering the SIM card independently for long-term stays.
3. A workaround reported by one user involved generating a fake CPF online after their legitimate CPF was rejected, which successfully activated the SIM.
4. Using an eSIM is also a convenient alternative.
✓ 2 reports from chats
1. Brazilian telecom providers (TIM, Vivo) do not allow initial eSIM activation while roaming outside Brazil; the device must connect to the local Brazilian network first.
2. Digital wallets and fintech apps like PicPay strictly require a Brazilian residence permit (VNJ/CRNM) and will reject users registering with only a CPF from abroad. 3. While some platforms (like InfinityPay with a temporary 'protocolo' or Banco Rendimento) previously allowed registration without a full VNJ, these options are unreliable and subject to frequent policy changes.
✓ 1 report from chats
To purchase a SIM card in Brazil as a tourist, visit official provider stores (Vivo, Claro) inside shopping malls rather than street kiosks.
Official stores can register accounts using a foreign passport if a CPF is not available. If staff cannot assist, buying a SIM in pharmacy chains (like Pague Menos) and self-registering via the mobile app is a viable alternative. Service quality varies significantly between locations.
✓ 1 report from chats
It is possible to purchase a physical tourist SIM card in Rio de Janeiro at a newspaper kiosk inside the RioSul shopping mall without a CPF.
The process involves providing passport details to an English-speaking operator via phone, which activates the card. The reported cost was 70 BRL. After obtaining the SIM, Uber accounts may still require verification (passport photo and selfie) if they initially ask for CPF or a credit card.
✓ 1 report from chats
Purchasing local SIM cards (Vivo, TIM) in Brazil generally requires a passport and often a CPF.
Activation at airport kiosks can be time-consuming; official stores may involve verbal verification over the phone. Pre-paid (prepago) data plans are widely available but may lack a phone number necessary for local app registration.
✓ 1 report from chats
Vivo mobile services require a Brazilian-registered app store account (Apple ID or Google Play) to download the app.
Registration typically requires a CPF. Vivo Easy plans do not support SMS reception while roaming in Russia.
✓ 1 report from chats
To register for PIX in Brazil, individuals who have obtained their CPF in Moscow can purchase PIX at newsstands.
The approximate cost is around $20 USD. Haggling with the vendor may also result in obtaining an activated SIM card.