Taxi and Bus Transport in Brazil: what actually matters to know

Direct purchases from bus company websites usually require a local tax ID (CPF). Alternatively, tickets can be bought in person at bus station ticket offices using international credit/debit cards.

This can be a hurdle for foreigners. A workaround for those with a CPF/CEP (e.g., long-term residents or those who have acquired one) is to enter their own CPF and CEP in the designated fields, even if they appear in the credit card details section. International cards might be rejected if these Brazilian identification numbers are not provided or validated. Alternative websites or in-person purchase at bus terminals might be necessary for those without Brazilian IDs.

Some services, including certain medical treatments (even paid ones) and ride-hailing apps like Uber or 99 Taxi, may require a CPF, often with document verification. Attempts to use CPF generators for app registration may fail. However, for short-term tourism, many travelers successfully manage without a CPF by using eSIMs, pre-booked transfers, and public transport. A workaround for apps like Uber/99 can be to link a temporary card that costs around 350 RUB (value at the time of log).

The 99 app can also log users out when abroad. A potential workaround is using a third-party transfer service that accepts UnionPay, Russian cards, and USD cash.

However, linking a standard bank card to the app often bypasses this requirement, allowing usage without a CPF. This method was successfully used for both Uber and 99 services.