How to get a CPF, whether tourist visas work, what the 2025 CNR non-resident account can do, using PIX, and which banks welcome foreigners.
Foreigners can open a bank account in Brazil, and the first hurdle for residents and non-residents alike is the CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas, the Brazilian individual tax number) - required by almost every bank, investment, company registration, and even food delivery app. The good news: you can get it abroad, through the Receita Federal website's foreigner application form (Inscricao CPF Estrangeiro) or a Brazilian consulate, submitting passport scans and a selfie; the 11-digit number typically arrives in 2-5 business days, is valid for life, and needs no renewal.
There are two account types: a resident account (conta corrente) for Brazilian tax residents and foreigners holding a CRNM residence card, with full features and mostly free bundles including four withdrawals and two same-bank transfers per month; and the non-resident account CNR (Conta de Nao Residente), renamed from CDE on 1 January 2025 under Joint Resolution No. 13 of December 2024 by the Central Bank and CVM, aimed at foreigners tax-resident abroad and Brazilians who have left the country, with services and costs broadly matching resident accounts.
People on tourist visas who are not yet Brazilian tax residents go for the CNR non-resident account; those with residence visas valid more than 12 months (such as the investment visa) or a CRNM card can open a regular resident account at most banks. The difference is more than a name: the CNR holds Brazilian reais only and is individual-only (no joint accounts), but it supports PIX, TED transfers, international remittances, and CDB investments.
One strategic benefit: using a CNR avoids inadvertently becoming a Brazilian tax resident - the account itself does not trigger tax residency, which matters a lot if you only want to invest, buy property, or collect rent in Brazil. Conversely, if you already live in Brazil long-term, open a resident account for better fees and features.
Note: not every Brazilian bank offers the CNR. The Central Bank leaves customer identification and document requirements to each institution, so there is no nationwide checklist - ask your target bank directly for its foreigner onboarding list rather than assembling a generic folder based on another bank's requirements.
Step one: fill in the foreigner CPF application form on the Receita Federal website (name, date of birth, ID number, nationality, address, contact details) and save the confirmation. Step two: prepare your valid passport and a clear selfie holding the passport's photo page; some consulates also ask for a birth certificate. Step three: email the documents to the Brazilian consulate responsible for your jurisdiction (following its e-consular appointment system), or apply at a post office or selected bank branches if you are already in Brazil. Step four: receive the 11-digit CPF in 2-5 business days.
The CPF is valid for life with no renewal, and it underpins bank accounts, investments, property purchases, government bonds, and PIX access. There is no need to wait until arrival if you are abroad - get the CPF before departure and use it on day one.
Common sticking points: a passport with insufficient validity, an unclear selfie, and consulate appointments not booked. Submitting everything at once beats rounds of email back-and-forth.
The most mature CNR non-resident accounts come from digital banks: Rendimento and BTG Pactual both support fully online CNR opening from abroad and are the first choice for remote account opening. The traditional giants (Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itaú Unibanco) also offer the CNR, but terms are often demanding - an outsized monthly fee or a large parked balance - and most branch staff have never handled a non-resident account; ask for the branch manager, whose odds of a real answer are far better than a front-line rep.
The resident route: Nubank is the simplest to open with the best app reputation, and its deposit-secured credit card helps newcomers build a Brazilian credit history; Banco Inter and C6 Bank offer similarly digital experiences with no monthly fees and smooth PIX and TED transfers. Note that these platforms operate mostly in Portuguese, so prepare key personal information in advance.
Platforms are largely Portuguese-only with limited English support - the norm in Brazilian banking. Bringing a Portuguese-speaking friend or pre-translating key information saves a lot of awkwardness at the counter.
For the CNR non-resident account: a valid passport, CPF, proof of non-Brazilian tax residency, proof of overseas address (a utility bill, bank statement, or rental contract from the last six months), proof of income or source of funds (a foreign tax return, employment contract, or recent payslips), and your home country's tax ID (such as a US SSN or a European NIF). Some banks request additional documents depending on nationality, source of funds, and intended use.
For the resident account: a valid passport or ID card, a CRNM (or the Federal Police receipt if the card is being processed), CPF, proof of a Brazilian address, and proof of income. App-based openings also require a selfie for comparison.
Scan and archive every document in advance; before wiring money into a non-resident account, contact an institution authorized in foreign exchange to confirm the required paperwork - sending reais abroad is a foreign-exchange operation that must go through an authorized institution, not an ordinary transfer.
Daily payments in Brazil are almost monopolized by PIX - instant settlement, available 24/7, free for personal transfers, and accepted by scan-payment terminals from street stalls to shopping malls. CNR accounts support PIX and boleto bill payments too, which is exactly what sets them apart from Wise, Revolut, and other international accounts: most international accounts do not connect to PIX at all, making daily life in Brazil unnecessarily hard.
Fee structure: resident accounts' standard free bundle includes four withdrawals, two same-bank transfers, and unlimited balance queries per month; non-resident fees vary widely, so confirm the monthly fee, TED charges, exchange spread, and IOF (financial operations tax) before signing. To receive money from abroad, generate an IBAN, but every movement in or out is a currency conversion - the exchange spread matters more than the transfer fee.
Credit history: newcomers have no local credit record, and Nubank's deposit-secured credit card is a common starting point; among the big banks, Santander and Itau are relatively relaxed on credit cards and mortgages, while Banco do Brasil and Caixa offer lower rates but demand more paperwork.
Top 5 rejection reasons: no CPF; the wrong bank (most big banks do not offer the CNR or attach demanding terms); proof of address older than six months; an unclear source of funds; and a teller who has never handled a non-resident account simply saying no.
Avoidance checklist: get your CPF before departure; for the CNR, try digital banks like Rendimento and BTG first; at traditional banks, ask for the branch manager directly; have Portuguese translations ready; and treat a verbal no as non-final - request a written list or try another branch.
One final note: non-resident accounts are individual-only with no joint accounts and hold reais only; once you become a Brazilian tax resident, tell the bank to convert the account. Policies and fees follow each bank's and the Central Bank's latest announcements; the information here was verified in October 2026.
Yes, via the CNR non-resident account: a passport, CPF, proof of overseas address, and proof of income are enough, and some digital banks support fully online opening. A resident account generally requires a residence visa of more than 12 months or a CRNM card.
Yes. Apply through the Receita Federal website's foreigner form or a Brazilian consulate with passport scans and a selfie; the 11-digit number typically arrives in 2-5 business days and is valid for life. Get it before departure and use it on day one.
Receive and send Brazilian reais, use PIX instant transfers and scan payments, make TED transfers, receive international remittances, exchange currency, and hold savings and CDB fixed-income products. The limits are reais-only and individual-only (no joint accounts), with services varying by bank.
Nubank is one of the easiest resident-account choices for foreigners: open with just a CPF, a well-regarded app, and a deposit-secured credit card to build local credit history. But it targets Brazilian residents; non-residents on tourist visas should prioritize CNR accounts at Rendimento or BTG.
Contact an institution authorized in foreign exchange to confirm the required paperwork before sending; moving reais out of Brazil is a foreign-exchange operation that must go through an authorized institution. A CNR can receive funds via a generated IBAN, but every movement is a currency conversion - the exchange spread matters more than the transfer fee.