General Info

[Nounce]

Interesting. One headache with a sim card is that without CPF you've got to go to the mobile provider's store, like Vivo or Tim and the process can take over an hour in my experience. With CPF you should theoretically be able to buy a sin card at a any kiosk or whatever. This would be the main reason for me to get CPF. I guess I'll just try and see what happens.

My host called with my passport info to register. I don't know what they say over the phone but he did it for me and it seemed to require two forms of ID in this case because I also gave them my driver license.

[Xpartan]

I got my sim card with passport the first day so I don't know. I think any local smartphone apps related to bank or payment will not work and it requires additional form of residential ID. For example, I can buy individual ticket at ticket office with only cash but I can't buy the rechargeable metro card with CPF alone. Then they have apps that seem to be usable but I can't add money to it without a local bank account which requires a residential ID

Interesting. One headache with a sim card is that without CPF you've got to go to the mobile provider's store, like Vivo or Tim and the process can take over an hour in my experience. With CPF you should theoretically be able to buy a sin card at a any kiosk or whatever. This would be the main reason for me to get CPF. I guess I'll just try and see what happens.

[Exec Talent]

Can any of you guys recommend a good internet search engine?

I have noticed that whenever someone cannot figure out the simplest thing, like how to adjust the thermostat in their mother's basement, you guys always come to the rescue. Certainly, you must have some magic search engine that produces incredibly insightful results. For example, when I put in CPF Brazil in mine, the first thing that comes up is:

https://www.fearp.usp.br/en/index.ph...-at-fea-rp/cpf

How am I expected to read all that!

[Nounce]

Thanks! But it will work for buying a local sim card with no drama or bus tickets and such online, correct?

I got my sim card with passport the first day so I don't know. I think any local smartphone apps related to bank or payment will not work and it requires additional form of residential ID. For example, I can buy individual ticket at ticket office with only cash but I can't buy the rechargeable metro card with CPF alone. Then they have apps that seem to be usable but I can't add money to it without a local bank account which requires a residential ID

[Xpartan]

Yes. I knew about it before I am in Brazil. I thought it was easier to go to their IRS office and get it right away. But that is not the case, the form I posted is from their local retail office. They told me to do it online so I did. The key info most people do not have is the email address on the form. If you have the utility bill ready, you might as well send it. I did not because I don't have it at hand.

It's just a tax ID. It really does not matter where you are. This ID has limited usefulness, It is not enough for most of the stuff required by smartphone app.

Thanks! But it will work for buying a local sim card with no drama or bus tickets and such online, correct?

[Lalabo]

LOL. Pick Virgin Islands or outlying or even Canada. Even for phone number it defaults to Canada if I try to choose USA.

I definitely didn't learn the trick of choosing some option in the hope of completing the transaction.

Country code is not much of a problem because +1 works for both CAN and USA.

When I selected Virgin Islands (US), strangely states field showed all US states. Go figure! I guess you can enter any data and see if you could complete the booking and hope you aren't denied boarding at the airport for entering incorrect info.

I gave up and used Expedia and Amex Travel. It was same price. I then did a paid upgrade to comfort + via the GOL website. It was less than $10 and getting 1st row with more leg room and early boarding was worth it.

Gol is one of the frustrating sites to use. When I tried to book SP to Rio trip before my Brazil trip I ran into same issue,. Like you, I used Expedia to book ticket from SP to Rio. I hoped for better experience when accessing their website from within Brazil. Unfortunately there is no difference.

[SocratesNY]

When I try to purchase ticket on Gol airlines website, I don't see USA in the list for country (see attached picture). Someone here with USA passport and without CPF who bought tickets on Gol post info how you managed to fill the country column.

I gave up and used Expedia and Amex Travel. It was same price. I then did a paid upgrade to comfort + via the GOL website. It was less than $10 and getting 1st row with more leg room and early boarding was worth it.

[Mr Enternational]

When I try to purchase ticket on Gol airlines website, I don't see USA in the list for country (see attached picture). Someone here with USA passport and without CPF who bought tickets on Gol post info how you managed to fill the country column.

LOL. Pick Virgin Islands or outlying or even Canada. Even for phone number it defaults to Canada if I try to choose USA.

[Lalabo]

When I try to purchase ticket on Gol airlines website, I don't see USA in the list for country (see attached picture). Someone here with USA passport and without CPF who bought tickets on Gol post info how you managed to fill the country column.

[Nounce]

Nounce, you're saying it can all be done by email outside Brazil and no trips to the Consulate are needed?

Yes. I knew about it before I am in Brazil. I thought it was easier to go to their IRS office and get it right away. But that is not the case, the form I posted is from their local retail office. They told me to do it online so I did. The key info most people do not have is the email address on the form. If you have the utility bill ready, you might as well send it. I did not because I don't have it at hand.

It's just a tax ID. It really does not matter where you are. This ID has limited usefulness, It is not enough for most of the stuff required by smartphone app.

[Xpartan]

I made several trips to different governments offices for several days. Follow the instruction of the attached form as much as you can. I use my US address. The fields on the form don't match but I did it anyway. These are the only info I sent to the email address listed.

1. the receipt of the online submission.
2 selfie with passport.

Nothing more, just be clear, I did not send utility bill mainly because I did not have it at that time. I could get it from my host but I don't have to.

I got my CPF within 3 days. I hope it works for you too.

Nounce, you're saying it can all be done by email outside Brazil and no trips to the Consulate are needed?

[Nounce]

I think they don't do it in person anymore. I went to Poupatempo S. They sent me to a Shopping Light office and the office sent me online.

One can get it online from anywhere in the world. I got mine within 3 days. I will post more detail later.

https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov...ro/default.asp

I made several trips to different governments offices for several days. Follow the instruction of the attached form as much as you can. I use my US address. The fields on the form don't match but I did it anyway. These are the only info I sent to the email address listed.

1. the receipt of the online submission.
2 selfie with passport.

Nothing more, just be clear, I did not send utility bill mainly because I did not have it at that time. I could get it from my host but I don't have to.

I got my CPF within 3 days. I hope it works for you too.

[Bravo]

Any remember that disgusting excuse for a human being, Brazil Specialist, who used to rent a room out in his apartment and record his tenant's activities?

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...tal-Apartments

Some of the posts lately sound a lot like him.

Do be advised he was and maybe still is (if they haven't gotten to him already) on both the polices' and druglords' radar.

Police and drug lord's radar? What in the world happened with BS?

[Nounce]

That's how you do it, if you are in the country.

I think they don't do it in person anymore. I went to Poupatempo S. They sent me to a Shopping Light office and the office sent me online.

One can get it online from anywhere in the world. I got mine within 3 days. I will post more detail later.

https://servicos.receita.fazenda.gov...ro/default.asp

[Nordico]

When I did mine umpteen years ago, I just went to the post office in Copacabana with my passport and filled out the paper. If you had an address in Brazil the card would be sent to that address. If you did not, then a letter with the number on it would be sent to your home.

That's how you do it, if you are in the country.