Do I need a CRNM if I have a tourist visa?

No. Tourist visas under 90 days do not require a CRNM. Above 90 days of authorized stay — temporary work, study, residence, family reunion, retiree, investor — the CRNM is mandatory under Law 13.445/2017, Article 19. Overstaying without a CRNM triggers a R$5,000–R$20,000 administrative fine and risks deportation.

How long does the CRNM last and when do I renew?

Five years for most temporary residents (work, study, retiree, rentista, family reunion). Ten years for permanent residents. Renew 60–90 days before expiration through the Federal Police; processing is 10–20 days for renewals. Expired CRNM triggers the same fine schedule as a missing one and can cancel your residence status.

What is the difference between RNE and CRNM?

RNE (Registro Nacional de Estrangeiro) is the 8-digit registration number assigned to you. CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório) is the physical card containing the RNE. The names changed when the Migration Law (13.445/2017) replaced the old Foreigner Statute, but you'll still see RNE used on tax forms and bank documents.

Can I work in Brazil while my CRNM is pending?

Technically no. Legal employment requires a valid CRNM or active residence visa. In practice, many employers accept the Federal Police protocol receipt (protocolo) as interim proof while the card is being printed. Confirm with an immigration attorney before signing an employment contract — getting this wrong can void the visa basis.

What if I lose my CRNM?

Report the loss to civil police, then schedule a Federal Police appointment to request a second copy (segunda via). The replacement fee is the same R$300 plus a R$30 administrative charge. Issuance time is the same as a new card: 15–30 days. While waiting, carry the police report and the protocolo as proof of legal status.

CRNM Brazil 2026: Foreigner Registration Card Step-by-Step

Quick Answer

The CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório) is Brazil’s official foreigner identification card, issued by the Federal Police under Law 13.445/2017. It is mandatory for any foreigner staying more than 90 days. The full process — appointment, biometrics, documents, R$300 GRU fee — takes 15 to 30 days from your in-person visit to card pickup. Validity is 5 years for temporary residents and 10 years for permanent residents.

If you’ve just arrived in Brazil with a temporary or permanent visa, the CRNM is the document that turns “you got the visa” into “you legally live here.” Without it, you cannot open a bank account, sign a long-term lease, get a CNH (driver’s license), or register for SUS (public health). With it, you have nearly all the rights of a Brazilian citizen — except voting and a few restricted public-sector roles.

At ZS Advogados, we walk foreign clients through the Federal Police process every week — from booking the appointment to fixing rejected addresses to handling renewals. The mechanics are straightforward once you know them. The friction comes from small details: the wrong utility-bill date, a translation that the Federal Police won’t accept, a visa stamp that doesn’t match your declared residence type. This guide covers the whole path so you arrive at the appointment with everything the officer needs.

According to the Federal Police (PF, 2024), approximately 1.8 million foreigners hold an active CRNM in Brazil, and roughly 280,000 new cards are issued each year — a number that has grown each year since the Migration Law took effect.

Who actually needs a CRNM?

The Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017, Article 19) sets the rule: any foreigner whose authorized stay exceeds 90 days must register with the Federal Police and obtain a CRNM. That covers:

Temporary work, study, scientific research, or technology-transfer visas
Family reunion (spouse, partner, children, parents)
Retiree and rentista visas (USD 2,000+ monthly passive income)
Investor visa (R$150,000 minimum business investment, or R$700,000 real-estate route)
Permanent residence (employment, marriage, naturalization pathway)
Refugees recognized by CONARE
Stateless persons under Brazilian protection

You do not need a CRNM if you are a tourist under 90 days, a Mercosur national using the residence agreement (the national ID from your home country is accepted), or a holder of a diplomatic/official visa using institutional credentials.

Failing to register within 90 days is an administrative infraction. The fine ranges from R$5,000 to R$20,000 under Articles 126–130 of the Migration Law, and the Federal Police can issue a notice to leave the country (notificação para retirar-se). If you’ve already overstayed, schedule a regularization appointment immediately — penalty is reduced when you self-correct before being caught.

Sources: Lei nº 13.445/2017 (Migration Law), Articles 19, 126–130; Decreto nº 9.199/2017 (regulation); Federal Police, Foreigners Division procedures handbook (2024).

What documents does the Federal Police require?

The Federal Police asks for the same core document set everywhere in Brazil, but each delegacia has its own quirks. Bring originals and photocopies of every document — the officer scans the original and keeps the copy for the file.

Document	Format	Notes
Passport	Original + photocopy of identification page and visa stamp	Must be valid; if expiring within 6 months, renew first
Visa or residence authorization	Original + copy	Must match the declared residence type
Application form (formulário de requerimento)	Filled in online via the PF portal	Available at gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/imigracao
Proof of address	Utility bill, lease, or notarized landlord declaration	Issued within the last 90 days
Proof of income or occupation	Pay stub, employment contract, or pension/investment statement	Apostilled and translated if foreign
GRU payment slip (R$300)	Online generation + bank receipt	GRU code 140082 for CRNM issuance
Two passport-style photos	3×4 cm, white background	Some delegacias take photos on-site; check first
Criminal background check	Home country, apostilled, translated	Required for some visa types

The most common rejection reason is the address proof. If you just arrived and don’t have a utility bill in your name, three accepted alternatives are: (1) a notarized landlord declaration on letterhead with a recognized signature (firma reconhecida), (2) a recent rental contract registered with the cartório, or (3) a hotel/Airbnb invoice combined with a bank statement showing a Brazilian address.

Foreign documents need an apostille under the Hague Convention (Brazil joined in 2016) and a certified translation from a tradutor juramentado registered with the state court. Federal Police will not accept English-only documents, even when the officer reads English.

Sources: Federal Police Foreigners Handbook (2024); Resolução CNIg nº 27/2018; Hague Apostille Convention (Brazil, Decreto 8.660/2016).

How does the Federal Police appointment actually work?

The CRNM application is in-person and biometric. There is no postal or fully-online path.

Step 1 — Online pre-registration. Create an account at gov.br/pf, fill out the formulário de requerimento, and select the nearest delegacia especializada em imigração. São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Curitiba have dedicated immigration units; smaller cities route to a regional Federal Police office. Wait time for an appointment ranges from 2 weeks (off-peak) to 8 weeks (start of academic year, post-holiday).

Step 2 — Generate and pay the GRU. The Federal Police fee is R$300 as of 2026 (set by Portaria nº 232/2020 and adjusted periodically). Generate the GRU in the PF portal, pay at any bank or via online banking, and keep the receipt. The fee is non-refundable if you miss the appointment.

Step 3 — Attend the appointment. Bring originals and copies of every document, plus the printed GRU receipt. The officer will: verify identity against the passport, scan documents, take fingerprints (all ten), photograph you for the card, and capture your signature. The whole process takes 30–60 minutes.

Step 4 — Wait for the card. The Federal Police prints the card centrally and ships to your delegacia. Issuance takes 15–30 days — sometimes 45 days at end of fiscal year. You’ll get an email or SMS when it’s ready.

Step 5 — Pick up in person. Return to the same delegacia with your passport and the protocolo. The officer hands over the CRNM and cancels the protocolo. Carry both the CRNM and your passport at all times for the first months — police checkpoints occasionally request immigration verification.

According to Karina Peres Silvério (OAB/SP 331.050), head of the immigration practice at ZS Advogados, “the most expensive mistake foreigners make is treating the CRNM appointment as one task. It’s actually three: the documents you assemble at home, the appointment itself, and the renewal scheduling. We tell clients to put the renewal date in their calendar the day they pick up the card — Brazilian bureaucracy has no grace period for expired CRNMs.”

What does each CRNM type let you do?

The Migration Law creates three substantive categories of CRNM, distinguished by the underlying residence basis:

Temporary CRNM — issued for work, study, family reunion, retiree, rentista, investor, scientific, religious, and humanitarian residence. Validity matches the underlying authorization, capped at 5 years. Holder can work (where the visa permits), study, open bank accounts, sign contracts, access SUS, and contribute to INSS.

Permanent CRNM — issued after meeting permanence criteria (typically 2 years of continuous temporary residence, or marriage to a Brazilian citizen, or qualifying investment). Validity is 10 years, renewable indefinitely. Holder has nearly all citizen rights except voting in federal elections, mandatory military service, and certain restricted public-sector positions.

Refugee CRNM — issued to persons recognized as refugees by CONARE (Comitê Nacional para Refugiados). According to CONARE’s 2024 report, 15,600 recognized refugees hold an active CRNM in Brazil, with the largest origin groups being Syrian (25%), Venezuelan (18%), and Afghan (12%). Refugees access SUS, INSS, and federal social programs without the income-proof requirement that applies to other categories.

Brazil’s “principle of universality of social, economic, and cultural rights” (Article 4 of Lei 13.445/2017) means most public services treat CRNM holders equivalently to Brazilian nationals. The few exclusions are constitutional: voting (Article 14, CF/1988), military service (Article 143, CF/1988), and certain federal positions reserved for born or naturalized Brazilians.

Sources: Lei nº 13.445/2017, Articles 4 and 30; Constituição Federal de 1988, Articles 14, 143; CONARE annual report (2024).

When and how do I renew?

Renewal is a smaller version of the original process. Schedule the appointment 60 to 90 days before your CRNM expiration date. The Federal Police gives priority slots to renewals over new applications, so wait times are shorter (typically 1–3 weeks).

What changes for renewals:

Same R$300 GRU fee (Portaria 232/2020)
Same documents, but you can submit a CRNM photocopy instead of the original visa stamp
Same biometric capture (some delegacias skip if your file is recent)
Issuance: 10–20 days for renewals vs. 15–30 days for first-time

Important: if your underlying visa basis changes (e.g., you converted from work visa to permanent residency, or you got married to a Brazilian, or your investor capital increased to qualify for permanent), file a retificação (modification) instead of a renewal. The retificação adjusts the CRNM type without resetting the validity clock unfairly.

If your CRNM expires while you’re abroad, schedule the renewal appointment as soon as you return. Late renewals within 90 days of expiration incur the standard administrative fine (Article 126 of the Migration Law) but do not cancel your underlying visa. Beyond 90 days, you risk full residence cancellation and need an attorney to argue regularization.

What does the CRNM actually cost?

Direct out-of-pocket costs in 2026:

Item	Cost
Federal Police GRU fee (Portaria 232/2020)	R$300
Apostille (per document, U.S. state authorities)	USD $10–$30
Apostille (per document, EU/UK authorities)	EUR €15–€30 / GBP £30
Certified Portuguese translation (per page, tradutor juramentado)	R$100–R$200
Notarized landlord declaration (firma reconhecida)	R$30–R$80
Photos (if delegacia doesn’t take on-site)	R$15–R$30
Replacement card (lost/stolen, segunda via)	R$300 + R$30 admin
Optional: legal assistance with appointment + document prep	R$1,500–R$3,500

A foreigner arriving with all documents already apostilled and translated typically spends R$500–R$700 end-to-end. A foreigner who needs to apostille and translate documents from scratch spends R$1,200–R$2,000, mostly on translation costs (a long apostilled marriage certificate from another country can run R$400–R$600 to translate alone).

The R$300 GRU fee has not been adjusted since 2020. The Federal Police is studying an inflation-linked update for 2027, but as of this writing it remains the published tariff.

Sources: Portaria nº 232/2020 (Federal Police fee schedule); Banco Central exchange-rate references; ANS-registered tradutor juramentado pricing surveys (2026).

Common problems and how to fix them

Problem 1 — “Your address proof is not acceptable.” Most rejections trace to a utility bill older than 90 days, or a bill in someone else’s name. Fix: get a notarized landlord declaration (firma reconhecida) or a fresh internet/water bill issued in your name. If you live in a hotel, a hotel invoice combined with a 30-day bank statement showing the Brazilian address works.

Problem 2 — “Your translation is not by a tradutor juramentado.” Federal Police only accepts certified translators registered with the state court (Junta Comercial). DeepL, ChatGPT, or freelance translations are rejected. Fix: search the Junta Comercial registry for your state, or ask your attorney for a referral.

Problem 3 — “Income proof is insufficient.” This usually hits retiree/rentista applicants whose pension statements show monthly amounts in foreign currency. Fix: include the home-country tax return showing annual income, plus 3–6 months of bank statements showing consistent deposits at the Brazilian-real-equivalent of USD 2,000+.

Problem 4 — “Card is delayed past 30 days.” First, check the protocolo status online at the PF portal. If the system shows “in printing” past 30 days, file an ouvidoria complaint at gov.br/pf/pt-br/canais_atendimento/ouvidoria. Most delays are batch-printing scheduling issues that the ouvidoria can expedite.

Problem 5 — “My background check came back with a record.” A foreign criminal record is not automatically disqualifying. The Federal Police evaluates the offense type, time elapsed, and rehabilitation. Fix: bring the original record, a translation, and evidence of completed sentence or rehabilitation. For serious offenses (drug trafficking, violence), an immigration attorney is essential — there is a discretionary review process under Article 12 of Decreto 9.199/2017.

What changed under the 2017 Migration Law?

The current CRNM regime replaced the older RNE/CIE system when the Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017) took effect in November 2017. The substantive shifts that still affect applicants in 2026:

Single document for all categories. The old system had separate cards for permanent residents, temporary residents, and refugees. The CRNM is one card with the residence type encoded on the back.
Biometric uniformity. All ten fingerprints are now captured on first issuance, removing the discrepancy where some old RNE holders only had two prints on file.
Easier renewal. The old system required new biometric capture every renewal. The current system reuses existing prints unless 10+ years have passed.
Clearer rights framework. The principle-of-universality clause (Article 4) replaced ad-hoc benefit eligibility, ending many disputes over whether a CRNM holder qualifies for SUS, INSS, public school enrollment.
Mercosur shortcut preserved. Mercosur-residence-agreement holders continue to use national IDs without needing a CRNM (Articles 30 III and 31 of the law).

If you’re a long-term resident still holding an old RNE card from before 2017, you don’t need to convert immediately — the old cards remain valid until expiration. But once your old RNE expires, the renewal will issue a new CRNM with the updated format.

Need help with the Federal Police process?

ZS Advogados has guided hundreds of foreigners through CRNM applications, renewals, and appeals. We handle document preparation, schedule the Federal Police appointment, coordinate certified translations, and represent clients when applications are challenged. If you’ve been rejected, faced unexplained delays, or need to convert from temporary to permanent status, book a consultation — we’ll review your file and give you a clear path.

For broader context on living in Brazil after registration, see our companion guides on getting your CPF as a foreigner, the Federal Revenue (Receita Federal) guide, and the INSS guide for foreigners.

This article provides general information about the CRNM and Brazilian immigration procedures. Immigration law changes; consult a qualified attorney before acting on specific cases. The information here reflects Federal Police procedures and Migration Law (13.445/2017) provisions in effect as of May 2026.