Your CPF Now Comes With an Annual Obligation

A CPF isn’t just something you get and forget. It’s something foreigners must now maintain every year. If you have a CPF and live outside Brazil, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) now requires that you update your CPF annually. You have to do it even if nothing has changed.

As of January 13, 2025, foreign individuals with a CPF who reside abroad must confirm or update their CPF registration once a year. Miss the deadline, and you could run into trouble.

Many people don’t realize there’s a problem with their CPF until they need it for something important. For example, a suspended CPF can delay a real estate acquisition, wire transfers, and even access to your bank account. And once it’s suspended, fixing the problem can take time.

The yearly update is done through the Receita Federal’s mobile app. After entering your CPF number and date of birth, you’ll be asked to take a selfie holding your passport. From there, you’ll fill out a form with your current address and contact information.

While the process is fairly straightforward, it can be challenging. The app is in Portuguese, and it may not work on the first try. Still, skipping it isn’t worth the risk because your CPF is tied to nearly everything you do in Brazil.

So do yourself a favor: don’t forget. Update your CPF data. Once a year. Every year. And if you need help navigating the process, check out the Brazil Counsel Guide to Getting a CPF.