Brazil has crossed the 50-million-issuance mark for its new Carteira de Identidade Nacional (CIN) and, as of 29 April 2026, the document is now accepted at immigration booths in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia. The modern card incorporates a machine-readable zone identical to that found in e-passports, enabling border officials to scan data in under three seconds. The reform ends decades of fragmentation in Brazil’s identity system, where each state issued its own RG number. Under the CIN, the taxpayer CPF becomes the sole national identifier, dramatically reducing duplicate records and identity fraud. A secure QR code allows instant authenticity checks, while a digital twin is available in the Gov.br app for smartphone presentation.
![New national ID card speeds Brazilian travel within Mercosur]()
For travelers and HR managers who want to stay on top of these fast-moving changes, VisaHQ’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers real-time guidance on CIN acceptance, Mercosur visa-free rules, and automated reminders for ID renewals—making cross-border mobility planning far simpler.
For frequent cross-border commuters and assignees, the immediate gain is lighter documentation: no passport is required for Mercosur trips of up to 90 days. Corporate travel departments should update packing lists and advise employees that some airlines are still updating check-in systems—travellers should carry the physical card until digital-reader harmonisation is complete. Beyond mobility, the unified ID unlocks ‘gold-tier’ access to federal e-services, including online work-permit renewals and social-security claims, which expatriate families often need. The government has set 31 December 2027 as the deadline for fully phasing out the old RG, so employers should plan bulk renewal campaigns well ahead of that date to avoid payroll and benefits hiccups.
For travelers and HR managers who want to stay on top of these fast-moving changes, VisaHQ’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers real-time guidance on CIN acceptance, Mercosur visa-free rules, and automated reminders for ID renewals—making cross-border mobility planning far simpler.
For frequent cross-border commuters and assignees, the immediate gain is lighter documentation: no passport is required for Mercosur trips of up to 90 days. Corporate travel departments should update packing lists and advise employees that some airlines are still updating check-in systems—travellers should carry the physical card until digital-reader harmonisation is complete. Beyond mobility, the unified ID unlocks ‘gold-tier’ access to federal e-services, including online work-permit renewals and social-security claims, which expatriate families often need. The government has set 31 December 2027 as the deadline for fully phasing out the old RG, so employers should plan bulk renewal campaigns well ahead of that date to avoid payroll and benefits hiccups.
