The Brazilian government has unveiled a detailed schedule requiring every resident to enrol fingerprints and facial images in the Federal Biometric Service and to replace the old RG with the new Carteira de Identidade Nacional (CIN). According to an ordinance published last week and confirmed on 4 May, welfare beneficiaries—including the 21 million families on Bolsa Família—must complete the process by 31 December 2026, while citizens who already gave biometrics to obtain a passport, driver’s licence or voter ID have until January 2028. The CIN consolidates multiple documents into a single QR-coded smart-card and a mobile version inside the Gov.br app, which already counts 176 million users.
![Brazil sets deadlines for nationwide biometric registration and new digital ID card]()
For travellers and employers seeking a smoother path through Brazil’s evolving identity and visa landscape, VisaHQ offers step-by-step online support and document processing for Brazilian visas and residence permits. Its dedicated Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) keeps users updated on new CIN requirements, helps schedule biometrics and ensures all paperwork meets the latest federal standards—saving time as the 2026 and 2028 deadlines approach.
The card uses the CPF tax number as a unique identifier and will be recognised across Mercosur, simplifying cross-border work and residency applications. More than 52 million cards have been issued so far, and the Ministry of Management and Innovation (MGI) has budgeted R$44 million to deploy mobile enrollment units in remote areas. For corporate mobility managers the change is more than cosmetic. The CIN will gradually become the only accepted proof of identity when applying for work visas (VITEM V), intra-company transfers (VITEM XI) and permanent residence, ending the current practice of submitting an RG issued by individual states. Experts expect the federalised database to cut document-verification times at Polícia Federal posts from weeks to days, reducing the lead time for new hires and assignees. Employers should review onboarding check-lists, update HRIS fields to capture the CIN number and prepare communication campaigns so that foreign assignees’ dependants—many of whom qualify for Bolsa Família—do not miss the 2026 deadline. Travellers who still hold the traditional RG are advised to carry their passport when flying domestically after 2028, as airlines will be required to match booking data to the CIN registry.
For travellers and employers seeking a smoother path through Brazil’s evolving identity and visa landscape, VisaHQ offers step-by-step online support and document processing for Brazilian visas and residence permits. Its dedicated Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) keeps users updated on new CIN requirements, helps schedule biometrics and ensures all paperwork meets the latest federal standards—saving time as the 2026 and 2028 deadlines approach.
The card uses the CPF tax number as a unique identifier and will be recognised across Mercosur, simplifying cross-border work and residency applications. More than 52 million cards have been issued so far, and the Ministry of Management and Innovation (MGI) has budgeted R$44 million to deploy mobile enrollment units in remote areas. For corporate mobility managers the change is more than cosmetic. The CIN will gradually become the only accepted proof of identity when applying for work visas (VITEM V), intra-company transfers (VITEM XI) and permanent residence, ending the current practice of submitting an RG issued by individual states. Experts expect the federalised database to cut document-verification times at Polícia Federal posts from weeks to days, reducing the lead time for new hires and assignees. Employers should review onboarding check-lists, update HRIS fields to capture the CIN number and prepare communication campaigns so that foreign assignees’ dependants—many of whom qualify for Bolsa Família—do not miss the 2026 deadline. Travellers who still hold the traditional RG are advised to carry their passport when flying domestically after 2028, as airlines will be required to match booking data to the CIN registry.
