Brazil's mobile ID application may still require an in-person visit

The new national identity card uses a single identification number, but application and delivery options vary by state.

Channel: CNN Brasil ·

BrazilStory of November 4, 2026Trari Newsroom

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Nova carteira de identidade já pode ser solicitada pelo celular; veja como | CNN 360°

Brazilians can begin requesting their new national identity card on a smartphone, but that does not necessarily mean completing the process from home. A report by Brazil's CNN Brasil explains the digital route, then adds an important qualification: some applicants still need an appointment for fingerprints and photographs.

Reporting from Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Monteiro says applications can begin through a federal gov.br account or state-specific apps, including RJ Digital. The procedure varies between states. The report identifies Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais as places where residents can receive the physical card at home by mail.

The Carteira de Identidade Nacional, known as the CIN, replaces the older RG document. It uses the CPF, Brazil's individual taxpayer registration number, as a single civil identification number nationwide. Monteiro says the first issue is free in both physical and digital formats, and that the new model will become mandatory in 2032.

The distinction between starting online and avoiding an office visit matters to the report's promise. Its closing explanation makes clear that biometric collection can still bring applicants to a service counter before their card is delivered.

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