Send money home
Your first transfer is free and arrives in seconds
If you're searching for "RG" or "carteira de identidade" hoping to get one from the United States, the short answer isn't the one you want: for now, official pages don't show any Brazilian consulate in the US that issues it. But there are clear ways to sort out your ID.
The Carteira de Identidade Nacional (CIN), Brazil's national ID card that replaces the old RG (Registro Geral), is issued by the identification agencies of each Brazilian state and the Federal District, so you apply for it in Brazil, not at consulates in the United States. Your CPF becomes your single identification number.
What is the Brazilian national ID card (CIN), and why don't US consulates issue it?
The CIN (Carteira de Identidade Nacional) is Brazil's national identity document. It replaces the RG and uses the CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas, Brazil's individual taxpayer number) as its single ID number. It's issued by the public security departments or identification institutes of each state and the Federal District.
Brazilian consulates, by contrast, have traditionally issued only travel documents, such as passports. That's why Itamaraty (Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) publishes a list of documents that are not issued abroad.
An exception that shows where the CIN is heading: the Lisbon pilot
Since April 2026, the Consulate General of Brazil in Lisbon has been issuing the CIN as a pilot project, together with the Federal District Civil Police (Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal, PCDF), Itamaraty and the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services. By August 2026, the service was also available at the Consulate General of Brazil in Asunción, Paraguay. In both cases, you need an active CPF and your birth or marriage certificate, the appointment to capture your biometric data is scheduled only after your documents are reviewed, and the CIN is delivered later. Spots are limited, and the government's goal is to extend the service to its entire consular network. Official pages don't agree on how to request an appointment, so if you live in Portugal or Paraguay, confirm the process with your consulate.
As of October 16, 2026, we found no evidence that any Brazilian consulate in the United States issues the CIN, nor a confirmed timeline for when one will. If that changes, it will be announced on official government pages.
What are your alternatives to the Brazilian CIN if you live in the United States?
Option 1: Apply for the CIN in person on a trip to Brazil
You can apply at your state's identification agency. In São Paulo, for example, you apply at Poupatempo service centers. There, the first copy is free and, once it's issued, you can carry the digital version in the Gov.br app. Even so, check your state's website before you travel.
Option 2: Use your Brazilian passport as ID abroad
If you need to prove you're Brazilian outside Brazil, the passport is the document consulates issue. If yours is about to expire, see our guide to renewing a Brazilian passport in the US.
Since June 1, 2026, Portaria MRE nº 664/2026, an ordinance from Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has cut the passport fee at Brazilian embassies and consulates in half, and the Consulate General in Washington reports a fee of $60 for adults (confirm the amount with your consulate). An adult passport is valid for 10 years, and the process starts with the electronic application form and a request in e-Consular.
Option 3: The Carteira de Matrícula Consular (CMC) and its limits
Some consulates in the US, such as those in New York and Washington, issue the Carteira de Matrícula Consular (CMC). It's a consular registration card. It's not a national ID document or a US document, and it doesn't replace your passport. Check with your consulate about the requirements and whether it's available in your jurisdiction.
To understand what each office does, check out the differences between an embassy and a consulate. If you want to know more about the community, read about Brazilians in the United States or explore more resources for Brazilians.
How do you get a Brazilian CIN if you were born in the United States?
If you're a Brazilian citizen born abroad, the birth registration made at the consulate must be transcribed at a cartório (civil registry office) in Brazil before you can apply for your ID at a state agency. Requirements vary by state, so check the website of the identification agency where you'd apply. If you're interested in citizenship questions, also read about dual citizenship.
Good to know if you're sending money to Brazil
To sign up for Félix, you can use your passport, a national ID, a consular ID card (matrícula consular) or a US driver's license, plus a selfie. A Social Security number is not required to send money.
Sources
Government of Brazil (official sources)
- Consulate in Faro: RG, registro geral (Who issues the ID card.)
- Consular Portal: documents not issued abroad (What consulates don't issue.)
- Consulate in Lisbon: CIN (Pilot for issuing the CIN abroad.)
- Government of Brazil: how to get the CIN in Portugal and Paraguay (CIN issuance abroad: Lisbon and Asunción, August 2026.)
- Consulate in New York: Carteira de Matrícula Consular (Scope of the CMC.)
- Poupatempo São Paulo: service charter (What the CIN is, the CPF as the single number and an example of the process in Brazil.)
- Consulate in Washington: Passaporte (Fee since June 2026 and validity.)
- Itamaraty: redução dos valores de passaportes emitidos no exterior (Portaria MRE nº 664/2026.)
Last verified: October 16, 2026. This article describes procedures and is not legal advice: always confirm requirements and fees with your consulate or your state's identification agency.
More Félix resources on Brazilian documents in the United States
