Brazil
Use Uber or 99, expect CPF barriers, and carry backup cards and reais
Check the entry rule for the passport you will use before departure.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Brazil
Since 10 April 2025, Australian, Canadian and US passport holders need Brazil's official eVisa for ordinary visitor trips; other nationalities follow different rules. A CPF, Brazil's tax identifier, is often requested by local apps and websites. A short-stay visitor should not invent one: use a passport-supported checkout or a service built for international travelers. International Visa and Mastercard cards are widely accepted, but contactless payment and foreign cards can fail, so bring two physical cards and some Brazilian reais.
Pix is accessed through participating financial accounts, not a separate tourist app, and should not be assumed to work through an overseas account. Check the amount on every payment terminal and choose BRL rather than home-currency conversion. Phone theft and robbery are serious risks in some cities. Plan or request rides indoors, keep the phone out of sight on the street, and never resist an armed robber.
Call 190 for police, 192 for an ambulance and 193 for fire services.
Tucu: pay Pix codes in Brazil as a visitor
Tucu is a new travel wallet. Set it up before you leave, fund it in your own currency and pay Pix QR codes in reais, with the rate, fees and total shown before you confirm.
Ride Hailing
99Essential
Brazil's major local alternative to Uber, useful for comparing pickup times and quoted fares in supported cities.
UberEssential
The most familiar first ride app for visitors, with an extensive official directory of Brazilian cities and municipalities.
Food Delivery
RappiEssential
The best first delivery attempt for many visitors because registration and foreign-card payment often work without a CPF.
iFood
Brazil's largest local delivery marketplace, with the broadest catalog but unreliable access for some foreign visitors.
Messaging
WhatsAppEssential
Brazil's everyday channel for hotels, restaurants, guides, reservations, location pins and direct delivery orders.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The best general starting point for Brazilian addresses, businesses, urban walking and public-transport planning.
Transit
Cittamobi
Live bus arrivals, route planning and service alerts in hundreds of participating Brazilian cities and operator networks.
Language
Google TranslateEssential
Useful for Portuguese text, camera translation and downloaded language files when mobile data is unavailable.
Intercity Transport
BusbudEssential
The easiest international-facing search and booking starting point for many Brazilian intercity bus routes.
ClickBus
A major Brazilian bus marketplace that now supports passport identification for travelers without a CPF.
Restaurants
Get In
Reservations and remote waitlists for participating restaurants and bars across Brazil, with coverage varying by venue.
Also covered
Internet in Brazil
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Every SIM must be registered to a person, but legally a foreign passport is enough: no CPF (the Brazilian tax ID) is required by law. In practice Vivo and Claro staff often refuse without one because their systems assume it, so try TIM first and be ready to visit several stores.
- Reliable current pricing for the big three is scarce; the one solid recent figure is Correios Celular at about 20 GB for around $17 in Sao Paulo and Rio.
- Official carrier stores in the larger shopping malls are the best bet, starting with TIM if you have no CPF. Correios Celular SIMs are sold at post offices, some pharmacies and newsstands. Don't count on the airport: Sao Paulo GRU has no reliable SIM option for arriving foreigners.
- Travel eSIMs work without a CPF and are the standard workaround. Just note that any local number they include is virtual and may not pass every Brazilian app verification.
The CPF is the real wall: travelers report being turned away at store after store across Sao Paulo and Rio. Topping up Claro by phone or online also needs a CPF, so top up in person or with vouchers. A Brazilian number is the identity layer for WhatsApp, Pix and delivery apps, so a data-only travel eSIM can fail app verifications. The clean fix: a CPF is free and can be arranged before your trip through a Brazilian consulate or Receita Federal's online form.
Local carriers
TIM
The carrier most likely to sell prepaid to a foreigner on passport alone, with good coverage including smaller coastal towns. Even so, success varies by store.
Vivo
The largest network with good national coverage, but the strictest about requiring a CPF.
Claro
Hit-or-miss on the CPF requirement depending on the store, and coverage thins out in remote beach areas.
Correios Celular
The post office's mobile brand, sold at post offices, some pharmacies and newsstands. Indoor signal is weak.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Brazil?
The essential apps for Brazil are 99, Uber, Rappi, WhatsApp, Google Maps.
How many travel apps does Brazil have?
We've curated 11 apps across 9 categories for traveling in Brazil, including 7 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Brazil?
99. Brazil's major local alternative to Uber, useful for comparing pickup times and quoted fares in supported cities.
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