More than 400,000 individual tax record filings (CPF) were issued to foreigners in Brazil in 2025, according to data obtained by the agency Fiquem Sabendo via the Freedom of Information Act (LAI) from the Federal Revenue. Venezuelan citizens were the main beneficiaries of this document, with 98,599 registrations. They are followed closely by Bolivians, with 64,356 records, and by people from Cuba, with 40,287 registrations. These numbers are part of a trend that is showing interest, because, between 2005 and 2025, Venezuelans were the foreign citizens who most requested the CPF, with a total of 828,748 issues.
The Freedom of Information Act (LAI) allows the Brazilian population to access public government information, including financial and statistical data. In this case, the Federal Revenue reported the numbers of CPF issued to foreigners, demonstrating the great demand for these documents. The fact that Venezuelans have been the main beneficiaries of these records is interesting, as there is a clear relationship between the economic and political crisis in their country and the search for CPFs in Brazil. Prior to 2018, other groups of foreigners such as Bolivians, Haitians, Portuguese and Argentines had been the main issuers of CPFs in the country.
Other relevant data about the use of CPF by foreigners include the data of issuance between 2005 and 2025. During this period, Venezuelans lead the list with more than 828,600 CPF issued, followed by Bolivian citizens with more than 150,000 CPF issued, and by people from Cuba, with more than 80,000 CPF issued. These data demonstrate the great demand for these documents, especially by Venezuelans, who are fleeing economic and political crisis in their country. The search for CPFs is a sign that these individuals are looking for a better quality of life, but it may also indicate a need for financial security in a foreign country.
These data also raise questions about the need for a more clear and effective immigration policy in Brazil. The lack of a well-defined immigration policy may have contributed to the search for CPFs by foreigners, especially in moments of crisis in their countries of origin. The Brazilian government may need to evaluate its immigration policy and seek ways to regularize the entry and stay of foreigners in the country. In addition, the discussion on the need for a CPF may become more frequent, especially at a time when technology has advanced rapidly, and many platforms and services require financial information to activate the services offered; with the CPF, Brazilian citizens can have greater access to financial services, including the possibility of acquiring credit cards and using these services in different locations.
