Use the official CPF application route
Receita Federal provides a CPF form for foreign nationals. Check the current submission instructions for your location and identity documents with Receita Federal or the relevant Brazilian consulate. Requirements and processing times can differ. Avoid planning a closing around a promised universal two-day turnaround.
Make a document plan with your lawyer
Ask which identity, civil-status, residency and representation documents the transaction requires. For documents issued abroad, confirm whether apostille or legalization and a sworn Portuguese translation are needed. Get names and spellings aligned across your records before the signing appointment.
Define remote representation carefully
If you cannot attend, ask independent counsel whether a power of attorney is appropriate and what form it must take. Discuss the property, actions, duration and payment authority it should cover. Request translations you understand and retain signed copies. A remote process should still include independent property inspection and document review.
Plan a useful first conversation
You do not need to send a passport or bank statement to explain what you want. Share the intended use, approximate budget, citizenship and residence, preferred areas and your most important question. If you already have a property link, include it as context. Agree who will check the facts before sharing sensitive documents through an appropriate channel.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed October 14, 2026. Educational guidance; eligibility, tax and transaction requirements need individual professional review. Some official sources are in Portuguese.