🪪 Residency — RNM / CRNM

RNM vs CRNM — what's the difference?

• RNM (National Migration Registry): your migration registration number — a "number," not a card
• CRNM (National Migration Registry Card): the physical card carrying that number, formerly called RNE

So the CRNM is the card, and the RNM is the number printed on it.

Legal deadline to register (very important)

• 90 days from your entry date into Brazil, if you entered on a residence visa (VITEM)
• 30 days from the date your approval is published in the Official Gazette (DOU), if you were already in Brazil and applied for residency internally

Steps to get the card

• Fill out the registration request online on the Gov.br portal ("Register as a foreigner" service)
• Book an appointment via the Federal Police's Agenda Web system, at the unit covering your address
• Pay the issuance fee (around R$204.77 — subject to change)
• Attend at the scheduled time for biometric collection (fingerprints and photo)
• Wait until the card is ready, then book another visit to collect it

Processing time varies a lot by state and demand at the unit, and can take several months.

Documents generally required

• Valid passport
• Proof of residency approval (DOU publication or visa approval)
• Proof of address in Brazil
• A recent photo (in case the unit's biometric system is down)
• Proof of fee payment

Traveling on the protocol before getting your card

After registering you receive a protocol document proving your legal status until the card is ready. This protocol is valid for traveling and re-entering Brazil while it's still valid, but acceptance in other countries may vary — confirm before any international trip.

We help you with

• Filling out the registration request correctly the first time
• Booking at the right unit for your area
• Organizing all required documents
• Following up until you collect the card