Brazil Tourist SIM Card (2026): Prices, CPF Rules & Where to Buy

Can Tourists Buy a SIM Card in Brazil Without a CPF?

Yes. Passport-based options exist, although Brazil’s standard prepaid activation flow still creates confusion.

CPF stands for Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas, Brazil’s taxpayer identification register. The Anatel prepaid-registration guidance describes ordinary digital activation using a CPF, birth date, residential postal code, identity document and selfie.

Operator-specific tourist routes work differently:

• Vivo Tourist Plan: Purchased as an eSIM product created for visitors, so the ordinary resident prepaid flow is not the route used.

• Claro Flex Pass: Registration uses a passport number and temporary Brazilian address. Claro says no Brazilian identity document is required.

• Claro physical prepaid: Visitors without a CPF must complete activation at a physical Claro store and bring a passport or RNE.

• TIM prepaid: TIM instructs international visitors to activate through *144 with their passport and Brazilian accommodation address ready.

Request the exact tourist product or foreign-visitor activation route, and keep registration in your own identity.

Local SIM and Tourist Plans in Brazil

Brazil’s three major operators approach international visitors differently. Headline data alone hides eligibility, SIM format, payment and total cost.

Vivo Tourist Plan

Vivo currently publishes the most transparent fixed-price tourist package. The official Vivo Tourist Plan costs R$55 and includes 25 GB for 30 days, 300 minutes and 100 SMS for use with Brazilian numbers.

Key terms include:

• eSIM delivery by email;

• credit-card payment;

• activation within 15 days after purchase, followed by 30-day validity;

• hotspot sharing permitted;

• additional data and international calling credit available separately.

Vivo advises activating after arrival so the 30-day period does not begin early. Phones without eSIM support cannot use this product.

Claro Flex Pass

Claro Flex Pass is a fully digital local eSIM designed specifically for international visitors. The official Claro visitor page lists 20 GB, 30 GB and 40 GB options, with the 20 GB package valid for 15 days and the larger packages valid for 30 days.

• passport registration with a temporary address in Brazil;

• payment by international credit card with 3D Secure authentication;

• a Brazilian mobile number;

• unlimited calls and SMS within Brazil;

• English-language management and eSIM activation through the Claro Flex app.

Claro states that prices are fixed in USD, but its public English page does not expose the current numeric amounts reliably. The exact app price should therefore be checked before treating Flex Pass as cheaper or more expensive than another option.

Physical Claro prepaid service follows another path. Foreign visitors without a CPF must visit a Claro store with a passport or RNE, so a chip bought from a general retailer may still require an official-store visit before it works.

TIM International Visitor Prepaid

TIM publishes a physical prepaid route specifically for international visitors. The TIM international-visitor instructions list 1.5 GB for seven days at R$25, with another seven-day package available when R$25 of credit remains.

Published terms include:

• maximum speeds of 1 Mbps on 3G and 5 Mbps on 4G;

• domestic calls at R$0.50 per minute when using TIM’s 41 carrier code;

• international calls at R$1 per minute;

• SMS at R$0.50 each;

• activation through *144 with a passport and Brazilian accommodation address.

Credit can be added by card through TIM’s channels or supported local top-up points. TIM does not publish universal total covering the physical chip, initial package credit and every possible retailer charge, so R$25 should not be presented as the complete counter price.

What Will You Pay Upfront?

Compare every purchase component separately:

• Plan price: The amount attached to the data, voice and validity package.

• SIM or starter-card price: Relevant to physical products, not eSIM-only tourist packages.

• Activation or service charge: Count it when disclosed.

• First recharge: Some physical products need credit before the offer begins.

• Retailer charge: Counter pricing may differ from the headline recharge value.

Vivo publishes R$55 for its 25 GB Tourist Plan, and no physical card is involved. Claro Flex Pass displays its complete USD selection inside the app, while the public page does not provide dependable numeric prices. TIM publishes a R$25 seven-day visitor package, but the price of the physical SIM remains undisclosed.

Every Roafly option shown in the opening table is valid for 30 days. Local tourist plans may include a phone number and domestic voice service, while Roafly remains data-only.

Where to Buy a Brazil SIM Card

Before Departure or

• Vivo Tourist Plan: Buy, receive the eSIM by email and activate after arrival. Vivo allows 15 days to complete activation.

• Claro Flex Pass: Download the Claro Flex app, choose the international-visitor route, enter passport and temporary-address details, then pay by an eligible international card.

• Roafly: Prepare the eSIM before travel and retain the primary SIM on compatible dual-SIM devices.

After Arrival

• Claro physical prepaid: Visit an official Claro store when you do not have a CPF. Staff must complete the passport-based registration.

• TIM physical prepaid: SIMs are sold through operator channels and authorized partners, including some pharmacies, markets and newsstands. Activation still follows TIM’s international-visitor process.

• Vivo support: Official Vivo stores can help with the Tourist Plan, although the product itself is delivered digitally.

Operator material does not establish guaranteed SIM stock, hours or tourist prices across Brazilian airports. Airport availability remains location-specific.

Registration, Activation and Payment

Keep the following items ready:

1. Unlocked phone: Carrier-locked devices may reject another operator’s SIM or eSIM.

2. Passport: Claro and TIM explicitly use passport details in their visitor routes.

3. Accommodation address: Claro Flex Pass and TIM request a temporary or lodging address in Brazil.

4. Compatible payment card: Claro Flex Pass requires an international card with 3D Secure. Vivo accepts credit cards but excludes Hipercard and Diners, and temporary virtual cards are not accepted.

5. Internet during setup: App-based eSIM purchase and installation need a working connection.

Installation and activation are separate steps. Vivo tells customers to install the eSIM before beginning activation, then activate on arrival; Claro manages the process through its Flex app; TIM uses the physical chip and *144 visitor flow.

Local calls and SMS also differ by product. Vivo includes a defined allowance, Claro Flex Pass includes domestic calls and SMS, and Roafly supplies mobile data without a Brazilian phone number. TIM charges separately for calls and SMS under its published visitor offer.

Brazil Local SIM vs Roafly eSIM

Local service becomes attractive when a Brazilian number, domestic calls or a large allowance matters more than pre-trip simplicity.

Roafly suits a different purchase decision:

• setup can be completed before the trip;

• no physical SIM swap is needed;

• the primary SIM can remain available;

• hotspot use is allowed across the purchased data;

• listed Brazilian network access includes TIM and Claro;

• country plans are data-only, without a local number, calls or SMS.

Two listed networks do not promise automatic switching, identical performance or guaranteed coverage. Local conditions vary by destination.

Readers comparing the broader travel-eSIM market can use the Brazil eSIM provider comparison. This guide stays focused on local operators, passport registration and buying routes.

Which Option Fits Your Trip?

Choose Vivo Tourist Plan When…

• 25 GB matches your trip;

• a Brazilian number and domestic minutes are useful;

• your phone supports eSIM and can be activated within 15 days of purchase.

Choose Claro Flex Pass When…

• you want 20 GB, 30 GB or 40 GB;

• app-based passport registration feels convenient;

• domestic calls, SMS and a local number matter;

• a 3D Secure international card is available;

• you are willing to confirm the current USD price inside the app.

Choose TIM Prepaid When…

• your phone needs a physical SIM;

• 1.5 GB for seven days covers your needs;

• metered calls and SMS are acceptable;

• uncertainty around the physical SIM price does not affect your decision.

Choose Roafly When…

• mobile data is the main requirement;

• keeping the primary SIM in place matters;

• store visits and local registration would interrupt the trip;

• 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB covers your usage, including any hotspot needs.

Brazil Tourist SIM Card FAQs

Do Tourists Need a CPF to Buy a SIM Card in Brazil?

Not always. Ordinary digital prepaid registration uses CPF-based checks, but Claro, TIM and Vivo publish visitor routes that accept passport information.

Can I Buy a Brazilian eSIM With My Passport?

Yes. Claro Flex Pass uses a passport number and temporary Brazilian address, while Vivo sells a dedicated Tourist Plan as an eSIM. Claro also says foreigners without a CPF can activate prepaid eSIM service in a physical store with a passport.

Will a Brazil Tourist SIM Include a Local Number?

Claro Flex Pass provides a Brazilian mobile number, and Vivo Tourist Plan includes domestic voice and SMS allowances. Roafly is data-only and does not include a local number.

Can I Buy a SIM at São Paulo or Rio Airport?

Operator sources do not confirm consistent nationwide airport stock or tourist pricing. Treat airport buying as a location-specific possibility.

Does My Phone Need to Be Unlocked?

Yes. Local SIMs and travel eSIMs require an unlocked device. eSIM products also need a compatible phone, while a TIM physical SIM may suit unlocked devices without eSIM support.

Can I Use Hotspot With These Options?

Vivo Tourist Plan permits hotspot sharing, while Roafly supports it across the purchased allowance. Check Claro or TIM tethering against the exact active offer.

Final Recommendation

Vivo Tourist Plan currently offers the clearest fixed-price local package: 25 GB, 300 domestic minutes and 100 SMS for R$55 over 30 days. Claro Flex Pass is the more flexible high-data tourist route, but its live USD price needs checking inside the app. TIM remains the physical-SIM alternative, though its visitor package is limited to 1.5 GB for seven days and the complete counter price is not published.

Roafly makes more sense when the trip requires data without a local store visit, physical SIM swap or Brazilian number. Local service wins when domestic calls, a local number or a larger allowance carries more value than setup convenience.

Roafly publishes this guide and offers the travel-eSIM alternative discussed above.