Thanks for that. It’s one of the reasons why I now generally suggest using a travel eSIM for Brazil instead if your phone supports it — while it’s not impossible to get a working physical SIM card without a CPF as above, it can definitely be difficult and time-consuming. In contrast, my partner used an eSIM on her last trip to Brazil in December 2023, and it was working by the time she got off the plane!

As of 2/15/24 this sounds like it is still true and now makes sense to me as to why we got turned down.

We tried to buy a SIMM card or have our Argentina Claro SIMM card converted over for Brazil use at the Rio Sul shopping mall in Brazil. First floor Claro store would not do it and said the Claro SIMM card could not be converted for use in Brazil. They then directed us to go to the 3rd floor. We found and asked for the same at two different vendors but they also would not sell us a SIMM card even if we presented our passport. We have no idea why as they did not give us an explanation plus there was the language barrier. I have no idea what a CPF is and if it would have made a difference? Our only remedy was using Wi-fi when available and Whatsapp while in Brazil. Argentina was easy and cheap to get a working Claro SIMM card working.

OMG! Thank you so much. This was so easy!
Bought my card in a gas station. They assured me it would not work, but totally did!

When purchasing the TIM SIM card do you have the option of selecting your plan the or do you select it over the phone?

Thank you so much for this Ravi! None of the ‘official’ network shops would sell us a sim, we were getting passed from pillar to post. Thank goodness we saw your post instead, we’ve just set up our Tim SIM (purchased from a random shop) using your instructions with zero problems 🙂

Thanks Ravi!!

For TIM you can actually register it yourself. All you have to do is buy a TIM card from any random shop, typically you can find random mobile phone shops in the mall. I suggest you have it installed when at the shop because I don’t carry the little tool around. Call *144 and sit through the portuguese audio. In the end it will say for English press 3. Once you press 3 it will say have your passport and address in Brazil ready and press *. It will then say to hold for an agent(In portuguese which is really frustrating and nonsensical since this is supposed to be an English line). In a minute you should be connected to an agent who speaks English and will ask for your nationality, passport number, name and current city in Brazil(to determine area code). The agent will then activate your phone and you should be good to go in the next 5 minutes. Big props to TIM for making it so easy. I really hope this helps everyone who struggles with this. I know I did.

Side note: I have received a lot of hate from Brazillians (in mobile shops and even on other sites when I share this method) about discovering this method. It seems that they refuse to acknowledge that foreigners can use Brazillian sim cards, I think it is some sort of pride thing.

Super helpful update – thanks Charis!