The role of the National Identity Card (CIN) in adopting a national security policy and strengthening various public policies was one of the topics discussed on Thursday, October 31, at an event at the Palácio do Planalto. The gathering brought together President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, several ministers, members of other branches of government, and state governors to discuss the new Unified Public Security System.
The Constitutional Amendment Proposal, presented for debate with governors, aims to adopt measures to improve federal integration in combating organized crime.
“The CIN is in the place it deserves. Our National Identity Card – CIN holds its rightful place of prominence, becoming a topic in meetings between President Lula, Ministers, and governors. Whether in the sphere of digital transformation, Public Security, or social inclusion, the CIN is our greatest instrument of citizenship,” highlights Célio Ribeiro, CEO of InterID.
The CIN is issued in all states but is a public policy coordinated by the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI). The head of the department, Minister Esther Dweck, expressed gratitude for the partnership with the states and noted that this is also a citizenship project. Currently, the old ID card (RG) is no longer issued in 21 states, where only the new CIN is available, while six states still operate a hybrid system, the minister reported. Nonetheless, all 27 states now issue the new card.
The CIN transforms the CPF into the identification number for every Brazilian. Beyond the CPF, the CIN system creates a national biometric registry for each Brazilian citizen, which will facilitate their identification throughout the country and, consequently, their access to various public policies.
The Chief of Staff, Minister Rui Costa, urged governors to speed up the CIN implementation project, as this is a way to combat crime nationwide. Until recently, a single person could hold 27 different IDs (RGs), one from each federation unit. This multiplication of RGs makes fraud and crimes against public and private sectors easier.
Minister Esther Dweck recalled that the project was created with a deadline for all Brazilians to have their CIN by 2031, when it will permanently replace the old RGs. However, the Federal Government and state administrations aim to reach 150 million CINs issued by 2026, anticipating the deadline.
Dweck also thanked the partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, which allocated 15% of unused National Public Security Fund resources to support the states in issuing the CIN. The Minister of Management also highlighted the priority given to issuing the CIN. She noted that while young people are leading the issuance list (as they are obtaining their first ID), and in some states (such as Piauí), newborns are already receiving the new card, it is equally important to serve people receiving social benefits (BPC, fishery insurance, etc.), as biometric requirements have been added to aid applications to prevent fraud and ensure access for those who truly need it.
Across the country, around 15 million National Identity Cards (CINs) have been issued so far, and all 27 federation units are now issuing the CIN. This new identity document, which follows a national standard and uses the CPF as the unique number, structures administrative records, increases security checks, and reduces fraud issues.
The CIN is an instrument of citizenship, as it enables secure, reliable digital identification for each person and establishes a new relationship between individuals and the State. Improving the identification of Brazilians will allow the government to enhance the quality of public services provided, focusing increasingly on people’s needs.
How to Apply
Appointments to issue the document can be scheduled at the State Identification Institutes and the Federal District. To obtain the CIN, individuals need to bring their birth or marriage certificates. The first issue is free of charge. It is also possible to download the CIN in digital format and save it in the document wallet on the GOV.BR app. The digital document has the same value as the physical one.
