The Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services has pledged to boost the issuance of the new National Identity Card (CIN), seen as a key step in reducing fraud and scams, while also representing economic progress and advancements in public policies across the country. The first version is free, featuring a unified format nationwide, with the CPF as the sole number, and is available online with a QR code linked to the gov.br account.
Célio Ribeiro, executive president of InterID, emphasized the significance of the initiative for Brazilian citizenship:
“We couldn’t start the year in a better way. This is a message to make all law-abiding citizens happy. We will work to ensure that every newborn is biometrically identified and linked to their mother’s biometrics. Every individual should access public and private services safely and efficiently. Together, we will provide every Brazilian with the CIN, our greatest instrument of citizenship.”
Over 17.3 million CINs have already been issued, and the ambitious projection from the Secretariat of Digital Government (SGD) foresees approximately 130 million Brazilians holding it—both physically and digitally—by the end of 2026, covering almost two-thirds of the population.
To achieve this, the ministry is leading a task force alongside state governments, which are responsible for issuing the cards. Last year, the initiative benefited from a significant allocation of funds from the Ministry of Justice, which directed 15% of the National Public Security Fund to support the CIN rollout.
The idea of a unified model and number across all 27 states aims to reduce Brazil’s “Cost of Doing Business,” a set of structural issues that burden companies. It is also expected to serve as the foundation for a robust population database, enabling data cross-referencing to improve the effectiveness of public policies and social benefits.
“When we talk about digital transformation, the first element is identification. This project is centered on people, enhancing their rights and the quality of public services delivered, while also fostering a safer business environment,” said Rogério Mascarenhas, Secretary of Digital Government.
Study predicts a 13% GDP boost
Mascarenhas cited a McKinsey study suggesting that adopting a digital identity could boost Brazil’s GDP by 13% by 2030.
“Unifying documents will lead to cost reductions because it primarily represents procedural efficiency,” said Marcos Barreto, a professor at the Polytechnic School of USP.
However, experts caution that fully integrating CIN into gov.br systems requires attention. As the platform became more critical during the pandemic, cybersecurity risks must be addressed to ensure safe usage, according to Fabio Assolini, Director of the Global Research and Analysis Team at Kaspersky Latin America.
Assolini noted a global increase in phishing attacks targeting digital identification systems:
“In Europe, rapid digitization led to a surge in phishing incidents, prompting the EU to implement the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to hold private and public entities accountable for user data protection.”
In Brazil, the account verification levels (gold, silver, bronze) and the use of two-factor authentication have enhanced portal security. The next step, currently under development, involves integrating the platform with the country’s banking systems.
Partnership with banks for client authentication
The Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) has confirmed ongoing discussions with the Secretariat of Digital Government to establish a technical cooperation agreement. Banks will share customer data with the CIN database to facilitate client authentication and improve security in onboarding processes.
The APIs enabling this collaboration are expected to go live in May, with projections of 40 million CINs issued by then.
State-by-state issuance
While Piauí leads in CIN issuance proportionally (over 27% of its population), São Paulo lags, ranking outside the top five. Despite being the wealthiest and most populous state, São Paulo trails in total issuances, behind Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and Rio de Janeiro.
“São Paulo has unique challenges. It’s one of five states still allowing the hybrid model (maintaining the old version) and has a complex issuance distribution. With recent adjustments, like hiring more staff, we’ve reached more reasonable issuance numbers,” Mascarenhas explained.
Social benefits
Piauí’s leadership is credited to a pilot program where newborns receive a CIN directly from the maternity hospital. This initiative aligns with the goal of providing the CIN throughout a citizen’s life, from birth to death.
“Beyond security, it optimizes public policies by ensuring the government knows a person’s eligibility for benefits from birth,” added Mascarenhas.
He urged all citizens, regardless of age, to transition to the new document promptly.
The CIN will become mandatory in February 2032. People aged 60 and older will have the option to keep their existing ID. The CIN will replace the old RG (General Registry), introducing changes like replacing thumbprints with QR codes.
CIN Issuance Figures
By total issuance:
- Minas Gerais: 2,130,871
- Rio Grande do Sul: 1,746,093
- Rio de Janeiro: 1,497,465
- São Paulo: 1,363,241
- Santa Catarina: 1,320,319
By population proportion:
- Piauí: 27.42%
- Acre: 22.59%
- Mato Grosso: 17.78%
- Alagoas: 17.68%
- Santa Catarina: 16.38%
