Brazil accepts CIN biometric IDs for entry to Argentina starting in Aug

Brazil's CIN joins the list of accepted border IDs

Brazil and seven other South American countries signed an agreement May 29 recognizing the Carteira de Identidade Nacional (CIN) as a valid travel document across the bloc, with border use expected to begin around August. The deal covers entry to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

The CIN is Brazil's new biometric ID, built around the CPF as the single national identifier. It was signed in at a Mercosur justice and interior ministers' meeting in Paraguay, formally adding the card to the list of Brazilian IDs accepted at regional borders alongside the older state-issued RG. No country has confirmed a precise start date, so travelers should treat August as an indicative window and check carrier and migration guidance close to departure.

Who actually benefits at the Argentine border

The change matters for Brazilian citizens. Brazilians can already enter Argentina as tourists with a physical RG or passport and the CIN simply becomes a third accepted option for short stays of up to 90 days. Work, study and residence still require a passport and the relevant visa.

Foreign expats and digital nomads living in Brazil get nothing new here. The CIN is a Brazilian civil ID, so a US, EU or other third-country passport holder will still need that passport and any applicable visa to cross into Argentina. Foreign residents in Brazil typically carry the CRNM migration card, which is unaffected by the agreement.

What Brazilian travelers should line up

The physical card is what counts at the border. The digital CIN in the Gov.br app is widely accepted inside Brazil but doesn't replace the physical document for international travel and the photo must clearly identify the holder.

First issuance of the CIN is free through state identification agencies and the old RG remains valid nationally until 2032. Argentina also now treats travel health insurance with medical and repatriation coverage as mandatory for tourists under Decree Law 2025, regardless of which ID is presented at entry.

Read our full Argentina guide for the complete picture or browse more nomad news.