What Is a CNPJ and How Do I Get One?
A CNPJ is a company's 14-digit tax ID in Brazil, issued by the Receita Federal at the end of registration. See what it is for and how to get one.
A CNPJ is a company’s 14-digit tax ID in Brazil, issued by the Receita Federal only after registration is complete — it is not something you request on its own, but the number a company receives at the end of the process. Getting one means going through REDESIM: a viability check, the federal entry document (DBE), filing the incorporation act at the Junta Comercial, and the Receita Federal’s MAT step, where the tax regime is set. Only after the MAT is the CNPJ released.
What is a CNPJ?
The Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica, a 14-digit tax ID issued by the Receita Federal that identifies a company for invoicing, hiring, paying taxes and opening a bank account. It is the business equivalent of an individual’s CPF, and every company has one, from a MEI up to an S.A.
How do I get a CNPJ?
By registering the company through REDESIM: a viability check on the intended activity and address, the DBE (federal entry document), the articles of association filed at the Junta Comercial, and the Receita Federal’s MAT step, which sets the tax regime before the CNPJ is confirmed. In practice, an accountant or an online accounting service files the whole sequence remotely.
Can I get a CNPJ without a CPF?
No. Every partner in the company needs a CPF first — see the full answer on whether a CPF is required before a CNPJ for what a non-resident partner needs instead of a Brazilian CPF.
How long does it take to get a CNPJ?
On average 30 to 48 days for a limited company, depending on the state, counting from the viability check through the Junta Comercial registration and the MAT step. MEI registration is faster, usually completed the same day on the Portal do Empreendedor.
Does getting a CNPJ cost money?
Government fees (Junta Comercial registration, digital certificate when required) apply to every company except the MEI, which is free. Whether there is an additional fee for the service of filing the registration depends on who conducts it — a traditional accounting firm typically charges an opening fee, while many online accounting services include it in the monthly plan at no extra charge.
Is the CNPJ the same for every branch of a company?
No. The first eight digits (the root) are shared across a company’s units, but each branch carries its own four-digit branch order — 0001 for the head office (matriz) and 0002 onward for branches (filiais) — so each unit has its own complete 14-digit CNPJ.