The state of Goiás signed a technical-cooperation agreement with Receita Federal on 9 April to simplify issuance of the Cadastro de Pessoa Física (CPF) for migrants, refugees and stateless persons living in the region. The CPF is Brazil’s universal tax-payer number and a prerequisite for opening bank accounts, signing employment contracts, enrolling in schools and accessing public services. Under the accord, state social-assistance centres will host Receita-accredited kiosks where foreign nationals can request the document without travelling to federal offices. Social workers will help applicants compile the required identity papers—often a hurdle for those whose passports or birth certificates were lost in transit—and transmit the file electronically for same-day validation. Human-rights NGOs estimate that more than 18,000 Venezuelans, Haitians and Senegalese currently reside in Goiás, many working in agriculture and logistics. Lack of a CPF relegates them to the informal economy, exposing both workers and employers to legal risk. The new procedure is expected to cut processing time from three weeks to 48 hours. For multinational companies with facilities in Anápolis and Aparecida de Goiânia, the initiative offers a larger pool of documented labour and reduces compliance headaches around payroll taxes and social-security registration.
Source: Goiás State Government
