INSS mandates biometric registration and National ID card for benefits starting 2025

Brazil's National Social Security Institute (INSS) has announced a phased implementation of biometric registration requirements and the Carteira de Identidade Nacional (CIN, National ID card) for all social security and welfare benefits. Beginning in November 2025, new applicants for retirement pensions, auxilliary benefits, and the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC/Loas) must provide proof of biometric registration from official government databases, which include the CIN, voter registration card, National Driver's License (CNH), or passport.

The measure, published in the Official Gazette of the Union on June 22, 2026, represents an expansion of biometric requirements that have been gradually implemented since September 2024. Citizens who already possess biometric data in any official system need not register again. The government reports that over 150 million Brazilians already have biometric records on file with federal agencies. For those without existing biometric registration, the CIN will become the primary national identification reference, with a deadline of January 2027 to obtain it. Those who already possess biometric data from other sources will have until January 2028 to transition to the CIN for benefit applications.

The transition follows a structured timeline: new benefit requests from November 2025 onwards require biometric verification; the government will provide biometric verification services to social security agencies by December 31, 2026; and biometric records from election authorities, driver's licenses, and passports remain valid until December 31, 2027, provided they were collected by December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2028, the CIN will become the exclusive valid document for all benefit requests and maintenance. The INSS has stated that no automatic benefit suspensions will occur during this transition period, with individual notifications sent to beneficiaries to allow time for adaptation.

Certain populations are exempt from the biometric requirement, including individuals over 80 years old, those with medical attestation of mobility difficulties, residents in remote or hard-to-access areas, migrants, refugees and stateless persons, overseas residents, and those applying for maternity allowance, temporary disability benefits, or survivor pensions. The policy aims to enhance security and prevent fraud in Brazil's social security system. Citizens can verify their biometric status through official government platforms including Gov.br, the Electoral Justice system, and state vehicle licensing agencies (Detrans).