SIM Card Guides

How to get a Brazil SIM card in 2025: Guide for travelers

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to keep your phone buzzing with mobile data, from buying a local Brazil SIM card to a quick and easy eSIM!

Planning a trip to Brazil? Whether you’re basking in the sun in Rio, cruising the Amazon, or dancing through São Paulo’s lively streets, staying connected is essential for a worry-free experience.

A local SIM card allows you to make calls, send texts, and access mobile internet just like a local. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top Brazil SIM card options, along with Holafly, an international eSIM with unlimited data in Brazil.

In this article

Can foreigners get a SIM card in Brazil?

Yes, you can get a SIM card in Brazil as a foreigner and save yourself from roaming charges or renting expensive pocket WiFi for Brazil. Major providers such as Vivo, Claro, TIM, and Oi offer prepaid international SIM cards, often with tourist-friendly plans that include mobile internet in Brazil, calls, and texts.

Where to buy a Brazil SIM card

There are several options for buying a SIM card in Brazil, and you can get yours both online and in person. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Buy at the airport when you land: All international airports in Brazil have SIM card shops by local providers, allowing you to buy your tourist SIM card immediately after you land.
Buy in stores throughout Brazil: You’ll be able to buy a SIM card in mobile carrier stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and electronics stores throughout Brazil.
Buy online before you travel: You can buy your Brazil SIM card from an online retailer such as SimCorner or OneSimCard. The cards can be delivered to your home, an airport in Brazil, or your hotel.
Buy an eSIM instead: eSIMs offer a more convenient, traveler-oriented way of staying connected. Forget fiddling around with plastic SIM cards, simply buy your eSIM online, activate within minutes, and enjoy seamless connectivity throughout your stay.

What is the best SIM card for Brazil?

Choosing the best prepaid SIM cards depends on your priorities, whether you need strong coverage, fast data, or a budget-friendly option. Let’s look at the three best SIM card providers.

1. Vivo SIM card for Brazil

Vivo is one of the main mobile operators in Brazil and is a part of the Telefónica group. It offers strong 4G coverage and fast data speeds, especially in major cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

It offers a range of prepaid data plans suitable for tourists:

4 GB of data plus calls and texts within Brazil for BRL 17 (~US$3.05)
5 GB of data plus calls and texts within Brazil for BRL 20 (~$3.60)
6 GB of data, an additional 3 GB for YouTube, plus calls and texts within Brazil for BRL 25 (~$4.50)
10 GB of data, an additional 5 GB for YouTube, plus calls and texts within Brazil for BRL 30 (~$5.40)

Vivo’s online SIM store. Source: Vivo

2. Claro SIM card for Brazil

Claro is one of the biggest telecom companies in Latin America, offering its services in Brazil and most other South American countries.

As it stands, Claro does not specify the prices of its tourist SIMs for Brazil online. However, the prices typically range from around BRL 10 (~$1.80) to around BRL 30 (~$5.40), with data limits ranging from 2 GB to 6 GB for most tourist cards.

These prepaid packages include unlimited calling minutes within Brazil and free access to WhatsApp for messaging. However, there is typically a 10 BRL (~$1.80) fee for SIM card registration at the time of purchase.

Claro’s mobile app for online SIM purchases. Source: Claro

3. TIM SIM card for Brazil

Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) is one of Brazil’s largest mobile operators, part of Telecom Italia, and has been operating in Brazil since the late 1990s.

TIM is known for offering one of the most popular tourist packages in Brazil. While other providers may still sometimes require a CPF, TIM has a tourist-only SIM card Brazil, which only requires a passport as proof of ID.

You can buy the tourist SIM card in any TIM store in Brazil. After that, you’ll be able to find credit top-ups in banks, pharmacies, convenience stores, and supermarkets.

That said, TIM only has one package available: 1.5 GB of data for 7 days for BRL 25 (~$3.80). So you’ll need to keep a close eye on your data usage to avoid running out. If you do use up your allowance, at least you won’t have a hard time finding a place that sells more credits for your TIM SIM card.

The plan doesn’t include calls or texts, but you can get them at an additional price:

BRL 1.00 (~$0.15) per minute of international calls
BRL 0.50 (~$0.08) per minute of local calls
BRL 0.50 (~$0.08) per text

TIM mobile app for SIM plan management Source: TIM

How much does a SIM card cost in Brazil?

Tourist SIM cards in Brazil typically cost between BRL 10 (~$1.80) and BRL 30 (~$5.40), depending on the data allowance. Some providers also charge an extra fee for the SIM card itself, which is typically around BRL 10 (~$1.80).

Tips for buying a SIM card in Brazil

You’ll need to provide your ID or passport when buying a prepaid Brazil SIM card. All local SIMs must be registered under the buyer’s name, and you won’t be able to buy a SIM card without having your passport on hand.

Purchasing a SIM card may require a valid Brazilian Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas number (CPF) – a tax identification number – which can be challenging for tourists to obtain. However, this mostly applies to locals, and you should be able to get a Brazilian SIM card for tourists without a CPF.

If you want to avoid all this hassle, you can get an eSIM from an international eSIM provider instead, as it doesn’t require having a passport or any other document. All you need is a mobile phone and an internat connection.

Stay connected in Brazil with Holafly

Don’t want to spend your holiday looking for physical SIM cards and data top-ups in Brazil? Holafly eSIM for Brazil offers a simple yet reliable way to stay connected without any headaches.

All Holafly eSIM plans include unlimited data, 24/7 customer support, and data sharing, ensuring that you’ll always stay connected. The prices range from $3.21 to $7.90/day, depending on the duration of your plan, and you can choose any number of days from 1 to 90 to match your eSIM with your holiday and avoid paying for any days you don’t need.

Planning to stay for a while longer? Holafly has a monthly eSIM subscription in Holafly Plans. The prices range from $39.90 to $64.90/month (or $1.33 to $2.16/day), which gives you mobile internet in 170+ destinations worldwide. Simply use your eSIM for as long as you need and cancel anytime. No cancellation fees or long-term commitments required.

Planning to visit other countries in South America? Take a look at our SIM card blogs for other countries in the region:

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Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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