After your arrival

Flights to Porto Alegre land at Salgado Filho International Airport (POA), located within the city. The Airport was recently expanded and has a single terminal. 

To get to your accommodation, there are several forms of transportation available at the airport: transportation apps (Uber and 99POP), taxi, bus and airtrain/train.

RNM (Registro Nacional Migratório - National Migratory Registration) 

Every foreigner with a temporary visa must apply, within 90 days after his/her arrival, for a National Migratory Registration (RNM) at the Federal Police. This will be the primary document for your stay in the country. 

The following documents are required to apply for the registration:  

  • Application form, duly completed and signed; 
  • One 3x4 photo, recent, colored and on a white background; 
  • Statement of electronic address and other means of contact; 
  • Passport; 
  • Original Visa Application Form; 
  • Proof of payment of the RNM fee, through Guia de Recolhimento da União (GRU - see below). 

The GRU form must be generated through this website, entering the following data: 

  • Personal data; 
  • In the “Código Receita STN” field, enter 140120, regarding the “0124 - Emissão de Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório” option, and the amount is R$ 204,77.
  • The "Unidade arrecadadora" must be: Superintendência Regional do Rio Grande do Sul - Porto Alegre - SR/RS.

Students who are not financially able to pay the amount of the fee can request its exemption by filling out a declaration of economic insufficiency. 

CAUTION: It is important to schedule a visit to the Federal Police in advance. To do so, once you have all the documents, book an appointment through the Federal Police website within 90 days after your arrival. If there are no vacancies available in this period, you will need to go to the Federal Police without an appointment. In any case, it is important to take all the necessary documents with you. 

For additional information, visit the Federal Police website.

Cadastro de Pessoa Física (CPF)

If you arrive in Brazil without a CPF, you can issue it through the Receita Federal website. 

After filling out the form, you will have 90 days to go to the Receita Federal Service Post in Porto Alegre in possession of the Service Protocol (Protocolo de Atendimento) and present the requested documents.

Bank Account

Bank accounts can be opened at Banco do Brasil with the following documents: 

  • Identification Document (RNM);  
  • CPF;  
  • Declaration of enrollment at UFCSPA;  
  • Proof of residence. 

The nearest Banco do Brasil bank branch (1899 Banco do Brasil - UFRGS) is used to  serving foreigners.

Public Transportation

As an international college student, you are entitled to have a bus card, called TRI, for your locomotion within Porto Alegre. To get one, you need to go to one of the locations described below with your CPF, Identification Document (RNM or passport) and proof of residence: 

  • TRI and TEU Unified Store, at Largo Visconde do Cairú, n°12 (ground floor) – Downtown Porto Alegre, from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm. 
  • ATP, at Av. Protásio Alves, 3885 – Petrópolis, from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5:30 pm. 
  • Integrated Store at Terminal Triângulo, Av. Assis Brasil – Terminal Triângulo, from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5:30 pm. 

You can get your card on the same day. At first, you must charge it with R$ 20,00, minimum. Additional recharges can be made through this website, the TRI app (available on the Play Store) or at the locations referred above. 

Maps of bus routes within the city of Porto Alegre can be consulted here or through the CittaMobi app. The Moovit app also shows you different routes you can take to get to your desired destination.

Student Document

As an international university student, you are also entitled to the Student Document, with which you can be granted a 50% discount in tickets for concerts, cultural events, games, movies and theatre. You can request it through this website or in person at AERGS (rua Uruguai, 35, room 146, Historic District, phone: 51 30264978). The following documents are necessary: 

  • 3x4 photo; 
  • Passport; 
  • CPF; 
  • Certificate of enrollment at UFCSPA; 
  • R$ 35,00 fee plus shipping (if requested through the website).