To maintain cell phone usage while traveling in Brazil, a visitor needs to ensure they have an unlocked GSM phone compatible with Brazilian networks. Obtaining a local SIM card requires proof of identity and residence, though it is easier to have a friend or host family assist. Visitors have a choice between pay-as-you-go or monthly plans, with the former best for short trips due to fewer document requirements. Reloading credit can be done at newspaper stands or pharmacies when funds run low.

1. How-To Maintain Cell Phone Usage in Brazil <br />This guide will explain what is needed in order to successfully travel to Brazil and still maintain cellular telephone usage.<br />The first thing you need to do is check to see if you have a CDMA phone or a GSM phone. Most new phones usually have this printed on the back of the phone. <br />If you have a GSM phone in the US (Usually a T-Mobile phone), you need to make sure it is fully unlocked. You can do this by calling your service provider and having them unlock your phone. If you tell them you are traveling to Brazil they can make the necessary adjustment easily.<br />The next step is a little bit more tricky and complicated. First you have to make sure that your GSM phone is using the same frequency of SIM card that you are trying to use in Brazil(either the 800MHz or 1900MHz). Getting a SIM card is difficult in Brazil and you need many different forms of identification to obtain one. The forms of identification that is required to obtain a cell phone in Brazil are:<br />Proof of Identity: Brazilian nation ID (RG); Brazilian Driving License; Professional License doctor’s license etc…<br />Individual taxpayer’s number (CPF)<br />Proof of Residence: Utility bill relating to the area in which the cell phone will be used<br />Users of cell phones can either get a “pay-as-you-go” plan(which is best used for international travelers not staying long) or “pay-monthly”. The list of required documents are much longer for the “pay-monthly” option so if you are just staying for a few weeks the “pay-as-you-go” plan would be best. If you wish to stay for a month or longer and wish to get the “pay-monthly” plan the list of required documents are as follows:<br />Proof of Identity: Brazilian nation ID (RG); Brazilian Driving License; Professional License doctor’s license etc…<br />Individual taxpayer’s number (CPF)<br />Proof of Residence: Utility bill relating to the area in which the cell phone will be used<br />Proof of payment of their current property tax<br />Copy of lease contract showing proof of residence for at least 12 months(for individuals renting property)<br />Vehicle ownership and Licensing documents<br />Pay slip and/or pension plan for the current month<br />Current cable TV bill<br />Letter of confirmation of current residence from a hotel or flat service (for applicants without a permanent housing location)<br />It is easier to just have a friend/relative or someone who is already a resident in the country get the SIM card/Cell phone for you. A friend of mine who is studying abroad in Brazil at the moment had the host family that she is living with get her a phone so that she wouldn’t have to go through all of the logistics involved with trying to acquire all of the documentation needed to get a phone. It is also good to have a friend buy your GSM enabled phone in the country because you wouldn’t have to worry about international roaming costs which could get costly if you were always on your phone. <br />Once you are in Brazil you will have four different carries to choose from. The four big names in Brazil are TIM, Claro, Tivo, and Oi. Each of these carriers has different local calling rates and different international rates. Also they vary in cost between each other. Calling from like carriers is cheaper than calling from one carrier to another. <br />While you are in Brazil, when you run out of credits on your phone you need to take it back to a recharge station where you can recharge your phone. This past week TIM’s recharge stations went off-line. If this happens it can be very difficult to find a place to recharge your phone with more credits. Recharge stations can be found in Bancas de jornal(which are little permanent newspaper stands that sell magazines, candy, snacks, and ice cream). The most reliable place to recharge your credit would be pharmacies, which are located every few blocks.<br />You now have the information needed to travel to Brazil and get a GSM enabled phone. I would not advise someone to bring their own phone from home because that is a very expensive thing to do. It would be cheaper in my opinion to either rent a phone in Brazil or have a friend buy you one when you get there.<br />