How to open a CNPJ: complete step-by-step guide for 2026

Opening a CNPJ (Brazil's federal company registration number) is the first step to formalizing a business in Brazil. The process varies by company type — it can be instant for a MEI (individual micro-entrepreneur) or take up to 15 business days for a partnership. In this guide, we explain step by step how to open each type of CNPJ in 2026, which documents you need, how much it costs, and what to do after registration.

Who can open a CNPJ?

Practically anyone can open a CNPJ in Brazil, as long as they meet the legal requirements:

• Individuals over 18: any Brazilian or permanent resident with a valid CPF (individual taxpayer number) can open a company
• Minors aged 16 to 17: can be partners if legally emancipated, or with authorization from their legal guardians, provided the share capital is fully paid in
• Foreigners: can be partners in Brazilian companies, but need a CPF, a permanent visa, or a residence permit. To act as a company officer, a foreigner must reside in Brazil
• Public servants: can hold equity (without management duties) in most cases, but cannot be a MEI or a sole proprietor, depending on the rules of each government body

Required documents

Documents vary by company type, but in general you will need:

Step 1: choose the company type

First of all, you need to decide which company type fits your profile. The most common options are:

Use Inddex to research companies in the same line of business and see which company type is most common in your industry:

Step 2: define the economic activity (CNAE)

The CNAE (Brazil's national classification of economic activities) officially defines what your company does. This choice directly affects taxation, eligibility for the Simples Nacional (the simplified tax regime), and whether you can be a MEI. You can register one primary CNAE and as many secondary CNAEs as you want.

Tip: search Inddex for companies similar to yours to see which CNAEs they use. It helps you choose correctly.

Step by step: registering as a MEI

The MEI (Microempreendedor Individual) is the simplest and fastest way to formalize a business. The process is 100% online and free:

1. Access the Portal do Empreendedor (gov.br/mei) and sign in with your Gov.br account (silver or gold level)
2. Fill in your personal details: full name, CPF, date of birth, phone, and email
3. Provide the business address: it can be your home address if the activity allows it
4. Choose the activities (CNAEs): one primary and up to 15 secondary, from those allowed for MEI
5. Confirm the details and issue the CCMEI: the MEI registration certificate is generated instantly, with your new CNPJ

Step by step: registering as an ME, SLU, or LTDA

For companies that do not qualify as MEI, the process involves more steps and usually requires the help of an accountant:

1. Name availability check: verify that the desired business name is available at the Junta Comercial (the state board of trade) of your state
2. Drafting the articles of association: the document that defines the company name, address, activities, share capital, equity distribution, and management rules. For sole proprietors, it is the entrepreneur registration request
3. Filing with the Junta Comercial: submit the articles of association (or the request) to your state's Junta Comercial. Many states already support a fully digital process via Redesim (the national business registration network)
4. Obtaining the CNPJ: after the filing with the Junta, the CNPJ is issued automatically by the Receita Federal, Brazil's federal tax authority (integrated via Redesim in most states)
5. State and/or municipal tax registration: required depending on the activity (ICMS for trade/industry, ISS for services)
6. Operating license (alvará): issued by the city government to authorize operation at the registered address

How much does it cost to open a CNPJ?

How long does it take?

The time to open depends on the company type and the state:

• MEI: instant (minutes). The CNPJ is generated online as soon as you complete the registration
• ME, SLU, and LTDA via Redesim: 2 to 5 business days in states with the integrated digital process (São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, among others)
• ME, SLU, and LTDA in states without Redesim: 5 to 15 business days, possibly more if corrections are requested

What to do after opening your CNPJ

Getting the CNPJ is just the beginning. After registration, you need to:

• Get the state tax registration: mandatory for companies that sell goods (ICMS, the state tax on goods). Done at the state treasury office
• Get the municipal tax registration: mandatory for service providers (ISS, the municipal service tax). Done at the city government
• Request the operating license: the city permit to operate at the registered address
• Get a digital certificate: required to issue electronic invoices (notas fiscais) and access Receita Federal systems
• Open a business bank account: bring the CNPJ, the articles of association, and the partners' documents to the bank
• Choose the tax regime: Simples Nacional, Lucro Presumido, or Lucro Real (with guidance from your accountant)

How to look up your CNPJ after registration

Once registered, your CNPJ becomes available for public lookup. You can check that all the data is correct on Inddex:

The lookup shows the company name, address, CNAE, registration status, ownership structure, and other registered data. Learn more about the available information in the article What is a CNPJ.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a CNPJ while formally employed?

Yes. There is no legal restriction on having a CNPJ while working under a formal employment contract (the CLT regime). However, check your employment agreement — some companies have non-compete clauses. For MEI, the only restriction is that federal public servants cannot register.

How much does it cost to maintain a CNPJ per month?

For a MEI, the fixed monthly cost is approximately R$ 82 to R$ 87 (the DAS-MEI in 2026, calculated as 5% of the R$ 1,621 minimum wage), regardless of revenue. For other company types, costs include accountant fees (R$ 200 to R$ 800/month), taxes based on revenue and tax regime, plus municipal fees such as the TLF (operating license fee).

Can I open a CNPJ at my home address?

Yes, as long as municipal law allows it for the chosen activity. Many service and online commerce activities can operate from a residential address. Industrial or in-person retail activities usually require a commercial address. A MEI can use a home address for most permitted activities.

Can I open more than one CNPJ?

Yes, with restrictions. An individual can be a partner in several companies. The exception is the MEI: each person can hold only one Microempreendedor Individual registration. There are also restrictions on someone who is already a MEI becoming a partner or owner of another company, under the Simples Nacional rules.