How to get a Brazilian phone number from abroad

Short answer: To get a Brazilian number from outside Brazil, order a real +55 number online. A mobile number has a two-digit area code plus nine digits starting with 9, ideal for SMS and WhatsApp; local Sao Paulo and toll-free numbers suit business lines. Sign-up takes an email address and payment is in USDT or USDC.

WhatsApp is how much of Brazil talks, buys and gets support, so a +55 number is close to essential for anyone selling to or staying in touch with Brazilians. Brazilian numbers have a few quirks, notably the ninth digit, which this guide explains.

Why a +55 number matters

  • Reaching Brazilian customers, who often prefer to message a local number
  • Receiving verification codes from Brazilian apps, marketplaces and fintech services
  • Keeping a Brazilian number while living or working abroad
  • Offering a 0800 line that Brazilian callers can use free
  • Running WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business on a number you control

Options for a Brazilian number

Brazilian prepaid chips are sold widely inside the country, and a chip sitting abroad depends on roaming. An online number avoids the physical chip entirely.

OptionMust be in Brazil?Works from abroadSuited to
Brazilian prepaid chipUsually, to buy and rechargeOnly through roamingVisits and residents
Brazilian post-paid planYes, with local documentsRoaming chargesResidents
ZuteSIP +55 numberNo, email sign-upDashboard, SIP app, web dialer, forwardingSellers, remote teams, Brazilians abroad

Brazilian number format and the ninth digit

Brazil's country code is +55. Every regular number starts with a two-digit area code (DDD), such as 11 for Sao Paulo and 21 for Rio de Janeiro. Landlines then have eight digits, and mobiles have nine digits beginning with 9.

That ninth digit was added by Anatel region by region, and the national rollout finished in November 2016. A Sao Paulo mobile therefore looks like (11) 91234-5678, or +55 11 91234-5678 from abroad: eleven digits after +55. The ZuteSIP Brazil page lists 11 digits for mobile, 10 for local and 9 for toll-free, with examples such as +55 XX 97878-86XX.

Inside Brazil, long-distance calls between area codes add a 0 and a carrier selection code before the DDD. That applies to people dialling within Brazil, not to how you store or enter your number, which is always +55, the DDD and the subscriber digits. Toll-free numbers start with 0800.

Mobile, Sao Paulo local or 0800

For WhatsApp-heavy use, a mobile number is the obvious pick. A Sao Paulo local number gives a business presence in the country's largest city, and an 0800 number removes the cost for people calling you. Each costs the same.

TypeFormat after +55Typical use
MobileDDD + 9 digits starting with 9 (11 digits)WhatsApp, SMS codes, customer chat
Local (Sao Paulo identity)11 + 8 digits (10 digits)Office line for Brazilian clients
Toll-free800 range (9 digits)Support that is free for callers in Brazil

How to set up a Brazilian number

  1. Open the Brazil page and choose a mobile, local or toll-free +55 number from the live inventory.
  2. Create an account with your email address; you do not need a CPF, Brazilian address or chip to sign up.
  3. Top up with USDT or USDC on Tron, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Base or Solana and complete the order.
  4. When the number activates, usually within minutes, the dashboard shows it in full with its SIP credentials.
  5. Answer calls in the browser dialer or a SIP app, forward them to your own phone, and read texts in the SMS inbox.
  6. Keep auto-renew enabled so the number stays yours.

Using a +55 number for WhatsApp

In WhatsApp choose Brazil (+55), then type the DDD and the nine-digit mobile number, without a 0 or carrier code. If the SMS does not come, wait for the timer and request a call instead.

Brazilian numbers work with WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, Telegram, Google, Facebook and thousands of other services. If one does not accept your number, the 7-day replacement guarantee gives you another +55 number free, up to two times.

Picking the right +55 number for your business

If most of your customers are in Sao Paulo or the surrounding region, a local number with DDD 11 feels familiar to them. If they are spread across Brazil, a mobile number used mainly for WhatsApp avoids the question of region, and an 0800 line takes the cost of calling away for everyone.

Many sellers combine two numbers: a mobile number for WhatsApp Business and SMS, and a local or toll-free number for voice support, both managed in one dashboard. Calls can ring in the web dialer, in a SIP app on your phone, or be forwarded to any number, and calls to customers can show your Brazilian number as caller ID.

Test the number right after activation by sending yourself a text and making a call, before you share it with customers.

Price and inclusions

Brazilian numbers are priced from $1.80 per month, billed yearly ($21.60 per year), with no setup fee or contract. Other billing options are shown at checkout. You pay in stablecoins, so there is no card or currency conversion step.

  • Unlimited incoming SMS and calls
  • 500 outgoing SMS and 1,000 outgoing minutes per month with your +55 caller ID
  • SIP credentials for Zoiper, Linphone, 3CX, FreePBX and other SIP software
  • Call forwarding, web dialer, SMS inbox and call logs
  • Refund within 7 days if the number has not been used for any call or SMS

Troubleshooting Brazilian numbers

  • Invalid number error: enter +55, the two-digit DDD and the subscriber digits, with no 0 or carrier code
  • Mobile rejected: check you included the leading 9 of the nine-digit mobile number
  • Code delayed: retry once after the timer, then use the voice-call option
  • Documentation: some regulators require it for certain number types; any requirement is shown before you pay

Included on every plan

  • Unlimited incoming SMS
  • Unlimited incoming calls
  • 500 outgoing SMS per month
  • 1,000 outgoing minutes per month
  • SIP credentials, call forwarding and web dialer
  • Keep your number as long as you want
  • Works with WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, Telegram and thousands more
  • 7-day replacement guarantee — free new number if it doesn't work for you
  • 7-day money-back guarantee if the number is unused

Numbers from $1.80 per month, billed yearly ($21.60 per year). Pay with USDT or USDC.

Frequently asked questions

How many digits is a Brazilian mobile number?

Eleven digits after +55: a two-digit area code plus a nine-digit number that starts with 9.

What is the ninth digit in Brazil?

It is the 9 that Anatel added in front of mobile numbers; the change was completed nationwide in 2016.

Do I need a CPF to get a Brazilian number?

Not to sign up with ZuteSIP, which only needs an email. If any documentation applies to a number type, it is shown before you pay.

What is the area code for Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo city uses DDD 11, and local numbers in the ZuteSIP inventory carry a Sao Paulo identity.

Can I use a +55 number for WhatsApp Business?

Yes. It receives the SMS and calls WhatsApp uses, and a free replacement is available within 7 days if it is not accepted.

Are 0800 numbers free in Brazil?

Yes. 0800 numbers are free for the caller.

How long can I keep the number?

For as long as you want, with yearly auto-renew from your wallet.

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