INSS Biometrics in 2026: The New Requirement and How to Prepare

This page is a translation of the original Portuguese text, provided for convenience. It deals with Brazilian law. If there is any discrepancy, the Portuguese version prevails. Read the original in Portuguese

INSS (Brazil’s National Social Security Institute) now requires biometric data to validate beneficiaries’ records, so it is essential to show up before the deadline to avoid having your benefit blocked.

What the INSS Biometrics Requirement Is

INSS biometrics is a procedure that identifies the beneficiary by collecting fingerprints and a facial photograph. The requirement is part of the record-update and proof-of-life process provided for in Article 69 of Law No. 8.212/1991 and regulated by DIRBEN/INSS Ordinance No. 1.112/2022. Its purpose is to combat fraud in the payment of social security and assistance benefits, ensuring that only the rightful holders continue to receive payments.

In 2026, the INSS stepped up its summonses to beneficiaries for biometric registration, especially those whose records have not been updated in the past five years. Depending on the type of summons you receive, the procedure must be completed at an INSS office or at a partner bank.

Who Must Do It and What the Deadline Is

The INSS sends each beneficiary an individual summons for biometrics, with a set deadline to appear. The notice arrives by mail, through the Meu INSS app, as a message on your payment statement, or through the bank where you receive your benefit.

The biometrics summons is individual, and the beneficiary has 30 to 90 days to appear before the benefit is blocked.

Summoned beneficiaries generally have 30 to 90 days to complete the procedure. If you do not appear within the deadline, your benefit may be suspended as a precaution until you comply. A suspension is not a cancellation: once you complete the biometrics, payments resume and the withheld amounts are released retroactively.

The following groups should be especially alert:

• Retirees and pensioners who have not completed a recent proof of life
• BPC/LOAS (Continuous Cash Benefit program for low-income seniors and people with disabilities) beneficiaries summoned for a records review
• Insured persons whose INSS records are out of date
• Legal representatives of minor or legally incapacitated beneficiaries

How to Prepare and Where to Go

To complete the biometrics, the beneficiary must go to the location indicated in the summons with a photo ID (RG national ID card, CNH driver’s license, or work card), a CPF (taxpayer ID number), and the benefit number. If you are a legal representative, you must also present a public power of attorney or a court guardianship or conservatorship document.

You can complete the procedure at Social Security service offices (APS) by booking an appointment through Meu INSS or the 135 hotline, or directly at partner bank branches (Banco do Brasil, Caixa Econômica Federal, Itaú, Bradesco, and Santander), as indicated in the summons. At bank branches, an appointment is normally not required.

One essential precaution is to keep your address up to date in the INSS records. The biometrics summons is sent to your registered address, and many beneficiaries miss the deadline simply because they never received the letter. You can update your address through Meu INSS, the 135 hotline, or in person at an INSS office.

After completing the biometrics, keep your proof of service. This document shows that you completed the procedure within the deadline, and you may need it if there are any inconsistencies in the INSS system.

What to Do If Your Benefit Is Blocked

If your benefit was suspended for lack of biometrics, the first step is to complete the procedure as soon as possible. Once you comply, the INSS resumes payment and releases the withheld amounts within 45 days. If the benefit is not unblocked within that time, you should file a complaint through Meu INSS or the 135 hotline.

If you are bedridden, hospitalized, or have limited mobility, you can request a home visit or appoint an attorney-in-fact to complete the biometrics on your behalf. The power of attorney must be a public one, executed at a notary office (cartório), with specific powers for this purpose.

Proof of Life and Biometrics: Differences and How They Work Together

Many beneficiaries confuse biometrics with proof of life, but they are separate procedures that can occur independently. Proof of life is the periodic confirmation that the beneficiary is alive. It can be done through facial biometrics in the Gov.br app, by appearing at the bank that pays your benefit, or through cross-checking of government databases (such as medical appointments in the SUS, Brazil’s public health system, or voting in elections).

The INSS biometrics summons is an additional record-updating measure aimed at validating the beneficiary’s identity through fingerprints and a photograph. Even if your proof of life is up to date, you may still be summoned for biometrics if your records are outdated or if you have not completed the procedure in recent years.

Since 2023, the INSS has been cross-checking databases to carry out proof of life automatically. That practice continues in 2026 and makes an in-person visit unnecessary in most cases. However, registration biometrics may still be required as a complementary security measure, especially for higher-value benefits or those with a history of irregularities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has biometrics replaced the INSS proof of life?

No, the two procedures complement each other. Proof of life is the periodic confirmation that the beneficiary is alive, and it can be done through facial biometrics in the Gov.br app, at the bank that pays your benefit, or in person. The biometrics summons is an additional record-updating procedure that can be required independently of your regular proof of life.

Do beneficiaries who live abroad have to complete biometrics?

Yes. Beneficiaries living abroad must complete biometrics and proof of life at Brazilian consulates or embassies in the country where they reside, under an agreement between the INSS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The local consulate communicates the deadlines and procedures.

What happens if I miss the deadline in the biometrics summons?

Your benefit is suspended as a precaution until you comply. There is no automatic cancellation. You simply need to go to an INSS office or the bank to complete the procedure, and payment will resume with the withheld amounts released retroactively. The sooner you comply, the sooner your payments return to normal.

As informações deste artigo são de caráter informativo e não substituem consulta jurídica individualizada. Cada caso possui particularidades que exigem análise específica.