e-MEI A3 — 2 years | In-Person Issuance

e-MEI A3 with identity verification completed in person. Token not included: the MEI (Brazilian individual microentrepreneur) must have a compatible cryptographic device. Valid for 2 years, with the same legal validity as the e-CNPJ A3, at a price R$ 30 lower. Ideal for microentrepreneurs who already have a token and prefer face-to-face verification.

Accepted documents (in-person issuance): a valid official photo ID of the MEI with public faith (RG (Brazilian national ID card), CPF (Brazilian individual taxpayer ID), professional council ID card, carteira de trabalho (Brazilian employment record booklet) or passport) + CCMEI (MEI registration certificate) or a Rede SIM (Brazilian business registration network) document. Service location: Rua da Glória, 108, Liberdade, São Paulo/SP.

What it is for

• Issuing NFS-e (Brazilian electronic service invoice) with any city hall
• Issuing NF-e (Brazilian electronic invoice, model 55) for retail MEIs (Brazilian individual microentrepreneurs)
• Access to the Portal do Empreendedor, the Brazilian government portal for microentrepreneurs (gov.br/empresas)
• Filing the DASN-SIMEI (annual tax return for MEIs under Simples Nacional, the Brazilian simplified tax regime)
• Access to the corporate e-CAC (Receita Federal's online service portal) to check outstanding issues and regularizations
• Setting up debt installment plans on the Receita Federal (Brazilian federal tax authority) portal
• Signing legally valid service agreements
• Enrollment in Simples Nacional (Brazilian simplified tax regime) and Simei (the tax system for MEIs)
• Issuing the CCMEI (Brazilian individual microentrepreneur registration certificate) and updating registration data online
• Access to Caixa's Conectividade Social system (for FGTS, the Brazilian employee severance fund, if you have employees)
• Participation in simplified public tenders
• Signing digital sales proposals and quotes
• Communicating with the Junta Comercial (Brazilian state business registry) to close or amend the MEI (Brazilian individual microentrepreneur registration)

Frequently asked questions

Why does an MEI (Brazilian individual microentrepreneur) need a digital certificate?

To issue NF-e (Brazilian electronic invoice) and NFS-e (Brazilian electronic service invoice) properly, access the Portal do Empreendedor (Brazilian government portal for microentrepreneurs), file the DASN-SIMEI (annual MEI tax return) and access Receita Federal (Brazilian federal tax authority) tax systems. It is also mandatory in some municipalities for issuing NFS-e.

What is the difference between the e-MEI and a regular e-CNPJ?

Technically, they are the same certificate: both are ICP-Brasil (Brazilian public key infrastructure) certificates with full legal validity. The difference is commercial: the e-MEI costs R$ 30 less and comes with priority service for microentrepreneurs, recognizing their tighter financial reality.

Can I use the e-MEI for everything the e-CNPJ does?

Yes. Technically they are identical: same issuance by the CA (Certificate Authority), same ICP-Brasil (Brazilian public key infrastructure) chain, same legal validity. The only distinction is the target audience and price.

Does an MEI (Brazilian individual microentrepreneur) need an A1 or an A3?

For most MEIs (Brazilian individual microentrepreneurs), the A1 (1 year, stored as a file) is sufficient and more affordable. The A3 (2 years, on a token) is recommended for those who will use the certificate on more than one computer or need extra security.