ID and Cash Limits for Buying Silver in Brazil
Brazil has no legal cap on paying cash for silver or jewellery. Under Coaf rules, which cover all precious metals, a jeweller or dealer records every sale and must take your full details (name, CPF, ID document) on operations of R$10,000 or more, and must report to Coaf any client's cash payments of R$30,000 or more within six months, with no suspicion needed.
Facts checked 31 October 2026 · Not financial, legal or tax advice
At a glance
| Situation | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buying | Full registration (name, CPF, ID, PEP status) from R$10,000. | The dealer must keep a record of every operation, with value, date and payment method. |
| Paying cash | No legal cap. | Cash of R$30,000 or more, counted over six months, is reported automatically. |
| Selling | Same Coaf rules apply to dealers buying silver. | Payment in cash is allowed; large amounts often go by transfer or Pix. |
| Reported | Cash of R$30,000+ to Coaf; cash received of R$30,000+ in a month to the Receita (DME). | Coaf adds up a client's cash over 6 months, so splitting payments doesn't avoid it. |
The rules in detail
- Coaf Resolution 23/2012 covers anyone selling jewellery, precious stones or precious metals, including at auction and goods pledged as collateral.
- Records: every operation is recorded (client, goods, value, date, payment method). For operations of R$10,000 or more the dealer keeps a full client file: name, CPF, ID document and whether you're a politically exposed person.
- Automatic Coaf report: payments or receipts of R$30,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent in foreign currency) by one client, in one operation or several over six months, are reported regardless of suspicion. Suspicious operations are reported at any amount.
- DME: separately, a business or person that receives R$30,000 or more in cash in a month must declare it to the Receita Federal (IN RFB 1,761/2017) by the end of the next month.
When you sell
- A dealer buying your silver applies the same records and the R$30,000 cash report.
- Payment in cash is allowed; large amounts are often paid by transfer or Pix.
Gold and travel
- Gold and other precious metals fall under the same Coaf resolution. The pending gold-market bill (PL 3025/2023) covers newly mined gold, not silver.
- Travel: cash over US$10,000 (or the equivalent) must be declared when entering or leaving Brazil.
Silver ID and Cash Limits in Brazil: FAQ
Do I need my CPF to buy silver in Brazil?
For silver or jewellery of R$10,000 or more, the jeweller must register your name, CPF and ID document under Coaf rules. Below that, the sale is still recorded, but a full client file isn't required.
Is there a cash limit for buying silver in Brazil?
No legal limit. But cash payments of R$30,000 or more, counted over six months, are reported to Coaf automatically, and the seller must also declare cash of R$30,000 or more received in a month to the Receita Federal.
Does Brazil's new gold law cover silver?
No. PL 3025/2023, which passed the Chamber of Deputies in April 2026 and was in the Senate as of October 2026, deals with mined gold and its first sale.
Sources (4)
General information for individuals buying or selling silver, checked October 2026. Rules change and dealers may ask for more than the legal minimum; check with the dealer or the regulator. Not legal advice.