# Brazil mandates face biometrics for SIM registration, phased in from 2027

*Regulation · 1 Nov 2026*

Brazil's telecoms regulator Anatel has published a technical standard that makes identity verification with face biometrics mandatory for registering a mobile phone line. The rules were reported on 30 October 2026.

**What the standard requires**

- The check must use either a government-held biometric database or one run by a private authentication provider.
- Presentation attack detection (PAD) must follow ISO/IEC 30107-3 and reach "level 2 or higher".
- Operators must add document authenticity checks and tools that detect digital manipulation. Anatel expects spoofing with photos, videos, masks, deepfakes and synthetic data.
- All verification methods must be documented and auditable.

**Timeline**

- New prepaid activations: by the end of September 2027.
- Postpaid activations and account changes: by the end of 2027.
- Subscribers without biometric verification: suspension notices by 1 November 2028, with 120-day suspensions from January 2029.

Anatel cites more than 280 million active mobile subscriptions in Brazil. Operators must also offer alternative procedures that comply with the LGPD data protection law.

**Why it matters here**

Rules that tie phone numbers to verified identities are tightening in several markets, including the Philippines, South Africa and India. Services that sell physical-SIM or carrier numbers depend on how these checks are applied to new and existing lines.

Source: [Biometric Update, 30 October 2026](https://www.biometricupdate.com/202610/brazil-mandates-sim-registration-with-face-biometrics-level-2-pad)

## Sources

- [Brazil mandates SIM registration with face biometrics, Level 2 PAD (Biometric Update)](https://www.biometricupdate.com/202610/brazil-mandates-sim-registration-with-face-biometrics-level-2-pad)

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Please cite: Source: cryptonumberss.com (cryptovss), as of 1 Nov 2026, https://cryptonumberss.com/en/news/brazil-sim-registration-face-biometrics-anatel/