# Law No. 7116 of August 29, 1983

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649960](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649960)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7116-of-august-29-1983

## Summary
**Law No. 7.116 of August 29, 1983** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 7.116, de 29 de agosto de 1983*) is a Brazilian statute that ensures the national validity of Identity Cards (Carteiras de Identidade) and regulates their issuance across the country. Promulgated by President João Figueiredo in Brasília, this legal act standardizes civil identification procedures, integrating entities like the Ministry of Finance and the CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) into the regulatory framework.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 7.116, de 29 de agosto de 1983.
- **Date of Promulgation:** August 29, 1983.
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically João Figueiredo.
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (formal written document creating law).
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (applies to National Territory, Federal District, Federative Units, and Federal Territories).
- **Primary Function:** Ensures national validity for Identity Cards and regulates their issuance.
- **Official Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Publication Location:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7116/1983.
- **Identifier:** Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-08-29;7116`.
- **Status:** Public domain (as a government edict).

## FAQs
**What is the main purpose of Law No. 7.116/1983?**
The law's primary objective, as stated in its digest, is to ensure the national validity of Identity Cards (*Carteiras de Identidade*) and to regulate the process of their issuance (*expedição*). It mandates that identification documents be recognized validly across all Brazilian territory.

**Who approved and enacted this law?**
The statute was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated on August 29, 1983, by then-President João Figueiredo.

**Which government bodies are involved under this law?**
The law references several operational and administrative bodies, including the Ministry of Finance (*Ministério da Fazenda*), the Executive Branch, and specific budget management departments (*Orgãos*). It also connects identification processes with the *Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas* (CPF).

**Does this law apply to foreigners?**
Yes, the structured subjects of the law explicitly include "Foreigner" (*Estrangeiro*) and "Foreign Country" (*País Estrangeiro*), indicating that the regulations cover identification procedures for non-citizens within Brazil as well as interactions with foreign documentation.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7.116/1983 is a foundational element of Brazilian civil identification bureaucracy. By establishing "national validity" for Identity Cards, it ensures that a document issued in one Brazilian state is legally recognized in all others, facilitating free movement and bureaucratic transactions across the federation. This statute bridges the gap between state-level public security agencies (who typically issue IDs) and federal fiscal systems (via the CPF reference), creating a unified standard for identifying citizens and residents. As a statute, it serves as the concrete manifestation of legal norms regarding personal identification, enforcing obligations and defining competencies for the government bodies responsible for maintaining civil order.

## Notable For
- **Standardization of ID Cards:** Establishing the legal framework for the *Carteira de Identidade* to possess validity throughout the entire national territory.
- **Integration of Tax and Civil ID:** Early legislative recognition of the *Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas* (CPF) within the context of identity regulation.
- **Military Era Legislation:** Being enacted during the presidency of João Figueiredo, the last president of the Brazilian military dictatorship, reflecting the administrative centralization efforts of that period.
- **Public Accessibility:** Like all statutes, it is notable for its public domain status, ensuring unrestricted access to the legal rules governing citizen identification.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 7.116 is classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law. In the Brazilian legal context, it functions as a "legal norm" and an instance of "legislation." As a statute, it is considered a "rule" and a subclass of "written work" and "document." Being an "edict of government," the text of this law is in the **public domain**, ensuring it is not subject to copyright restrictions, thereby allowing free distribution and access to the legal mandate.

### Enactment and Historical Context
The law was promulgated on **August 29, 1983**, in the capital city of **Brasília**. It was enacted during the presidency of **João Figueiredo**, representing the executive branch's authority to regulate administrative procedures. This period in Brazilian history (1983) fell within the final years of the military regime, just five years before the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution. The law was published in Brazilian Portuguese, the official language of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

### Subject Matter and Provisions
The law's digest defines its core mandate: "ASSEGURA VALIDADE NACIONAL AS CARTEIRAS DE IDENTIDADE, REGULA SUA EXPEDIÇÃO E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS" (Ensures national validity for Identity Cards, regulates their issuance, and provides other measures).

The structured data identifies a wide range of specific subjects and concepts addressed within the statute:

*   **Identity and Documentation:** The law focuses heavily on the **emission** (issuance) and **presentation** of documents. It explicitly links identity verification to the **Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF)**, the individual taxpayer registry ID.
*   **Jurisdictional Scope:** It asserts applicability over the **State Territory**, **Federal District**, **Federative Units** (States), and **Federal Territories**. It also contains provisions regarding **Foreign Countries** and **Foreigners**.
*   **Administrative Structure:** The law defines the **competency** and **obligations** of various bodies. It assigns roles to the **Executive Branch** and specifically mentions the **Ministry of Finance** (*Ministério da Fazenda*) and **Budget Management Departments** (*Orgãos*).
*   **Regulatory Mechanisms:** Key concepts include **consent** (Aprovação), **regulation** (Regulamentação), **decision** (Fixação), and **registration** (Inscrição). It outlines the **process** for identification and the **options** available to beneficiaries.

### Geographic and Institutional Application
As a federal law, its jurisdiction is **Brazil**. However, its specific inclusion of "Federative Unit" and "Federal District" highlights the cooperative federalism required for civil identification, where the Union sets general rules (validity) but states often execute the issuance. The involvement of the Ministry of Finance suggests a fiscal dimension to the identity regulations, likely related to the integration of the ID card with tax registration numbers (CPF).

### Access and Identifiers
The official text of Law No. 7.116 is accessible via the Planalto Palace website (`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7116.htm`) and is indexed under the Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-08-29;7116`. It is cited legally as **Lei nº 7116/1983** and is monitored by the "WikiProject Brazilian Laws" on Wikimedia projects.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1983-08-29;7116)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7116&ano=1983&data=29/08/1983&ato=6c2k3a610dBpWT16e)
3. LexML Brasil