on this page, the receita federal publishes the detailed instructions and application form in English on how to obtain a cpf.

this form can be filled in from anywhere in the world so that a cpf can be obtained before getting to brazil.

if applying in person, the procedure requires taking a passport to a post office (correios) where a fee is paid and a form is filled in with local address, mother's maiden name, and other information.

the correios will emit a yellow receipt that can be taken to a receita federal office (the government body responsible for tax collection) along with the passport, where a cpf number will be emitted on the same day.