I have a driving license issued outside Portugal. What should I do to drive in the country?

Driving licenses issued in EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), are valid in Portugal, and its exchange is voluntary. You may be asked to exchange foreign license by Portuguese, without conducting any test driving test, but will have to apply for exchange 185 days after obtaining residence in national territory. This measure covers: ∙ countries with which Portugal has entered into bilateral agreement or hold a reciprocal basis (Brazil, Switzerland, Morocco, Andorra, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, United Arab Emirates and Angola); ∙ Acceding to the international conventions of Road Transit; ∙ Driving licenses issued by the Portuguese administration in Macao and the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). The exchange of driving license issued by non-adherent foreign countries to International Conventions on Road Transit depends on taking and passing the practical test of driving test, for each category of the driver holds. However, enrollment in driving school is not required, so the driver can self propose for the examination. In order to drive in Portugal, you must obtain international driving license, which can be requested in regional and district offices of the IMT by holders with national driving license or issued by other member states of the European Economic Area. However, keep in mind that there are exceptions. Drivers who establish residence in Portugal have a duty to inform the Regional Service District or the IMT your area, within 60 days under penalty of infringement.
The international driving license provided for in Article 8 of the Legal Empowerment Regulations for Conduct annexed to the Decree-Law No. 37/2014, of March 10, it can be requested in regional and district offices of the IMT by holders with letter national driving or issued by other member states of the European Economic Area.
The license is only valid outside the territory of the country issuing the letter, for a maximum period of one year, if shorter period is not in the driving license that underpinned the respective issuer.
 
Regarding the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), the driving licenses issued are valid in Portugal, and its voluntary exchange.
However, drivers who establish residence in Portugal have a duty to inform the Regional Service District or the IMT your area, within 60 days under penalty of infringement.
 
The exchange of driving license issued by non-adherent foreign countries to International Conventions on Road Traffic depends on taking and passing the practical test of driving test, for each category of the driver holds. However, enrollment in driving school is not required, so the driver can self propose the examination.
The in domestic circulation is not allowed to drivers with bonds issued by non-member countries to these international conventions.
 
You can request the exchange of foreign license by Portuguese, without conducting any test driving test, but will have to apply for exchange 185 days after obtaining residence in national territory.
This measure covers:
  • countries with which Portugal has entered into bilateral agreement or hold a reciprocal basis (Brazil, Switzerland, Morocco, Andorra, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, United Arab Emirates and Angola);
  • Driving licenses issued by the Portuguese administration in Macao and the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR).

Fonte: Ministry of Finance


When is the exchange of driving license is not mandatory? And if so, how can I exchange license?

Driving licenses issued in EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), are valid in Portugal, and its exchange voluntary. However, drivers who establish residence in Portugal have a duty to inform the District or Regional Service IMT his/her area, within 60 days under penalty of infringement.
  • Proof of residence, requesting in the respective Municipality;
  • Model Form 13 IMT;
  • Driving title copy and display the original of this document;
  • Display of identification document.
The requirements are:
  • Minimum legal age required by the Portuguese law for the category that is certified;
  • Physical fitness, mental and psychological;
  • Resident in Portugal;
  • Cannot be serving ban or inhibition of driving or security measure of prohibition and driving license grant;
 
The following documents are required:
  • Delivery of the original valid driving license and final;
  • An updated photograph (passport), colored and of smooth and light background;
  • Copy of personal identification and display of the original;
  • Medical certificate issued by any doctor in the exercise of their profession, for drivers of all categories;
  • Favorable psychological assessment certificate issued by any psychologist in the exercise of their profession, for Group 2 drivers: drivers of vehicles of categories C, CE, D, DE, category C1, C1E, D1 and D1E, as well as drivers of category B and BE driving ambulances, fire vehicles, transport of patients, school transport and light car rental passengers;
  • Model 1 IMT Form.
NOTE: In the IMT service counters and the Citizen Shops where the IMT is present (Braga, Coimbra, Lisbon - Laranjeiras, Setúbal, Viseu and Oporto), the model 1 IMT is not necessary when the delivery of documents is performed by himself and is required when the delivery of documents is performed by third parties.
 
Fee: € 30
 
To carry out the request for license exchange it is necessary the following: 
  • Manually fill in the form Model 1 IMT in duplicate after printing, and sign;
  • Delivering the documents in the regional and district service Service desks of the IMT or Citizen's Shop;
  • The driver will receive a new license at his/her home, by registered mail in hand.

When is conducting a driving test is compulsory? And if so, how can I exchange license?

The exchange of driving license issued by non-adherent foreign countries to International Conventions on Road Transit depends on taking and passing the practical part of a driving test, for each category that the driver holds. However, enrollment in driving school is not required, so the driver can self-propose the examination. The in domestic circulation is not allowed to drivers with licenses issued by non-member countries to these international conventions.
  • To obtain the Portuguese driving license in exchange will have to meet the following requirements: 
  • minimum legal age required by the Portuguese law to a category that is certified;
  • physical and mental fitness;
  • Residing in Portugal;
  • Cannot be serving ban or inhibition of driving or security measure of prohibition and driving license grant.
 
 
The documents to display are the following:
  • Original valid driving license and final;
  • An updated photograph (passport), colored and of smooth and light background;
  • Copy of personal identification and display of the original; 
  • Medical certificate issued by any doctor in the exercise of their profession, for drivers of all categories;
  • favorable psychological assessment certificate issued by any psychologist in the exercise of their profession, for Group 2 drivers: drivers of vehicles of categories C, CE, D, DE, category C1, C1E, D1 and D1E, as well as drivers of category B and BE driving ambulances, fire vehicles, transport of patients, school transport and light car rental passengers.
  • statement issued by the issuing authority or diplomatic or consular authority, attesting the authenticity of the driving title, date of issue and respective validity, categories of vehicles that are enabled with the respective dates and restrictions and that the driving title was obtained upon approval in driving test;
  • translation of the driving title, certified by the consular service of Portugal or of another Member State in the respective country, when its content is not in Portuguese, French, English or Spanish.
 
 
  • Practical test: 30 €;
  • Driving License Issuance: 30 €.
 
 
 
To carry out the request for license exchange and examination scheduling it is necessary the following : 
  • Fill manually after you print in duplicate, and sign the form Model 1 IMT. 
 
NOTE: In the IMT service counters and the Citizen Shops where the IMT is present (Braga, Coimbra, Lisbon - Laranjeiras, Setúbal, Viseu and Oporto), the model 1 IMT is not necessary when the delivery of documents is performed by himself and is required when the delivery of documents is performed by third parties:

 

  • Complete and sign the form Model 2 IMT - application for driving test scheduling;
  • Delivering the documents in Branch Service's regional and district service IMT or Citizen's Shop near you;
  •  The driver will receive a new license at his/her home, by registered mail in hand.

 

 


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Where to obtain more information?
Through the link below, you may access the foreign driving license for Portuguese exchange simulator and gain knowledge of correspondences between the different categories of driving titles.
 

 

 

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Horários:
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Tel: 22 207 38 10
Fax: 22 207 38 17
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Horários
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Sábados das 09:00h às 13:00h
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Transportes:
Metro: Estação “Trindade"
 

Extensão CNAI Faro

Loja do Cidadão
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Largo Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro
8000-151 Faro
Endereço eletrónico: informacoes@acm.gov.pt

Horários:
2ª a 6ª, das 8h30 às 19h00
Sábado das 9h00 às 13h00


Sede do Alto Comissariado para as Migrações- ACM, I.P.
R. Álvaro Coutinho, 14
1150 - 025 Lisboa
Tel: 218106100
Fax: 218106117
acm@acm.gov.pt
 

Atenção Atenção

The information presented is purely indicative, with the main purpose  to provide general guidance without exempt, at any case, the consultation with the competent authorities and the use of professional advice regarding the addressed themes

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