Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence for a Portuguese One

With many foreign nationals now residing in Portugal, one common question arises: is it mandatory to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Portuguese one? What are the deadlines? How is the exchange carried out? Below, you will find a clear guide addressing the main questions.

Who Can Exchange a Foreign Driving Licence for a Portuguese One?

All citizens are entitled to do so. However, it is not always required by law.

Is It Mandatory to Exchange a Foreign Driving Licence for a Portuguese One?

Not necessarily. It depends on the country where the licence was issued. The IMT (Institute for Mobility and Transport) provides an online simulator that shows the equivalences between foreign driving licence categories and their Portuguese counterparts.

When Is It Not Necessary to Exchange a Foreign Driving Licence?

There are two situations in which a foreign licence remains valid:

• Licences issued by OECD or CPLP countries:
  Holders of licences from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) or Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) may drive in Portugal, even if they are residents, provided that:
  
  • They are under 60 years old
  • They meet the Portuguese minimum age requirement for the categories listed on their licence
  • The licence is still valid
  • No more than 15 years have passed since its issue or last renewal
  • The issuing country is a party to international traffic conventions or has bilateral agreement with Portugal
  • The licence has not been revoked, suspended, expired or cancelled either in Portugal or in the country of origin

Countries included: Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Czech Republic, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Mozambique, New Zealand, São Tomé and Príncipe, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

• Licences issued by EU and EEA countries: 
  Driving in Portugal is permitted with a licence from any EU Member State or EEA country until the document expires. After that, it must be exchanged for a Portuguese licence. However, if you are a national of one of these countries and residing in Portugal, you must register your address with the IMT within 60 days of taking up residence. This registration is free of charge.

When is it mandatory to exchange a foreign driving licence?

There are two cases in which the exchange is compulsory, though the timeframe varies: 

• Licences from countries with a bilateral agreement with Portugal
  If the licence originates from a country outside the EU/EEA, OECD, or CPLP, but the country does have a bilateral agreement with Portugal, the licence is valid for 185 days for non-residents. For residents, the exchange must be completed within two years of obtaining Portuguese residency.
• Licences from countries not party to international road traffic conventions
  Licences issued by countries without bilateral agreements or participation in international road traffic conventions are not valid in Portugal. In these cases, driving is not permitted until the licence is exchanged, which requires a driving test.

How to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Portuguese one

1. Obtain a medical certificate: after a medical evalutation, the doctor will issue and send a certificate directly to the IMT.
2. Submit the exchange application: on the IMT website, complete the application form and submit it together with: 

Additionally, for licences issued by OECD, CPLP, bilateral agreement countries, or non-convention countries, you must also provide:

• A certificate of authenticity from the issuing authority or consular service, indicating the categories obtained by examination and those obtained by equivalence.
• An official translation of the licence by a Portuguese consular service or another EU/EEA consulate, if the licence is not in Portuguese, French, English, or Spanish.

What If You Previously Held a Portuguese Licence?

The procedure is the same. The only difference is that, when filling out the application form, you must indicate “yes” in the section confirming that you previously held a Portuguese driving licence.

What Are the Costs Involved?

The exchange fee is €30. If the licence was issued by a country not party to international road traffic conventions, you must also take a driving test. Preparation lessons for this test are optional but recommended.