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Converting a Foreign Driving Licence

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Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Driving licences issued by certain OECD and CPLP countries

Who can apply and what are the conditions to be filled?

Driving licences issued by certain OECD and CPLP countries may be recognised for driving in Portugal without the need for exchange, provided that all the legal requirements established by Portuguese law are met.

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

Conditions to be fulfilled

  • You are under 60 years of age;
  • You have reached the minimum legal age in Portugal to drive the vehicle category shown on your foreign driving licence;
  • Your foreign driving licence must be valid;
  • No more than 15 years have passed since the licence was issued or last renewed;
  • The country that issued the licence is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, the 1968 Vienna Convention, or has a bilateral agreement or reciprocity arrangement with Portugal for the recognition of driving licences;
  • The driving licence has not been suspended, revoked, cancelled or restricted either in Portugal or in the issuing country.

Driving licences issued in the European Union or European Economic Area (EEA)

This applies to driving licences issued by EU Member States and EEA countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).

You may drive in Portugal using your valid EU/EEA driving licence until its expiry date.

Depending on your driving licence and your residence status, you may be required to register your residence with the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT) or exchange your driving licence. Where registration or exchange is required, you should contact IMT and schedule an appointment through the official IMT booking platform or using the SigaApp.

You may be asked to provide:

  • Identification document;
  • Proof of residence in Portugal (if applicable);
  • Your EU/EEA driving licence.

If your driving license does not have an expiration date stated on it, you must register your residence. It’s a free service but it must be done within 60 days (about 2 months) after establishing residency in Portugal.

If you choose to exchange your driving licence for a Portuguese one, you must

  1. Obtain a medical examination. The doctor will submit the electronic medical certificate directly to IMT;
  2. Complete the official IMT application form;
  3. Submit the required supporting documents, which may include: Identification document. Proof of residence in Portugal (if applicable), Proof of fiscal residence (if requested), EU/EEA driving licence; Psychological assessment certificate for holders of categories C, D or E (if applicable).

After submitting the request, you must await communication from the services instructing you to visit the IMT service desk.

Driving licences issued by countries with a bilateral agreement or reciprocity arrangement

If your driving licence was issued by a country that has a bilateral agreement or reciprocity arrangement with Portugal, you may drive in Portugal for up to 185 days after your arrival, provided that you have not established residence in Portugal.

Once you become a resident in Portugal, different legal deadlines apply. You should submit your application to exchange your driving licence within the deadlines established by IMT. Failure to do so may affect your right to drive in Portugal and, after the applicable legal period, additional requirements such as a practical driving test may apply.

If you get residency in Portugal, pay attention to the following deadlines applying from the day you obtain you residence permit:

  • Within 90 days, you can still use your foreign driving license, but you must have submitted the exchange request to IMT.
  • After the 90 days and up to 2 years, you can submit the exchange request however, you cannot drive in Portugal with the license.
  • After 2 years, you cannot drive with the license, and to exchange it you must go through a practical driving test.

Documents Required

  1. Electronic medical certificate issued after a medical examination;
  2. Psychological assessment certificate (only for heavy vehicle categories, if applicable);

Go to this form and fill it in with the following documents:

  1. Residence permit or other document proving lawful residence;
  2. Foreign driving licence;
  3. Certificate of authenticity of the driving licence issued by the competent authority or consular service, confirming the categories obtained and the examinations completed;
  4. Certified translation of the driving licence if it is not written in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish.

Once the application has been submitted, you must wait for IMT to provide further instructions.

Driving licences issued by countries that are not covered by the applicable conventions or agreements

Driving licences issued by countries that are not recognised under the applicable international conventions or agreements are not valid for driving in Portugal after establishing residence.

Aside from submitting all the documents, you must also pass a multimedia theoretical test and practical driving examination for each category they hold.

To obtain a Portuguese driving licence, you must

  1. Obtain a medical examination and electronic medical certificate;
  2. Obtain a psychological assessment, if applicable for heavy vehicle categories;
  3. Complete the official IMT application form;
  4. Submit the required supporting documentation.

Documents Generally Required

Fill in the form and submit the following documents:

  1. Residence permit or other proof of lawful residence;
  2. Certificate of authenticity of the foreign driving licence issued by the competent authority or consular service;
  3. Foreign driving licence;
  4. Certified translation if the licence is not written in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish;
  5. Psychological assessment certificate (if applicable).

After IMT reviews your application, you will be instructed to complete:

  • A multimedia theoretical examination
  • A practical driving examination for each applicable category.

The applicable IMT fees are those in force at the time of the application. For now, an additional fee of 30 Euros per test will be charged, as outlined in Ordinance No. 1165/2010 of November 9th. If you successfully complete the driving examination (both theoretical and practical tests), your driving license will be issued by the IMT, or the remaining tests will be scheduled if you wish to add more categories to your driving license (which will be scheduled accordingly).

Why would I need it?

If you hold a driving licence issued outside Portugal and intend to reside or drive in Portugal, you may need to register your licence or exchange it for a Portuguese driving licence, depending on the country in which it was issued and your legal status in Portugal.

Who can apply?

Anyone who holds a valid foreign driving licence and meets the legal requirements for recognition or exchange under Portuguese law.

Step-by-Step guide

  1. Determine whether your driving licence is recognised in Portugal;
  2. Check whether you need to register your licence or exchange it;
  3. Obtain the required medical and psychological certificates, if applicable;
  4. Complete the official IMT application form;
  5. Submit the required supporting documents;
  6. Await communication from IMT;
  7. Attend any appointments or examinations required by IMT;
  8. Receive your Portuguese driving licence, where applicable.

Community Tips and Learning

Applications and document requirements may change following amendments to Portuguese road traffic legislation. Applicants should always consult the latest guidance published by IMT before submitting an application.

Potential Scams to Look Out For

  • Be cautious of unofficial websites claiming to issue Portuguese driving licences.
  • Do not pay third parties who guarantee licence exchanges without following the official IMT procedure.
  • Always verify that appointment bookings and application forms are completed through official government channels.

Where we are

Rua Carvalho Araújo 66-B
1900-140 Lisboa
Portugal

How to Get Here

  • Metro: Linha Verde (Green Line) - Intendente Station
  • Bus: 708, 730, 742, 794

Opening hours

Mon, Tue, Thu
10:00–12:30 & 14:00–17:30
Wednesday (Extended)
Until 19:30
Friday
Until 18:30
No appointment needed. Just walk in.

Contact info

+351 964 809 959