What you need to know about the Portuguese driving licence 🚘

“My driving licence” = 🇵🇹 “A minha carta de condução”.

In Portugal, the competent Authority for issuing driving licences is the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT).

🗓 From 1 August 2022, if you hold a driving licence issued by an OECD* country or by a member of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)** :

• You can drive in Portugal with your driving licence until the end of validity indicated on your official document. You no longer need to exchange your foreign driving licence for a Portuguese one.

However, you must register your residence in Portugal with the IMT. This registration must be completed within 60 days of your move to Portugal.

• ⚠️ATTENTION: the Decree-Law nº46/2022 (https://dre.pt/dre/detalhe/decreto-lei/46-2022-185971761) stipulates that the non-obligation to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Portuguese one does not apply if your driving licence was issued or renewed more than 15 years ago and if you are over 60 years old!

- - -

If you live in Portugal and have already exchanged your driving licence for a Portuguese one, don't forget to check the expiry date on your Portuguese driving licence:

• You can apply for the revalidation of your Portuguese driving licence within 6 months before the licence expires.

• You will be required to revalidate your Portuguese driving licence on the following dates:

  • at age 50 (without presentation of a medical certificate),

  • at age 60 (with presentation of a medical certificate),

  • at age 65 (with presentation of a medical certificate),

  • at age 70 (with presentation of a medical certificate) and every 2 years thereafter.

• If you miss the deadline and drive with an expired licence, you are committing a traffic infraction!

• 💶 Cost charged by IMT to obtain a new Portuguese driving licence: €15 for drivers aged 70+; €30 for other drivers.

💡 Don't hesitate to ask me to help you with these matters at the IMT!

🛣 "Have a good trip" = 🇵🇹 "Boa viagem"!

*OECD countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK.

**CPLP countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique.