Practical guide
This guide organises the essential information on exchanging a foreign driving licence in Portugal: country regimes, deadlines, usual documents and situations in which psychological assessment may be required.
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General information, not a substitute for official confirmation with IMT. Deadlines and requirements may vary according to the issuing country, the date of residence in Portugal, licence validity and endorsed categories.
As a general rule, the licence is recognised in Portugal until its expiry date. Residents must notify IMT of their address within the applicable period. Licences without an administrative expiry date or with lifetime validity may have specific exchange rules.
Some OECD and CPLP countries have a special regime. Under certain conditions, the licence may allow driving in Portugal without immediate exchange, but this permission is not equivalent to a Portuguese licence valid for driving in other European Union countries.
Licences issued by countries covered by bilateral instruments or international conventions may be exchanged after IMT assessment. After becoming resident, there are important deadlines for starting the request and for whether you may continue driving.
When the licence is not covered by an agreement, convention or special regime, theoretical and practical exams by category may be required to obtain a Portuguese licence.
During a temporary stay, some foreign licences may allow driving in Portugal, provided they are valid and accompanied by the required documents.
Once you become resident in Portugal, the legal framework changes. In several regimes, the exchange request must be started within IMT’s deadlines.
In some situations, missing the deadline may lead to additional requirements, including a practical driving test. It is better to confirm the applicable regime early.
The exact list may vary, but the request usually involves identification, a valid foreign licence, proof of residence and medical or psychological documents when applicable.
Psychological assessment may be required when the exchange involves heavy categories, passenger transport, Group 2 endorsements or professional driving activities. Depending on the case, this may include categories such as C1, C, C1E, CE, D1, D, D1E and DE, as well as TVDE, taxi, patient transport, ambulances, firefighters, school transport or collective child transport.
The information below presents indicative correspondences between foreign driving licences and Portuguese categories. It may support an initial understanding of an exchange process, but the applicable equivalence depends on IMT’s assessment.
Before submitting the request, always confirm the information with IMT or gov.pt, especially where professional categories, older licences, recent residence or documents issued outside the European Union are involved.