Exchange of driving licence

Mail us to get a comprehensive brochure on this: info@cscadvogada.com

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Foreigners after acquiring citizenship can exchange their foreign driving permit. If you have already obtained Portuguese citizenship, the next step is to change your foreign driving license.

The entire process is resolved through the IMT. Through an online application and later in person to obtain biometric data. First see what situation you are in.

1. Driving licenses issued by a European Union or the European Economic Area Country (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)

You can drive in Portugal with this license until the document expires, or even if does’nt have validity date. But, you have 60 days, after moving to the country, to register your adress in Portugal with IMT.

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Documents you will need:

 Portuguese identification document (Passport or Identification card)

 Proof of residence in Portugal;

 Foreign driving license and certified photocopy of the document

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2. Driving licenses issued by OECD and CPLP countries (Angola, Australia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Mozambique, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America.)

You can drive in Portugal, and you don’t need to Exchange your driving license if:

 you are under 60 years old

 you have the mandatory minimum age in Portugal to drive

 the foreign driver's license is valid

 no more than 15 years have passed since the issuance of the foreign license or since the last renewal

 the country that issued the license is part of the traffic conventions (Geneva, 1949 and/or Vienna, 1968) or has a bilateral agreement with Portugal  the foreign drivers license is not seized, suspended, expired or revoked in Portugal or in the country of origin.

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3. Driving licences issued by countries that Portugal has a bilateral agreement or a reciprocity recognition for the recognition and

Exchange of driving licenses Contracting parts of international traffic conventions (Argélia, Argentina, Austrália, Áustria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bélgica, Benim, Botsuana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgária, Burkina Faso, Camboja, Canadá, República Central Africana, Chile, Congo, Costa

do Marfim, Croácia, Cuba, Chipre, República Checa, República Democrática do Congo, Dinamarca, República Dominicana, Equador, Egito, Ilhas Fiji, Finlândia, França, Geórgia, Gana, Grécia, Guatemala, Haiti, Vaticano, Hungria, Islândia, Índia, Irlanda, Israel, Itália, Jamaica, Japão, Jordânia, Quirguistão, República Democrática Popular do Laos, Líbano, Lesoto, Liechtenstein, Lituânia, Luxemburgo, Madagáscar, Malawi, Malásia, Mali, Malta, Mônaco, Montenegro, Marrocos, Namíbia, Holanda, Nova Zelândia, Níger, Nigéria, Noruega, Papua Nova Guiné, Paraguai, Peru, Filipinas,

Polônia, Portugal, República da Coreia, Romênia, Federação Russa, Ruanda, São Marino, Senegal, Sérvia, Sérvia, Serra Leoa, Singapura, Eslováquia, Eslovênia, África do Sul, Espanha, Sri Lanka, Suécia, Suíça, República Árabe Síria, Tailândia, Togo, Trinidad e Tobago, Tunísia, Turquia, Uganda, Emirados Árabes Unidos, Reino Unido da Grã-Bretanha e Irlanda do Norte, Estados Unidos da América, Venezuela (República Bolivariana da), Vietnam e Zimbabué.)

- if you do not reside in Portugal:

you can use your driving license for 185 days in Portugal

- If you intend to reside in Portugal you must:

90 days. you can use your driving license for up to 90 days from the date of   issue of your residence document. But you must apply to IMT for an exchange during this period

•From 90 days to 2 years. You can not use your driving license. But you can still apply   to IMT for an exchange during this period 

• After 2 years.  You can't use your driving license. You can apply for the exchange of your licence. But you will have to pass a practical driving test

Documents you will need:

 medical certificate

 Residence permit

 ​Certificate of authenticity of the driving license, issued by the issuing entity or consular service, indicating the categories obtained by examination (and what type of test) and the categories obtained by equivalence 

 Driving licence 

 A certified translation of your driving licence, if the content is in any language other than portuguese. The certification must be carried out by the Portuguese Consulate or the consular services of another member state in the respective country of origin

 A psychological assessment certificate, if you are applying to retain vehicle categories C, D and/or E 

4. Driving licences obtained in countries that are not contracting parts to international traffic conventions In this case you can not drive in Portugal, unless you ask for the Exchange.

Documents you will need:

 A medical certificate

 A psychological assessment, if you intend to exchange categories for driving heavy vehicles 

 Your residence permit 

 Certificate of authenticity of the driving license, issued by the issuing entity or consular servisse, indicating the categories obtained by examination (and what type of test) and the categories obtained by equivalence 

 Your driving licence

 A certified translation of your driving licence, if the content is in any language other than portuguese. The certification must be carried out by the Portuguese Consulate or the consular services of another member state in the respectivecountry of origin

 A psychological assessment certificate if you are applying for vehicle categories

C, D and/or E

A date for your practical exam will be requested and you will be asked to pay the exam fee.

For the IMT submission the costs are 30€

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