I have a driving license issued outside Portugal. What should I do to drive in the country?

Driving licenses issued in EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), are valid in Portugal, and its exchange is voluntary. You may be asked to exchange foreign license by Portuguese, without conducting any test driving test, but will have to apply for exchange 185 days after obtaining residence in national territory. This measure covers: ∙ countries with which Portugal has entered into bilateral agreement or hold a reciprocal basis (Brazil, Switzerland, Morocco, Andorra, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, United Arab Emirates and Angola); ∙ Acceding to the international conventions of Road Transit; ∙ Driving licenses issued by the Portuguese administration in Macao and the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). The exchange of driving license issued by non-adherent foreign countries to International Conventions on Road Transit depends on taking and passing the practical test of driving test, for each category of the driver holds. However, enrollment in driving school is not required, so the driver can self propose for the examination. In order to drive in Portugal, you must obtain international driving license, which can be requested in regional and district offices of the IMT by holders with national driving license or issued by other member states of the European Economic Area. However, keep in mind that there are exceptions. Drivers who establish residence in Portugal have a duty to inform the Regional Service District or the IMT your area, within 60 days under penalty of infringement.
The international driving license provided for in Article 8 of the Legal Empowerment Regulations for Conduct annexed to the Decree-Law No. 37/2014, of March 10, it can be requested in regional and district offices of the IMT by holders with letter national driving or issued by other member states of the European Economic Area.
The license is only valid outside the territory of the country issuing the letter, for a maximum period of one year, if shorter period is not in the driving license that underpinned the respective issuer.
 
Regarding the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), the driving licenses issued are valid in Portugal, and its voluntary exchange.
However, drivers who establish residence in Portugal have a duty to inform the Regional Service District or the IMT your area, within 60 days under penalty of infringement.
 
The exchange of driving license issued by non-adherent foreign countries to International Conventions on Road Traffic depends on taking and passing the practical test of driving test, for each category of the driver holds. However, enrollment in driving school is not required, so the driver can self propose the examination.
The in domestic circulation is not allowed to drivers with bonds issued by non-member countries to these international conventions.
 
You can request the exchange of foreign license by Portuguese, without conducting any test driving test, but will have to apply for exchange 185 days after obtaining residence in national territory.
This measure covers:
  • countries with which Portugal has entered into bilateral agreement or hold a reciprocal basis (Brazil, Switzerland, Morocco, Andorra, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, United Arab Emirates and Angola);
  • Driving licenses issued by the Portuguese administration in Macao and the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR).

Fonte: Ministry of Finance


 

 
Where to obtain more information?
Through the link below, you may access the foreign driving license for Portuguese exchange simulator and gain knowledge of correspondences between the different categories of driving titles.
 

 

 

Leaflet on Services and Contacts of ACM, I.P.

SOS UKRAINE
https://www.acm.gov.pt/-/sos-ucrania
sosucrania@acm.gov.pt

Face-to-face service available without previous appointment
The use of a mask or visor is mandatory

You can still opt for the telephone service, through the Migrant Support Line, app My CNAIM or by e-mail

Migrant Support Line

From 5 March 2022: Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 8 pm, and on Saturday, between 9 am and 5 pm

808 257 257 (landline)

21 810 61 91 (mobile and abroad)
 

National Support Centres for the Integration of Migrants (CNAIM)

CNAIM Norte
Face-to-face service available without previous appointment
The use of a mask or visor is mandatory
Av. de França, 316
Edifício Capitólio
4050-276 Porto

Tel: 22 207 38 10
Fax: 22 207 38 17
E-mailcnaim.norte@acm.gov.pt
From Monday to Friday, between 8 am and 5 pm

CNAIM Lisboa
Face-to-face service available without previous appointment
The use of a mask or visor is mandatory
Rua Álvaro Coutinho, 14
1150-025 Lisboa

Fax: 21 810 61 17
E-mailcnaim.lisboa@acm.gov.pt
From Monday to Friday, between 8 am and 5 pm

CNAIM Beja
Face-to-face service available without previous appointment
The use of a mask or visor is mandatory
Edifício Administrativo do Parque de Feiras e Exposições Manuel de Castro e Brito
Av. Salgueiro Maia, s/n
7800-552 Beja

Tel: 808 257 257 | 21 810 61 91 (Migrant Support Line)
E-mailcnaim.beja@acm.gov.pt
From Monday to Friday, between 9:00 am and 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm and 5:30 pm

CNAIM Algarve
Face-to-face service available without previous appointment
The use of a mask or visor is mandatory
Loja do Cidadão
Mercado Municipal, 1.º Piso
Largo Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro 8000-151 Faro

Tel: 808 257 257 | 21 810 61 91 (Migrant Support Line)
E-mailcnaim.algarve@acm.gov.pt
From Monday to Friday, between 8:30 am and 5 pm

PO ISE:
fundos.portugal2020@acm.gov.pt

FAMI:
fundos.comunitarios@acm.gov.pt

COVID-19 vaccination: online platform for registration of foreign citizens without a SNS (National Health Service) user number

Information cards on COVID-19 vaccination:

. Arabic (ar)
. English (en)
. French (fr)
. Hindi (hi)
. Mandarin (zh)
. Nepalese (ne)
. Portuguese (pt)
. Romanian (ro)
. Russian (ro)
. Spanish (es)
. Thai (th)
. Ukrainian (uk)

If you have a SNS (National Health Service) user number, please self-schedule your appointment

If you need support with registration and/or self-scheduling, or if you are facing constraints in the process, you can contact us by e-mail: covid19@acm.gov.pt

More information about the COVID-19 vaccination

Lockdown Easing Plan: Schedule and Rules

Lockdown Easing FAQ's

Doctors of the World Portugal' Guide on COVID-19:

. Arabic (ar)
. Bengali (bn)
. English (en)
. Finnish (fi)
. French (fr)
. Fula (ff)
. German (de)
. Hebrew (he)
. Hindi (hi)
. Italian (it)
. Japanese (ja)
. Mandarin (zh)
. Mandinga (man)
. Nepali (ne)
. Netherlands (nl)
. Polish (pl)
. Portuguese (pt)
. Romanian (ro)
. Russian (ru)
. Spanish (es)
. Swedish (sv)
. Tigrinya (ti)
. Turkish (tr)
. Ukrainian (uk)
. Urdu (ur)

IOM’s information leaflet on COVID-19, in more than 30 languages.

IOM's three documents about COVID-19 for migrants, in several languages.

The information presented is purely indicative, with the main purpose  to provide general guidance without exempt, at any case, the consultation with the competent authorities and the use of professional advice regarding the addressed themes

Migrant Support Line

This hotline is working from Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 7:00 pm. Get more information here.

Powered By Liferay

Fechar popup

Bem-vindo ao novo portal do Alto Comissariado para as Migrações

Procuramos reunir aqui um conjunto de informação essencial e de interesse para os migrantes. No entanto, sabemos que este é um trabalho contínuo que nunca está terminado.

Contamos consigo para tornar este site mais completo. Se souber de alguma informação que deva ser adicionada ou corrigida, entre em contacto connosco através do acm@acm.gov.pt.