Driving in Portugal with these driving permits will be allowed

Driving licenses issued by OECD and CPLP countries

See the list of countries below

For the purposes of driving in national territory, driving permits from OECD and CPLP countries are accepted, even if the drivers are resident.

Observing the below requirements, driving in Portugal with these driving permits will be allowed, even after the drivers obtain residency in Portugal.

The countries that are covered by this regime are:

• CPLP member states, which are signatories to one of the Traffic Conventions (1949 or 1968 Convention) – Brazil and Cape Verde
• CPLP member states, which signed a bilateral agreement with Portugal – Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe
• OECD member states that are not members of the EU or EEA and that are signatories to the transit conventions (1949 or 1968 Convention) – Australia, Canada, Chile, Republic of Korea, United States of America, Iceland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, UK, Switzerland and Turkey

What are the requirements for driving in national territory with these driving permits?

For the purposes of driving in national territory, driving permits from OECD and CPLP countries are accepted, even if the drivers are resident, if they meet the following requirements:

• The issuing State is a signatory to one of the transit conventions (Geneva, 1949 and/or Vienna, 1968) or has entered into a bilateral
  agreement with the Portuguese State for recognition of driving permits;
• No more than 15 years have elapsed since the issuance of
  the foreign driver’s license or last renewal;
• The holder is under 60 years of age;
• The foreign driving permit must be valid;
• The driver must be of the minimum age established in Portugal to drive the vehicle(s) of the category(ies) listed on their foreign driving
  licence;
• The foreign driver’s license is not seized, suspended, expired or revoked by virtue of a legal provision, administrative decision or court
  decision applied to its holder in Portugal or in the issuing State.

Is this regime applicable outside the national territory?

It is a permit that only has an impact in Portugal, as it is not a question of exchanging a foreign driving license for a Portuguese driving license, but only driving in national territory.

Can I qualify for other categories without changing my driving license?

No, to obtain other categories it is necessary to change the driving license.

I intend to register Group II to drive TVDE or vehicles used for the collective transport of children, can I do so without changing my driving license?

No, to make annotations on the driving license it is necessary to change the driving license.

I want to obtain the CAM (Certificate of Driver’s Aptitude) and CQM (Driver Qualification Letter), can I do it without changing the driver’s license?
No, to obtain other categories it is necessary to change the driving license. But if you want to change your foreign driving license, you can do so. He must:

• Carry out medical evaluation and the medical certificate must be provided by your doctoron the electronic platform for medical certificates
• Access , fill in the form and submit it with the following documentation:
  the residence permit
  driving license
  Psychological assessment certificate, if you have categories C/D/E

It is not necessary to send a copy of the electronic medical certificate. After being issued by the doctor, the certificate is transmitted electronically to the IMT, I.P.

After submitting the request, you must wait for communication from the services with an indication to go to the IMT service desk.

Is the exchange of a foreign license subject to the submission of exams?

If drivers with driving licenses from OECD and CPLP countries (mentioned above) wish or have to exchange their driving license for a Portuguese driving license, they must comply with the requirements for issuing driving licenses provided for in the Legal Eligibility Regulation for Conduct, namely the verification of physical, mental and psychological aptitude (carrying out a medical examination), being exempted from submitting to examination tests for all the categories that they wish to change.

Note: When submitting the request for exchanging a foreign driving license for a Portuguese one, in accordance with Order No. 12.31.2021. However, it should be noted that the completion of the exchange request is conditioned to the presentation of the document proving residence in national territory.

Countries covered by Decree-Law No. 46/2022, of 12 July –

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