You may wonder about meeting the Portugal driving license requirements if you plan to drive in the country. Driving in Portugal can be a captivating way to travel from one end of the country, exploring its diverse climate, architectural masterpieces, and stunning natural attractions.
Nevertheless, Portugal has an extensive and user-friendly public transport system as well. But you can always choose to get a Portuguese driving license, especially if you move to the country. This article will answer all your mind-boggling questions and help you determine the Portugal driving license requirements.
What is the Portuguese driver’s license?
The Portuguese driver’s license (Carta de conducao) follows the EU standard. Hence, it has the same attributes as other EU driver’s licenses. As explained in the next section, drivers from anywhere in the EU/EEA won’t exchange their driving licenses. The Portuguese driving license is also printed on a piece of plastic. It has the shape and size of a credit card. It contains every vital information to identify the driver and the type of vehicles they are allowed to drive.
So this shows that you can get different categories of driving licenses in Portugal depending on your age and the type of vehicle you can drive.
Exchanging your foreign driving license in Portugal
As long as you are not a native of Portugal, there are different rules applying to getting a driving license in Portugal. Even then, your exact circumstances, country of origin, and even age will influence your method of approach. Generally, there are four different categories:
- Visitors from countries in the EU/EEA
- Visitors from countries participating in the International Transit Conventions
- Drivers from countries participating in OECD and CPLP
- Visitors from all other countries
Visitors in the EU/EEA
Suppose you are from a country within the European Union or European Eco Area. In that case, your driver’s license remains valid in Portugal until its expiration date. However, you’ll have to register your residence in Portugal with the Institute for Mobility and Transport (Instituto de Mobilidade e Transportes – IMT), which services your residential area. You also have to do so in less than 60 days.
For that registration, you need the following documents:
Visitors from Countries in the International Transit Conventions
If your driving license is also from a country participating in the International Transit Conventions (Geneva 1949 and/or Vienna 1968), you can also drive in Portugal for a tourist duration of 185 days.
Nevertheless, if your driving license is from a country participating in the international Transit Conventions and you plan on taking up residency in Portugal, your approach is different:
- You can use your foreign license for less than 90 days. However, within 90 days, you must submit a license exchange request to the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT).
- After the first 90 days, you can still submit for a license exchange request. But you are no longer allowed to use that foreign license. Nevertheless, you have a two-year period to submit for exchange.
- Suppose the 2-year period elapses again, and you must submit your license exchange request. In that case, you can no longer exchange using your foreign license directly. You must pass a practical driving test to get a Portuguese license.
Furthermore, suppose your country falls within this category, and you hold a residence permit in Portugal. In that case, the following rules also apply when you’re applying for a Portuguese driving license:
- Being under 60 years of age
- Meets the minimum age requirement for the vehicle category you want to operate
- Has a valid foreign driving license
- Your foreign driving license was issued or renewed within the last 15 years.
- The country that issued the license is a signatory to the Transit conventions or maintains a bilateral agreement with Portugal.
- Your foreign driving license has not expired, been revoked, suspended, or confiscated in Portugal or your country of origin.
Drivers from (CPLP) and (OECD) countries
Drivers from the (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) CPLP and (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) OECD countries do not need to exchange their driver’s licenses for Portuguese ones. This rule was instigated in August 2022.
The countries included in this regime include Iceland, Japan, Mozambique, Australia, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, the United States of America, Chile, Israel, the Republic of Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Switzerland, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Turkey.
Other Foreigners
Suppose you are a foreigner from another country unrelated to the above definitions. In that case, your driver’s license is invalid for use in Portugal. So, you need to exchange your current license for a Portuguese driver’s license, which requires fulfilling a complete list of requirements:
- Multimedia theoretical test
- Practical driving examination for the driving category you possess and need.
- Not be prohibited to drive by any court or administrative authority.
- Must live in Portugal for at least 185 days
- Be over 18 years old.
The next steps after the application
Your application to exchange your driver’s license takes place online via submitting a form.
No matter your application process, you should anticipate receiving instructions from the IMT to visit the local office on a specified date for biometric data collection. On that day, you need to present your current driver’s license. This will then be forwarded to the issuing country’s authority. Hence, it would be exchanged for a temporary driving license for Portugal. You can use this for six months before extending it for another six months. Next, the Portuguese driving license will be sent to your designated address via mail.
Portugal driving license requirements when applying for the first time
If you’re applying for a driving license for the first time, your process is more straightforward. In this case, you’ll have to take the theory, attend preparation classes at a driving school, and then get driving tests for the license categories you’re picking (check the age restrictions section below). Remember that different schools enable you to test for the category of vehicle you wish to drive. So you need to confirm with that school first before enrolling. Also, if you want to take the theory and be trained in English, request with the driving school before enrolling.
Generally, the driving school will ask you to book the theory test with translation. The Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT) handles the theory test at its location or via some private examination centers.
Nevertheless, unlike exchanging your foreign license, there’s no minimum time amount for obtaining the license. But then you must get Portugal’s driver’s license within two years after enrollment in the driving school, having only been successful in the theoretical text (valid for one year). If not possible, apply for revalidation of the qualification that allows you to receive training before that two years elapse.
If two years have elapsed since you enrolled in the driving school and you’ve not obtained qualification, then you need to submit a new process. You’ll also need a new medical certificate and psychological assessment report in this situation. The IMT may also request that you begin new training.
Documents and Portugal driving license requirements
Depending on your circumstances, you’ll be required to take different sets of documents to apply for the Portugal driving license. The two most common requirements are your old driver’s license and identity card. Now, let’s talk about each of these documents in detail:
- Portugal citizen card or identity card. If you have a foreign nationality, then submit one of the following documents
- Temporary or permanent residence permit issued by the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF)
- Temporary or permanent residence card issued by the SEF
- Passport + a study, work, temporary stay, or residence visa issued by a Portuguese Consular Office, by the SEF, or by other service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Portugal Citizen Card or identity document for Brazilian cities under the general status of equal rights and duties provided by the Friendship Cooperation and Consultation Treaty between the Portuguese Republic and the Federal Republic of Brazil.
- Digital medical certificate that certifies the existence of the physical conditions to drive. The medical certificate is sent by the doctor who assessed the Mobility and Transports Institute.
- Psychological assessment certificate and report. This proves you are psychologically able to drive. A licensed psychologist will assess and issue the assessment certificate. The candidate must submit this certificate at the driving school.
- Residence Permit
- License Authenticity Certificate provided by the original issuing entity/48 or consular service
- Certified translation of the driver’s license by the consular service of Portugal or another member state in the respective country in case the content is not in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish
Age restrictions for getting a Portuguese driving license
Generally, anyone above 18 years old can get a Portuguese driving license. But another vital aspect of the Portuguese driving license requirements is the minimum age categories that influence the kinds of vehicles you may be allowed to drive. Let’s look at the different minimum ages and applicable vehicles.
16 years and above
You can drive mopeds up to 5ocm3, quadricycles, and motorbikes.
18 years old
You have more access to vehicles, including light-duty vehicles, mopeds up to 35kw, and motorbikes. You can also drive tricycles, mopeds with a cylinder capacity of 125cm3, and quadricycles. It’s also possible to apply for a driving license for agricultural vehicles and light-duty industry machines. You can also drive trailers or semi-trailers with a maximum weight of 3500kg. It’s also possible to apply for a license for agricultural or forest contractors with a maximum weight of 6,000kg.
21 years and above
From 21 years, you can apply to drive heavy-duty goods vehicles, agricultural or forest tractors with or without trailers, agricultural forests, and industrial machines. You can also operate heavy-duty industrial machines, heavy-duty passenger vehicles with a capacity for 17 seats, and heavy-duty passenger vehicles with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 750kg.
24 years and above
From 24 years, you can apply to drive any moped with or without a sidecar, tricycle, and heavy-duty passenger vehicles with more than eight passengers. The Portugal driving license requirements also allows you to drive heavy-duty passenger vehicles with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 750kg. It’s also possible to apply to drive light-duty cars, agricultural or forest tractors and towed industrial machines.
Renewing a driver’s license in Portugal
The Portugal driving license requirements are different for renewal. First, the Portuguese driver’s license is valid for 15 years. So every 15 years, you must revalidate until you are 60. At age 60, you must revalidate every five years till age 70. At 70 years, you need to revalidate every two years. Even so, each revalidation will not require that you retake the practical test.
After age 60, you must only submit a medical certificate to revalidate. But then, the revalidation process must begin at least six months before the expiration of the driver’s license via the IMT service decks or online. For that reason, you’ll need:
- Taxpayer number
- Identification document or resident permit
- Your driving license
- Your citizen card.
More considerations to navigate the Portugal Driving license requirements
Timeline for getting a Portuguese driver’s license from scratch
It may take three to four months to get the Portuguese driving license. This time includes the preparation classes where you must pass theory and practical tests.
Mail is the first point of getting your driving license
As with every other important document, your mailing address is essential. So whether you’re trying to exchange your foreign license or get your first driver’s license, they will be mailed to you.
Keep in mind that Portuguese is the language of the country
No matter what you do an important factor when considering the Portugal driving license requirement is the Portuguese language. So even when you want preparation classes in English, you need to request with the driving school. But then, while booking your theory test, the driving school will ask you to secure it with a translation.
Fees for Portuguese driving licenses vary.
Surprisingly, the Portuguese driving license fee varies depending on the vehicle category and the driving school. Typically, it costs between €375 and 920. But then, the Portuguese driver’s license fees are the cheapest in Funchal and Greater Lisbon and the most expensive in Braga and Evora.
Beyond that, you also pay for the location of your tests. The driving theory test might take you to IMT, where you must pay €15 or between €15 and €110 if you take the test at a private center.
Concerning the practical test, you pay €30 at a public center or up to €120 for a remote center. Again, exchanging a foreign driver’s license also incurs fees of €30. Renewals cost €27 until the age of 70 and €13.5 after that online and €30 and €15, respectively, at a service desk.
Final thoughts
Navigating the Portugal driving license requirements can seem daunting. But as long as you know your country of origin and unique circumstances, you can prepare adequately. Remember the number of months it might take to get that driving license. You should factor this into your plan, especially if you are relocating to work in Portugal. Start planning your adventure today and experience the freedom and beauty of driving around the fascinating country.
