How to get a Portuguese driving license as a foreigner (2023)

Find out how to get hold of a Portuguese driving license as a foreigner – and whether you need one – by reading our guide.

You don’t typically need a Portuguese driving license as a temporary visitor in Portugal (up to six months). It’s generally possible to drive using your international license or EU license during this period.

If you relocate to Portugal, however, requirements change once you get a Portuguese residence permit. After this, certain nationalities have a timeframe in which they must apply for a Portuguese driving license. Other nationalities, such as EU citizens, can continue to drive without a Portuguese driver’s license but must register with Portugal’s traffic authority.

This guide explains if you need a driving license in Portugal, who can arrange a Portuguese driving license exchange and who will need to take the driver license test in Portuguese. There’s also some information on the general road rules in Portugal and the process of importing a car to Portugal.

Who needs a Portuguese driving license?

You’ll need to be at least 18 years of age to drive a car in Portugal. As a temporary visitor, you’re allowed to use a valid international license for up to six months. If you use your license after this date without getting a Portuguese driving license, you could face heavy fines. When driving as a visitor, it’s worth getting an International Driving Permit, even though it isn’t necessary in all cases.

If you relocate to Portugal and become a permanent resident, however, the conditions change. EU/EEA licenses are valid until they expire. If you have a non-EU license, you may be mandated to get a Portuguese driving license.

Portugal driving license exchange: for EU licenses

If you move to Portugal and want to continue using your international driving permit, inform the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT, Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes) within 30 days of obtaining your residence certificate. You can also continue using your EU driving license until it expires. Failure to let the IMT know you’ll be using your old license can result in significant fines.

However, it can still be worthwhile to arrange a Portugal driving license exchange for your EU license. This is largely because if your license is damaged, stolen or lost, it can only be replaced by the organization that issued it. This may cause problems in some cases, for example, if you have a UK license the DVLA doesn’t renew or replace licenses abroad.

When registering for a Portuguese driving license exchange, you’ll need to provide the following documents:

• Proof of residency
• A completed IMT Modelo 13 application form
• A photocopy of your current driving license
• Proof of identity

You will typically pay a fee and may need to provide a medical report if requested.

Even if you hold an EU driving license that remains valid for an unlimited period, you still must renew your license for a Portuguese one, two years after changing your official place of residence.

Portuguese driver’s licenses: for non-EU citizens

Non-EU license holders are allowed to drive in Portugal using their foreign license for a fixed period. How long you’ll be allowed to use your existing license depends on where you’re from.

Typically, if your country is part of the Road Traffic International Agreements, you must exchange your non-EU driving license within 185 days after obtaining residence in Portugal. If you’re an Australian, Canadian, South African or US citizen, for example, you can use your license for six months before you must exchange it for a Portuguese driving license.

When exchanging a US license for a driving license in Portugal, American citizens need to apply for an abstract of their driving record from their last state of residence and a physician’s certificate to prove they are fit to drive.

As Australian licenses don’t have a valid from date printed on them, citizens may need to get a document from the Australian authorities to confirm their license start date.

If you have previously exchanged your foreign license in another country, you are free to use your EU license.

You can find out how exchanging a license works for citizens from your country on the IMT website.

Driving license test in Portugal

When your foreign license expires, or if you’ve never had one at all, you’ll need to pass a Portuguese driving test. The driving test in Portugal consists of three parts – technical, theoretical and practical:

• Theoretical – 30 questions in 35 minutes (Passing mark: 27 out of 30)
• Technical exam – 50 minutes
• Practical driving exam – 40-50 minutes with instructor and examiner present.

Prior to taking the driving exam, you’ll need to take at least 32 hours of lessons at a driving school. You must have passed the theoretical part of the test. Before you enrol with a driving school, make sure it is a government-licensed driving centre. Choose from a list of certified driving schools across Portugal.

Once you have completed your course with a driving school, you can apply for a registration form for a driving license and the practical driving exam.

If you don’t speak Portuguese, your Embassy may accredit an interpreter, who will be allowed to attend your exam and translate the driver license test in Portuguese.

Older drivers in Portugal need to undergo medical and psychological examinations when renewing the validity of their Portuguese driving license at ages 50, 60, 65 and 70, and drivers older than 70 must take a revalidation test.

Replacing a Portuguese driver’s license

If you lose or damage your Portuguese driving license or need to change your personal details, you can apply for a replacement by providing the following documents:

• An IMT form
• A photocopy of your passport or ID card
• Two colour photographs.

Portugal driving authority

IMT – Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes
Av. das Forças Armadas 40, 1649-022 Lisbon
T: + 351 217 949 000 | E: [emailprotected] | W: www.imt-ip.pt

Driving in Portugal

General road rules in Portugal

• The driver and all passengers must wear seatbelts.
• You must carry both parts of your foreign driving license or driving license in Portugal.
• You’ll also need your vehicle registration document, MOT and a certificate of car insurance.
• It can be helpful to carry your passport in case you are randomly stopped.
• You should carry a warning triangle and a reflective vest.
• You should give priority to traffic from the right.
• You’re not allowed to use green lanes on motorways unless you have an electronic toll collection device.
• It’s illegal to carry a can of petrol in your car.

When a car flashes its headlights, it means they want the right of way. This is the opposite of how this works in some other European countries.

Speed limits in Portugal

An on-the-spot traffic fine can apply, where police may demand immediate payment either in cash or by credit card. Fines range from around €300 up to €2,500, depending on the excess over the speed limit and the zone, with higher fines imposed in urban areas.

• Urban areas – 50 km/h
• Rural roads – 90 km/h
• Motorways – 120 km/h; minimum 50 km/h

Road signs and signals in Portugal

• Warning signs are red triangles with illustrations in the center for sharp turns, narrow roads, and animal crossings.
• An exclamation point means the danger is unspecified and you should pay extra attention.
• Mandatory signs are blue and circular, while informational signs are usually rectangular.
• A round white or blue sign with a red circle and diagonal cross means you’re not allowed to park.

You can find a list of Portuguese road signshere.

Drunk driving in Portugal

Drunk driving in Portugal results in significant fines. The drunk driving limit is 0.49g/L. If you are above the limit you can receive a fine of €1,250 and have your Portuguese driving license or international driving permit suspended for up to a year. People significantly over the limit could face double the fine and anything from a long driving ban to a year in prison.

Importing a car to Portugal

Importing a car to Portugal from your home country, registering and driving it can be a complicated process depending on where you’re bringing your car from. Whether you’ll need to pay import duty on your vehicle depends on a variety of factors, so it’s best to check the Portal das Financas website, where you can get an estimate of how much import tax you might need to pay. You will alsoneed to ensure your vehicle conforms to Portuguese road standards.

Once you’ve received your residency card, you will needto register your foreign car in Portugal. When you come to register your car, you’ll need to provide a tax clearance certificate issued by customs, your original receipt of purchase, a copy of your foreign registration certificate and a certificate of roadworthiness (IPO), which will be issued by an IMT-approved service centre.

If you’re importing a car to Portugal, there are a few rules:

• You must carry a warning triangle in your car in case you break down.
• If your car doesn’t have Euro plates, attach a sticker to the back of it denoting the country it’s from.
• Carry a valid motor insurance certificate, registration document, and your MOT certificate if you’re driving a car that’s over three years old.

In addition to paying your annual road tax fee and ensuring your vehicle is insured, you’ll also need to have an IPO test done periodically to ensure your vehicle is up to scratch. If your vehicle is more than four years old, you’ll need to have this test done every two years up to the age of seven, and then annually thereafter.

When your vehicle passes the test, you get a report (Vinheta Verde) and a certificate with a badge; make sure you display the badge in your windscreen. If, however, your vehicle fails, you have 30 days to perform repairs before re-entering the vehicle for inspection.