If you’re an expat who has been driving in Portugal with a US license and plan to live in Portugal permanently, you may want to swap out your US driver’s license with a Portuguese driving license. Not only is this an option, but once you become a permanent resident in Portugal, you are required to have a Portuguese driving license if you intend to drive. Once you do so, you will be able to drive around legally in Portugal without any worries.
The process of getting a drivers license in Portugal involves multiple steps and several documents. To make this process easier to understand and navigate, we have written a detailed guide explaining how to obtain your Portuguese driving license in lieu of your US license.
1. Eligibility criteria for getting a Portuguese driver’s license for American expats
There are certain eligibility criteria you must meet as an American citizen living in Portugal who wants to drive. You must fulfill the following criteria to be qualified to exchange your US driver’s license for a Portuguese one:
- you must own a current valid US driver’s license
- you must be 18 or older (some exceptions can apply for 16-18-year-olds)
- you must own a valid passport
- you must be a Portuguese resident with a residence card issued by SEF
- you must have a NIF
- you must have a numero de utente from SNS
- you must have a digital medical certificate issued by a doctor
- you must have a Portuguese bank account to wire the electronic payment
It is important to keep in mind that depending on the state in which your US driver’s license was obtained, there might be additional documents required for converting a US license to a Portuguese one. You should also know that while some nations and Portugal have reciprocal agreements that facilitate simpler trading, others do not. Fortunately, the United States of America does.
As a result, it is wise to verify with the Portuguese Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transporte aka IMT, as they handle the process of exchanging a foreign driving license in Portugal, to learn the exact requirements for your circumstance. However, in most situations, the prerequisites listed above are applicable. If you satisfy these requirements, you may exchange your US driver’s license for a Portuguese license.
2. Documents required to apply for a driving license in Portugal
You will be required to obtain certain paperwork if you’re an American citizen looking to exchange your US driver’s license for a Portuguese one. It’s important to keep in mind that depending on the state in which your US driver’s license was obtained and your unique situation, the particular documentation needed for exchanging a US driver’s license for a Portuguese one might be slightly altered. Have all originals and certified copies on hand as detailed below.
Here’s a general list of documents that you must gather before you apply to change your American driver’s license for a Portuguese one:
- a current valid US driver’s license
- a Certificate of Authenticity of your driving license from the Portuguese consulate in the US that has jurisdiction over the state that issued your license; important: each consulate may have different requirements and fees for issuing the Certificate of Authenticity, so please check with your consulate
- an apostilled driving record (except those who obtained a Certificate of Authenticity from the San Francisco consulate, as this location has different requirements)
- a valid passport or another official type of identification
- evidence of Portuguese residency (your residence card/permit issued by SEF)
- a medical certificate issued by your primary doctor either from a public or private clinic; they will submit the certificate to IMT directly
- in some cases, a psychological assessment (for driving licenses other than passenger vehicles or motorcycles)
Scan all the pages of your documents as well as the front and back of your cards. The scanned/digital copies should be ready to be uploaded with your application. You will ensure a quick and easy exchange procedure by obtaining all of the required documents in advance.
3. Applying to exchange a US driving license for a Portuguese driving license
The new Portuguese regulations require everyone to apply online for a driver’s license. With all your documents scanned and ready to go, access the online application form, complete all the information and upload all the documents required on the form. The fields are both in Portuguese and English.
If more than one person in your family is applying, submit separate applications, with different email addresses. Otherwise, you risk that a second application with the same email address will be treated as a duplicate and discarded.
Within a few days of submitting your application, you should receive an auto-response email confirming that your application was received.
After the IMT office reviews your application and documents, you should receive a second email with instructions for payment and mailing in the original documents. This email is time-sensitive, so keep an eye out for it. When mailing, use an express courier so that you can track the delivery of your original documents, to avoid loss or misplacement. You should receive all your originals back at the time of your in-person appointment.
If you were not asked to mail in your originals, you will be asked to submit your original documents at the in-person appointment. Likewise, if you were not requested by email to submit payment, you may inquire about this at your in-person appointment and pay in person.
4. Setting up an appointment with the Portuguese authorities
The next step in the process is to make an appointment with the Portuguese authorities to exchange your US driving license for a Portuguese one. In some cases, you may be automatically assigned a date, time, and location of your appointment after confirmation of your application.
In most cases, you will have to get in touch with the Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT) to make an appointment.
You may visit the IMT’s website to make an appointment. It is advised that you book your appointment much in advance since the IMT can be dealing with a backlog of applications. However, the best way to make an appointment is by emailing the IMT’s scheduling group. This email is marc.agendamentos@imt-ip.pt. Only send appointment requests to this email address.
When you arrive for your appointment, you’ll need to have the relevant paperwork and funds to exchange your driver’s license. Depending on your unique situation and the rules of the state where your US driver’s license was obtained, you could additionally be asked to take a Portuguese language exam and a driving test.
5. Potential driving and language tests in Portugal
At the time of exchanging your US driver’s license for a Portuguese one, you may also be required to pass a driving test as well as a Portuguese language exam. Your unique situation and the laws of the state where your US driving license was obtained will determine which exact exams you need to take.
The goal of the Portuguese language exam is to evaluate your familiarity with fundamental Portuguese grammar and vocabulary. It may be given orally, in writing, or a mix of the two. The driving test is a practical examination that determines your capacity to drive a car in Portugal safely and lawfully. It could include both a written examination and a driving test.
6. The cost of getting a driving license in Portugal
The cost of obtaining your driver’s license in Portugal isn’t very expensive. But, depending on your unique situation and the rules of the state where your US driver’s license was obtained, these costs may vary. In Portugal, the following costs must be paid to exchange a foreign driver’s license:
- A Portuguese driver’s license costs €30 to be issued
- Language exam: €72
- Driving evaluation: €90
- Various other administrative costs (amounts vary)
- Consular fees for the Certificate of Authenticity (amounts vary)
You should be made aware that the Portuguese authorities have the right to modify these costs at any moment. It is thus advised to confirm the most recent costs with the Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT). Knowing the costs involved with upgrading your driver’s license can help you plan your finances and guarantee a quick and easy procedure.
7. How long you can drive in Portugal without a Portuguese driving license?
You can legally drive in Portugal without a Portugal driving license for 185 days, starting from the day you arrive, as long as you have a valid driver’s license from the United States and as long as you don’t intend to make Portugal your permanent home.
It should be emphasized that having an international driver’s license is not required by Portuguese law and does not provide the bearer any extra rights or exemptions from the aforementioned time restrictions.
However, if a person intends to live in Portugal permanently, they must adhere to the deadlines for converting their foreign driver’s license to a Portuguese one, which takes effect from the date the person’s residence permit or card was issued, not the date they received their visa.
Some requirements, fees, and details of the application process may change from time to time. Please check the most up-to-date information on deadlines and requirements for each situation on the IMT website.
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