Getting a driving licence in Portugal

Age for obtaining category A, A1, A2 and B driving licences

The minimum age for obtaining a driving licence varies according to the category of licence.

From the age of 16, it is possible to obtain category A1:

• motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of up to 125 cm³ and a power rating of up to 11 kw
• category AM vehicles.

From the age of 18, it is possible to obtain:

• category A2:
  • motorcycles with a power rating of up to 35 kw
  • category AM and A1 vehicles.
• category B:
• cars
• tricycles over 15 kw if the person is over 21 years of age
• motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of up to 125 cm³ and a power rating of up to 11 kw, if the person is over 25 years of age or holds a category AM licence or a moped licence
• category AM and B1 vehicles
• category I and II agricultural vehicles and light industrial machinery.

From the age of 21, it is possible to obtain a category A driver's licence:

• any motorcycle, with or without side-car
• tricycles
• category AM, A1 and A2 vehicles
• If you have held a category A2 for two years, you can obtain a category A licence before the age of 24.

There are also other categories.

Residence requirements for foreign citizens of the European Union (EU) when applying for a driving licence

European citizens can obtain a driving licence in Portugal:

• if you have been living in the country for at least 185 days
• if you do not already have a driving licence of the same category obtained in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway. If you do have such a licence, please do the following:
• provided that the licence is valid, you can use it in Portugal, but you must inform the IMT (Institute for Mobility and Transport) within 60 days that you will reside and drive in Portugal
• when the licence expires or if you want a licence of a different category — you must ask for the foreign licence to be exchanged for a Portuguese licence.

Documents required

To obtain a driving licence you must provide one of these documents:

• temporary or permanent residence permit, issued by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF)
• temporary or permanent residence card, issued by SEF
• passport and study, work, temporary stay or residence visa issued by a Portuguese consular post, SEF or another government department.

You must also provide the following documents:

• electronic medical certificate proving that you are physically able to drive
• psychological assessment report and certificate showing that you are psychologically apt to drive.

Lessons and tests to obtain a driving licence

A driving licence must be obtained from a driving school.

To do so, you need to attend lessons and sit the necessary highway code and driving tests for the category of licence you choose.

Once you have attended the preparatory lessons, the driving school will enrol you in the necessary tests to obtain a licence.

The theory and practical tests must be passed in order to obtain a driving licence.

Classes and tests in English

If you want to be trained and take the theory test in English, you should make that request when you register with the driving school.

As a general rule, the driving school will ask you to book the theory test with translation, which will be done at the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT) or at a private examination center. In some situations, the exam can be taken on its own, as in the case of exchanging a foreign license for a Portuguese one.

Translation of the test is only foreseen for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1 and B.

Accredited driving schools

A map of driving schools in Portugal is available on the IMT website. The website also provides information on training organisations recognised by IMT to provide training courses and training organisations authorised by the National Road Safety Authority to provide training.

Driving test centres

The driving test may be taken at an IMT test centre or at a private test centre.

Compulsory medical examinations to prove fitness to drive

In order to obtain a driving licence in Portugal, you must first submit an electronic medical certificate proving that you are physically able to drive. The certificate is sent to the Institute for Mobility and Transport by the doctor carrying out the assessment.

You also need to provide a psychological assessment report and certificate showing that you are psychologically apt to drive. The psychological assessment report and certificate must be issued by a psychologist and be submitted by applicants to the driving school providing the training.

Driving licence validity

Drivers are required to revalidate driving licences at certain ages, depending on the type of licence held.

The age at which you must revalidate your licence depends on the type of licence you hold and the date on which you obtained the licence.

See the age at which you should revalidate your driving licence.

Driving licence formats

All valid driving licences in use in the European Economic Area (EEA) are mutually recognised, including driving licences for models prior to the entry into force of the relevant European legislation.

A single model for European driving licences was introduced on 19 January 2013. Currently, in the EEA there are more than 170 different models of driving licences in use.

Driving licences issued in other European Union (EU) countries: documents and deadlines to be complied with

Driving licences issued by countries belonging to the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are valid in Portugal until the expiry date indicated on the driving licence.

However, drivers who establish residence in Portugal have a duty to inform the IMT Regional or District Office of their area of residence within 60 days, failing which, you will be subject to penalty.

Drivers should therefore contact IMT and provide the following documents:

• Form 13 IMT
• A photocopy of your driving licence but also take your licence with you for comparison purposes
• An identification document and proof of residence in national territory.

In the case of lifetime driving licences, once a driver has notified IMT of residence, a two-year administrative time limit is entered into the document issued (National residence record of drivers with a Community licence). At the end of this period, you must exchange your foreign driving licence for a Portuguese licence.

Driving licences issued in non-EU countries

Driving licences issued in non-EU countries are not recognised in Portugal. In this case, you must exchange your driving licence within 185 days of obtaining your residence in Portugal (if your country is a signatory to international road traffic conventions).
To exchange your driving licence from a non-EU country, go to an IMT contact desk  and provide the following documents:

• a photocopy of a personal identification document, but bring the original document for comparison purposes
• tax identification number
• a medical certificate issued by a doctor for drivers of all categories
• favourable psychological assessment certificate issued by a psychologist for Group 2 drivers: vehicles of categories C, CE, D, DE, categories C1, C1E, D1 and D1E and drivers of categories B and BE driving ambulances, fire department vehicles, patient transport, school transport and passenger car rental vehicles
• declaration issued by an issuing authority or diplomatic or consular authority, attesting to the authenticity of the driving licence, date of issue and respective validity for the categories of vehicles you are entitled to drive with the respective dates and restrictions and that the driving licence was obtained by passing a driving test
• a translation of the driving licence, authenticated by the consular service of Portugal or another Member State in the respective country when the licence is not issued in Portuguese, French, English or Spanish.

If you have previously exchanged a driving licence issued by a non-EU country for a driving licence in another EU country, you can use that licence in Portugal.

Driving licences issued in an EU country exchanged for a driving licence issued outside the EU

Driving licences issued by countries belonging to the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are valid in Portugal until the expiry date indicated on the driving licence.

For all purposes, any licence issued in a Member State of the European Union will be recognised in Portugal. You only need to exchange for a Portuguese licence when it expires.

Non-EU driving licences must be exchanged for a European Union (EU) licence

You must exchange a driving licence from a non-EU country within 185 days from obtaining your residence in Portugal (if your country is a signatory to international road traffic conventions).

Anyone with a driving licence from a foreign country can exchange this licence for a Portuguese driving licence.

If you have previously exchanged a driving licence issued by a non-EU country for a driving licence from another EU country, you can use that licence in Portugal.

When exchanging driving licences issued by foreign countries which are not signatories to International Road Traffic Conventions, holders shall also be required to pass the driving test for each category held. However, enrolment in a driving school is not necessary, and drivers themselves may enrol for the test.

Drivers holding licences issued by countries which are not signatories to International Conventions are not allowed to drive in Portugal.

Exchanging a foreign licence for a Portuguese licence, without the need to sit a driving test, but requiring drivers to request an exchange within two years from the date of establishing their residence in Portugal, may be requested in several situations:

• countries with which Portugal has concluded a bilateral agreement or maintains reciprocity arrangements (Brazil, Switzerland, Morocco, Andorra, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, United Arab Emirates and Angola)
• countries which are signatories to International Road Transit Conventions – Holders of driving licences issued by foreign countries in accordance with Annex 9 to the Geneva International Convention of 19 September 1949 on Road Traffic or Annex 6 to the Vienna International Convention of 8 November 1968 on Road Traffic
• Driving licences issued by Portuguese authorities in Macao or by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Holders of the abovementioned driving licences are authorised to drive motor vehicles in Portugal for the first 185 days following their entry into Portugal, provided that they are not resident.

You can simulate the exchange of your driving licence.

Renewing a driving license: requirements for citizens of EU member states

Driving licences issued by countries belonging to the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are valid in Portugal until the expiry date indicated on the driving licence.
 
However, drivers who establish residence in Portugal are required to inform the Institute for Mobility and Transport (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes, IMT) regional or district office of their area of residence within 60 days, otherwise there is an infringement.

For lifetime driving licences, once a driver has notified IMT of residence, a 2-year administrative time limit is entered into the document issued (National residence record of drivers with a Community licence). At the end of this period, the licence will be exchanged.

If a driving licence issued by a Member State of the European Union or of the European Economic Area expires and the holder is resident in Portugal, he or she may revalidate it under the terms and conditions of Portuguese law for national licences.
 

Age requirements for revalidating category A, A1, A2 and B driving licences

The age at which you should revalidate your licence depends on the type of licence you hold and the date on which you obtained the licence.

A driving licence may not be revalidated more than six months in advance.

It is important to revalidate your licence within the deadline. Driving without a valid licence is punishable with a fine. Should you let more than two years elapse after the deadline, without revalidating your licence, you will be required to take a driving test to obtain a new licence.

Time limits for renewing an expired driving licence

If you do not observe the revalidation deadline you are committing a road offence should you drive with an expired driving licence. After two years and up to a limit of five years, without having revalidated a licence, you will have to sit a practical test.

If a driving licence is not revalidated within five years, it will be cancelled. For all legal purposes, holders of cancelled driving licences are considered as unqualified to drive.

Compulsory medical examinations to prove fitness to drive

If you wish to revalidate your driving licence for group 1 (car), categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B and BE, mopeds and agricultural tractors, you must provide a medical certificate after you reach 60 years of age. Moreover, if your licence has a 137 restriction (i.e. requirement for an early medical assessment), you must always provide a medical certificate. A Certificate of Psychological Competence (CPC) is only required if your licence has a 138 restriction.

If your licence is in group 2 (heavy vehicles) you must always provide a medical certificate and CPC when revalidating.

If you require a CPC, you should scan and send when submitting the online request. If you need a medical certificate, the doctor issuing the certificate sends it by email to IMT.

Documents to be submitted by an EU citizen when exchanging a licence

When exchanging a driving licence the following documents must be submitted:

• original valid full driving licence
• identification document and proof of residence in national territory
• Tax Identification Number
• an electronic medical certificate issued by a doctor for drivers of all categories
• favourable psychological assessment certificate issued by a psychologist for Group 2 drivers: vehicles of categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E and DE and drivers of categories B and BE driving ambulances, fire department vehicles, patient transport, school transport and passenger car rental vehicles.

Exchanging a driving licence issued by a foreign country for an EU licence

Any person holding a driving licence issued by a foreign country can exchange such a licence for a Portuguese driving licence. 
You will need to submit:

• a full driving licence
• an identification document proving residence in Portugal (any identification document issued by the Portuguese State, except a passport)
• an electronic medical certificate, issued and sent by the doctor to IMT via the Internet, required for all licence categories
• a declaration, issued by the counterpart entity (foreign entity issuing the licence) or consular body, certifying that the licence is authentic and indicating:
  • the date of issue and expiry of the licence
  • the categories of vehicles which the driver may drive, with the dates of validity and the restrictions on each category
• if your licence is not written in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English, you also need to have your licence translated into Portuguese, certified by the Portuguese embassy or consulate (or by another Member State of the European Union) in the country where the licence was issued
• if your licence includes group 2 categories, you also need a Certificate of Psychological Competence (CPC).

Documents and requirements for non-EU citizens when exchanging a licence

When exchanging driving licences issued by foreign countries which are not signatories to International Road Traffic Conventions holders shall also be required to pass the driving test for each category held. Enrolment in a driving school is not mandatory, and drivers themselves may enrol for the test.

Drivers holding licences issued by countries which are not signatories to International Conventions are not allowed to drive in Portugal and are required to exchange such licences.

In order to obtain a Portuguese driving licence through exchange, the following conditions must be met:

• hold a valid and full foreign driving licence
• have reached the minimum legal age required by Portuguese law for the category in which you are entitled to drive
• physical, mental and psychological fitness, if necessary
• residence in Portugal
• not under prohibition or disqualification from driving or under a security measure prohibiting driving or the issuing of a driving licence.

The following documents are required to issue the licence:

• original valid and full driving licence
• identification document and proof of residence in national territory
• Tax Identification Number
• an electronic medical certificate issued by a doctor for drivers of all categories
• favourable psychological assessment certificate issued by a psychologist for Group 2 drivers
• declaration issued by an issuing authority or diplomatic or consular authority, attesting to the authenticity of the driving licence, date of issue and respective validity for the categories of vehicles you are entitled to drive with the respective dates and restrictions and that the driving licence was obtained by passing a driving test
• a translation of the driving licence, authenticated by the consular service of Portugal or another Member State in the respective country when the licence is not issued in Portuguese, French, English or Spanish.