Official Guide
Exchanging your foreign driving licence
The IMT process, step by step — and the licence-family question that decides whether exams enter the story.
Authority
BodyInstituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT)
ChannelIMT Online portal
FeeThe processing fee set by the IMT
1. Find your licence family
Your origin country dictates the complexity of the exchange. There are three main "families" in the Portuguese system.
EU/EEA
No exchange required until expiry, but you must register your residency with the IMT inside the window it sets.
Exchange Agreement
Countries such as Brazil, the USA, the UK and the CPLP. Direct exchange is possible without exams.
Everything Else
May require theoretical and/or practical exams to validate the conversion.
2. Know your window
The clock starts ticking the moment you obtain your Portuguese residency permit. Delaying this can lead to driving illegally or losing the right to exchange without exams.
3. Gather the file
Before approaching the IMT, ensure you have the following dossier prepared in high-resolution digital scans or physical copies.
- Original Foreign Licence The physical card issued by your home authority.
- Residency Permit / ID Your Título de Residência, CRUE or equivalent.
- Electronic Medical Certificate Atestado Médico, issued electronically by a Portuguese doctor.
- Tax Identification Number (NIF) Your Número de Identificação Fiscal, active and linked to an address.
4. Submit to the IMT
Submission is primarily handled via the IMT Online portal. You will need to upload your documentation and pay the processing fee set by the service at the time of application.
Access the IMT portal
The submission, the fee and the current requirements all live on the official portal.
5. Drive on the receipt
Once your application is submitted and your original licence is handed over (if required), you will receive a Guia Provisória.
Provisional guide rules
- Valid only within Portuguese territory.
- Must be kept with your ID at all times while driving.
- Valid for the period printed on it, and renewable if the card has not arrived.
6. Receive the Portuguese licence
The final card will be sent via registered mail to your address as registered with the Tax Office (Finanças). Ensure your mailbox is clearly marked with your name to avoid delivery failure.
Always verify
Regulations can change. Always check the latest requirements — windows, fees and the exam question — on the official portals.