Portuguese Driving Licence: Choose the Official Route

Portuguese driving licence: choose the official route

The correct route in Portugal depends on whether you are getting your first Portuguese driving licence, using a foreign licence, or exchanging a foreign licence. These are separate decisions, with current official information from gov.pt and IMT determining the applicable route.

TL;DR

  • A first Portuguese driving licence requires living in Portugal for at least 185 days, a driving school, and the required theory and practical exams.
  • A valid EU or EEA licence follows its own official route.
  • A foreign-licence exchange depends on the issuing-country group and individual conditions.
  • Start by identifying your route, then check the current gov.pt and IMT information.

Contents

Route 1: Get a first Portuguese driving licence

Choose this route when you need a first Portuguese driving licence. The official gov.pt guide states that this route requires living in Portugal for at least 185 days. It is completed through a driving school, with the theory and practical examinations required for the licence category you choose. Read the current official guide before enrolling so that you can check whether this route fits your circumstances.

Route 2: Use a foreign driving licence

A foreign licence is not assessed through one universal rule. The official service states that a valid licence issued by an EU or EEA country has its own route and may be used in Portugal until the expiry date shown on the document, subject to the applicable official conditions. For another issuing-country group, use the current IMT information rather than assuming that the EU/EEA route applies.

Route 3: Exchange a foreign driving licence

An exchange may be relevant when the applicable official route requires or permits a Portuguese licence in place of a foreign one. IMT separates foreign-licence exchange information by issuing-country group, and the applicable exchange conditions depend on the individual case. Identify the country that issued your licence, open the current IMT route for that group, and follow the official information that applies to your circumstances.

Official sources

Frequently asked questions