Can Foreigners Drive in Portugal? Rules Explained

Foreigners can drive in Portugal using a driving licence from their home country, but the rules change depending on where the licence was issued and whether the person is visiting or living in Portugal. Some residents can continue using their foreign licence without exchanging it, while others must apply for a Portuguese licence and may lose the right to drive after a specific deadline.

According to the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT), the Portuguese authority responsible for driving licences, the most important differences concern EU/EEA licences, licences from certain OECD and CPLP countries, and licences from other countries.

Here is what foreigners need to know before driving in Portugal in 2026.

Can foreigners drive in Portugal with their home country licence?

Yes. Foreigners do not always need to obtain a Portuguese driving licence before getting behind the wheel.

Portugal recognises certain foreign driving licences under national law and international agreements. However, a licence being valid in your home country does not automatically mean it is accepted in Portugal.

The first thing to check is which country issued your licence and whether Portugal recognises it.

There are three main situations:

• EU/EEA licences: Generally accepted until the expiry date printed on the licence.
• Certain OECD and CPLP licences: Can remain valid even after the holder becomes a Portuguese resident, provided specific conditions are met.
• Other recognised foreign licences: Can be used for a limited period, after which an exchange may be necessary.

The rules are explained in Article 125 of the Portuguese Highway Code and on the official IMT website.

If you have an EU or EEA driving licence

If your driving licence was issued in an EU member state, you can drive in Portugal without exchanging it for a Portuguese licence.

The same applies to licences issued in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, which belong to the European Economic Area (EEA).

For example, someone moving from France, Germany, Spain or Italy to Portugal does not normally need to take another driving test or exchange their licence immediately.

However, there is one important requirement for residents.

If you establish residence in Portugal, you must register your foreign EU/EEA driving licence with the IMT within 60 days.

This is simply an administrative registration. It does not mean you have to surrender your licence or obtain a new one immediately.

If your licence has an expiry date, you can generally continue using it until that date.

If your licence has no expiry date, such as certain older lifetime licences, you must exchange it within two years of establishing residence.

Can Brazilian, British and other OECD/CPLP licence holders drive in Portugal?

Yes. This is one of the most important exceptions in Portuguese driving licence rules.

Under Decree-Law No. 46/2022, Portugal introduced special recognition rules for eligible driving licences issued by certain countries belonging to the OECD and CPLP.

This means that some foreigners can continue driving with their original licence even after receiving Portuguese residency.

For example, a Brazilian national who moves to Portugal does not automatically have to exchange their Brazilian driving licence simply because they have received a residence permit.

The same special recognition can apply to eligible licences from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and other listed countries.

Which countries are covered?

According to the IMT, the relevant countries include:

CPLP countries:

• Brazil
• Angola
• Cabo Verde
• Mozambique
• São Tomé and Príncipe

OECD countries outside the EU/EEA:

• Australia
• Canada
• Chile
• South Korea
• United States
• Iceland
• Israel
• Japan
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• Switzerland
• Turkey

Not every country automatically qualifies just because it belongs to the OECD or CPLP. The licence must also meet the relevant international convention or bilateral agreement requirements.

What conditions must you meet?

To continue driving in Portugal with one of these licences, you must meet all the following conditions:

• Your licence must be valid.
• No more than 15 years must have passed since it was issued or last renewed.
• You must be under 60 years old.
• Your issuing country must have the required international convention membership or bilateral agreement with Portugal.
• You must meet the minimum driving age in Portugal for the vehicle category.
• Your licence must not be suspended, cancelled, expired or legally withdrawn.

What does this mean in practice?

Imagine someone moves from Brazil to Portugal at the age of 35. Their Brazilian driving licence was renewed five years ago and remains valid.

If all the other requirements are met, that person can continue driving in Portugal using the Brazilian licence even after becoming a resident.

They do not have to exchange it simply because they received a Portuguese residence permit.

However, if the licence is more than 15 years old without renewal, or the holder is already 60, the special recognition conditions are not met.

These requirements are confirmed on the IMT’s official page for OECD and CPLP driving licences.

What about Indian, South African and other foreign driving licences?

This is where many foreigners need to be particularly careful.

Not all foreign driving licences receive the same treatment as Brazilian or British licences.

India, for example, is not covered by the special OECD/CPLP exemption. However, India participates in international road traffic conventions, meaning eligible Indian driving licences can be recognised under the general foreign licence rules.

The same country-specific assessment is necessary for South African and other non-EU licences.

If you are visiting Portugal

If you hold an eligible licence from a country covered by the international convention or reciprocity arrangements, you can generally drive in Portugal for up to 185 days after entering the country, provided you have not established residence.

In simple terms, this means a tourist visiting Portugal can use an eligible foreign driving licence for approximately six months without immediately exchanging it.

An International Driving Permit may also be needed or useful depending on the licence and applicable requirements. Remember that it must accompany the original national driving licence.

If you become a Portuguese resident

The situation changes once you establish residence.

The IMT’s detailed guidance currently explains the following deadlines for the foreign licences covered by its general exchange procedure:

• First 90 days: You can continue driving with your foreign licence, but you must submit an exchange application to the IMT.
• After 90 days and up to two years: You can still apply for an exchange, but you cannot drive using your foreign licence.
• After two years: You cannot drive with the foreign licence, and a practical driving test is required if you want to exchange it.

This is an important distinction: having permission to submit an exchange application does not mean you still have permission to drive.

Important clarification: The gov.pt service page also describes a two-year exchange period for certain bilateral-agreement licences, while the IMT’s detailed guidance describes the 90-day driving limit for its general category. These published explanations are not fully aligned. Anyone whose licence falls into a bilateral-agreement category should confirm their exact deadline directly with the IMT rather than relying on the two-year exchange deadline as permission to drive.

Can you drive with a foreign licence while waiting for IMT approval?

This is a practical problem that many foreigners discuss in expat communities.

People sharing their experiences on Reddit’s Portugal expat community report that foreign licence exchanges can take several months. Some describe waiting for application reviews, additional documents, appointments and the final Portuguese licence.

For example, in an October 2025 discussion, one person reported waiting almost nine months from the initial application to receiving the new licence. Other contributors described delays of several months or longer.

More recent discussions in 2026 also show people asking about applications remaining under analysis and difficulties arranging appointments.

These are personal experiences, not official IMT processing statistics. However, they highlight why foreigners should not leave their application until the last moment.

Most importantly, a pending application does not automatically extend your legal right to drive. If your 90-day driving period has ended, you should not assume you can continue driving just because the IMT has not finished processing your application.

Always check whether you have received an official temporary document or authorisation that specifically allows you to drive.

How can you exchange your foreign driving licence for a Portuguese one?

If your licence needs to be exchanged, you can start the process online through the IMT.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the official IMT platform

Go to https://aminhacartadeconducao.imt-ip.pt/.

Step 2: Complete the exchange application

Log in, select the foreign driving licence exchange service and complete the required information.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

Depending on your country and situation, you may need:

• Valid passport or identification document.
• Portuguese residence authorisation.
• Valid foreign driving licence.
• Certificate confirming the authenticity of your foreign licence.
• Medical certificate.
• Psychological assessment certificate for certain vehicle categories.
• Portuguese tax domicile certificate, if required.
• Certified translation, where applicable.

The authenticity certificate is particularly important because it helps the IMT confirm that your licence is genuine and identifies which vehicle categories you obtained through an examination.

Step 4: Wait for IMT instructions

After submitting the application, wait for the IMT to contact you with further instructions.

You may need to attend an IMT office to present original documents, provide your photograph and signature, and complete the exchange process.

You can find the official requirements on the IMT foreign licence exchange page.

What if your country does not have a recognised driving licence agreement?

Some countries do not participate in the international road traffic conventions recognised by Portugal and do not have an applicable bilateral agreement.

In these cases, the foreign driving licence is not accepted for driving in Portugal.

You cannot simply use it for six months as a tourist.

If you want to drive legally, you must apply for a Portuguese licence and complete the required examinations.

The process can include theoretical and practical driving tests for each category you want to obtain.

This is why checking the country-specific rules before driving is essential.

What should foreigners remember before driving in Portugal?

Even if your foreign licence is recognised, you must follow the same road rules as Portuguese drivers.

A few important things to remember:

• Drive on the right-hand side of the road.
• Seat belts are compulsory for drivers and passengers.
• Using a handheld mobile phone while driving is prohibited, except in legally permitted circumstances.
• The general legal alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l of blood, reduced to 0.2 g/l for certain drivers, including newly licensed and professional drivers.
• Follow the speed limits displayed on road signs.
• Make sure the vehicle has valid insurance and the required documents.

Foreign nationality does not provide an exemption from Portuguese traffic laws.

Final takeaway: Check your licence before getting behind the wheel

Foreigners can drive in Portugal, but the rules depend on their driving licence and residency situation.

If you have an EU/EEA licence, you generally only need to register it with the IMT after establishing residence. If you have an eligible Brazilian, British, American or other OECD/CPLP licence, you may be able to continue driving even after becoming a Portuguese resident.

For many other foreign licence holders, however, the 90-day deadline after obtaining residence authorisation is particularly important.

Do not wait until your licence is no longer accepted to start checking the exchange process. Confirm your country’s requirements directly with the IMT, prepare your documents early and make sure you remain legally authorised to drive.

For foreigners living in Portugal, understanding these rules can prevent unnecessary problems, fines and interruptions to everyday life.