If you move to Portugal and have a driver’s license from your home country, you may be able to exchange it for a Portuguese license without taking a practical exam. This process is called the exchange (or troca, in Portuguese) of a driver’s license and is carried out at the IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes).
In this guide you will find who can make the exchange, the necessary documents and the step-by-step instructions to complete the process.

Who can exchange their driving license in Portugal?

• Holders of licenses issued in countries with a reciprocity agreement with Portugal (for example, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, among others). View countries
• Residents in Portugal with a valid residence permit .
• Persons whose license is valid and issued before obtaining residence in Portugal.

Deadline for making the exchange

If you obtain residency in Portugal, you must take into account these deadlines for exchanging your driving license (counted from the date of your residency authorization):

• Up to 90 days: You can continue driving with your foreign license, but you must start the exchange process at the IMT.
• From 90 days to 2 years: you can start the exchange order, but you will no longer be able to drive in Portugal with your foreign license.
• After 2 years: you will not be able to drive with your foreign license and, to obtain the Portuguese letter, you must take and pass a practical driving test .

💡 Tip: Don’t wait until the deadline. Starting the process early will save you from problems and potential penalties.

Required documents

These are the documents required to exchange your driving license in Portugal

• Original and valid driver’s license. No exchanges are made with an expired license, and it must have been issued before the Portuguese residency permit.
• Apostilled and translated certificate of legality of the license (requested from the corresponding entity in your country of issue) and consular certificate (requested from the Embassy of your country in Portugal)
• Residence document in Portugal (residence card or citizenship card).
• NIF (Tax Identification Number).
• Electronic medical certificate issued in Portugal (it can be in a health center or private clinic).
• Tax domicile certificate , if the residence does not match the one shown on the residency certificate
• Official IMT form (to be filled out on the spot).

Step-by-step process for the exchange

1. Gather the documentation: including the medical certificate.
2. Enter the official IMT website: My driving letter
3. Register with your NIF and senha from the financial portal
4. Complete the form and attach the corresponding documents
5. Make the corresponding fee payment (approx. 30 euros)
6. Wait to be contacted by the IMT to schedule an appointment
7. Attend the appointment to have your biometric data taken
8. Your new Portuguese driving license will arrive by mail at your home address.

💡Important: Some countries, like Colombia, require a practical exam to register a vehicle.

While you wait for your Portuguese license to arrive, you will receive a temporary driving permit, which is valid only in Portugal.

Practical tips

• Check if your country has an updated exchange agreement on the IMT Portal .
• Check that the certificate of legality shows the date of your first license, so that they put that date on the Portuguese license, since having more seniority as a driver is advantageous for car insurance.
• Keep the original license delivery receipt until you receive the Portuguese one.

Are you thinking of buying a car in Portugal?

Besides changing your driver’s license, you might be considering getting your own car. This video from Amiga Viajera explains everything you need to know to buy a car in Portugal: requirements, costs, and key steps.