Getting a Portuguese Driving Licence

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Getting a Portuguese Driving Licence

The Portuguese word for driving licence is Carta de Condução.

If a driver in Portugal has a foreign driving licence that cannot be exchanged for a Portuguese one they will need to take the full theory, practical and, for some categories of licence, oral, examination in Portuguese. This also applies to anyone getting a licence for the fist time.

• For information on exchanging a licence see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Portugal

The information below is a basic guide to the process involved in applying for and taking a Portuguese driving test. The Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres (IMTT) is responsible for issuing licenses. For detailed and specific information, enquire at a driving school or the local office of IMTT.

• For the contact details of local IMTT offices: Click here (in Portuguese)

Driving Licences in Portugal

• For an overview (in Portuguese): Click here

Vehicles requiring a limited licence

The following vehicles require a Licença de Condução, essentially not a full driver's licence. To qualify, the driver must be at least 16 years of age, or 14 years with parental consent:

• Mopeds with an engine size of up to 50cc and maximum speed of 45 Km/h
• Mini-cars and electric cars with under 1 Kw power
• Tractors or agricultural machines with a maximum speed of 40 Km/h

Categories of licence

• Class A: required to drive a motorcycle over 50cc with or without sidecar
• Class A1: required to drive a motorcycle up to 125cc and power up to 11 KW
• Class B1: required to drive a vehicle (tricycles and quadricyles) that has an engine size of 50cc and less
• Class B: required to drive a vehicle with a maximum weight of 3.5 tons, and seating no more than nine passengers, including the driver. This includes standard passenger cars, people carriers and microbuses.
  A Class B licence holder may:
  • tow a trailer with a maximum weight of 750 Kg
  • drive tricycles and heavy power-driven quadrocycles
  • drive a motorcycle of up to 125cc if they have had their B licence for a minimum of two years
• For clear information on vehicle types, age limits and licence classification: Click here (in Portuguese)

Driving Tests in Portugal

Driving exams are in three parts: Theoretical (Teórica), Technical (Técnica) and the Practical Driving Exam (Prática de Condução).

The theory test contains 30 questions to be answered in 35 minutes of which 27 must be correct. There is also an oral Technical Test which lasts 50 minutes. If the candidate is foreign, and does not have sufficient knowledge of Portuguese an Embassy or Consulate accredited interpreter may be taken to the exam. The Practical Test is the same as in all EU countries and takes place through a 40-55 minute course in traffic.

• For details on exam questions from the IMTT: Click here

Applying for a Licence

Basic driving practice can begin at 16 years of age (or 14 years of age for A1/B1 categories) if certain criteria are met. These are:

• Written consent from parent or guardian
• Must not have a police prohibition order (resulting from joyriding or illegal driving)
• Must have the necessary physical, mental and psychological aptitude
• Must have residency in Portugal for at least 185 days of the year
• Must be able to read and write
• Must be enrolled at a government-licensed driving centre

The learner's licence

The learner driver registers with the local IMTT office and a driving school, as described above for a Learner's Driver's Licence (Licença de Aprendizagem).

The driving school will require the following documents:

• Passport (Passaporte) or Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade)
• Residency Permit (Cartão de Residência)
• A completed application form
  • To download the IMTT application form: Click here (PDF, check the box, Licença de Aprendizagem)

The applicant completes a document supplied and stamped by the school and signed by its director. The school supplies all necessary handbooks (Guias), highway codes (Código de Estrada) and other information.

• To find an approved driving school in Portugal: Click here (in Portuguese)
• The Portuguese Highway Code is available from Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária - ANSR: Click here (in Portuguese)

Once signed up with a registered driving school the learner must take an "evaluation of knowledge". If successful, the learner must have a minimum of 32 hours driving practice with a school before taking a general theory test. 

Application for a driving test

Apply at the IMTT or through a driving school for the registration form for a driving licence (Licença de Condução). This must be completed and submitted to the IMTT. If the applicant is a minor, it must be filled in and signed by a parent or guardian (Authorização do Poder Paternal). Driving lesson prices vary from school to school.

• To download the IMTT application form: Click here (PDF, check the box, Licença de Condução)

The following documents are required:

• Proof of identity – Passport (Passaporte), Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade) or Green Residency Card (Cartão de Residência)
• Two recent matt colour identity photos with the applicant's name clearly printed on the back
• Two stamped self-addressed envelopes
• A medical certificate (Atestado Medico para Condutor de Veículos) filled out and signed by a doctor

The practical driving test

An applicant is entitled to five attempts at the practical exam over a two year period.

Exams are taken at a IMTT approved Driving Exam Centre (Centro de Exames de Condução) There are approximately 33 centres nationwide. The exam must be taken in the local area IMTT area of registration. 

• To find an IMTT test centre: Click here

Take the following documents to the test:

• Passport
• ID Card
• Residency Card or Authorisation to Residency Certificate
• Learner's Driving Licence (CLicença de Aprendizagem)
• Instruction Manual (Caderneta de Instruendo)

If the driver fails the exam a Failure Report (Relatório de Reprovação) is issued highlighting the reasons for failure. A new driving test appointment must then be booked by the driving school for a test at the same test centre at a later date.

Once all tests have been passed the driving inspector issues a Temporary Driving Licence (Guia para Condução Temporária or Carta de Condução Provisória/Temporária) for use until the official full document is issued. This permits the driver to drive anywhere in Portugal.

Note: learning to drive and taking the examination in an automatic car does not qualify the driver to a full category B licence.

To get a full driving licence

Take the Guia or Carta de Condução Temporária supplied by the driving inspector and hand it in to the driving school. The school will arrange for and present the new driver with a full driving licence (Carta da Condução) within a few days.

The following will be needed as well as the temporary licence:

• Proof of identity
• Money to pay the tax/fee

Alternatively, the driver may request the licence by post from the IMTT, by sending:

• The Guia or Carta da Conduçaõ Temporária supplied by the driving inspector
• A stamped, self-addressed registered envelope
• A cheque for payment of regional/municipal taxes

Note: Drivers who wear spectacles or contact lenses must ensure that this is stated on the licence. It is compulsory to wear them when driving and contact lens wearers must keep a set of spectacles with them at all times while driving.

There are special exemptions for physically disabled people. Please enquire at the IMTT or driving school.

Portuguese Driving Licence Renewal

From 1 January 2008, all drivers aged 50 and over are obliged to renew their driving licences on a regular basis. The rules cover several types of vehicle including motorbikes, cars with a weight limit of 3.5 tonnes and vehicles with tow bars, where the age limit is due to be reduced from 65 to 50.

• Details available from the IMTT: Click here

The licence renewal process for commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, buses (vehicles with over 8 seats) and vehicles with towing facilities remains unchanged. Drivers of these vehicles must renew their licences regularly once they reach 40 years of age.

To renew a Portuguese driving licence for the first time, drivers require a medical certificate proving they are fit enough to drive. Renewal requests can be made at the IMTT office  or the nearest citizen's shop (Loja do Cidadão).

Revalidation of a Driving Licence

Under Portuguese law there is an obligation for drivers of 70 or over to take a Revalidation Driving Test (Revalidação do Título de Condução).

Six months before a driver reaches 70 they must apply for the Revalidação do Título de Condução from their nearest DGV office. The following documents are needed:

• A medical document attesting physical and mental ability to drive (Atestado Médico)
• Completed IMTT Form requesting revalidation 
  • Can be downloaded: Click here (PDF)
• Two recent matt colour passport photographs with name printed on the reverse
• Passport and identity card (Passaporte e Bilhete de Identidade) - originals and photocopies
• Original driving licence and photocopy
• Fee

Reissue of Lost, Stolen or Expired Licence

A driving licence may be reissued in circumstances of loss, theft, change of personal details (name, address, etc.) or for re-validation.

The following documents are required:

• IMTT form filled out and signed 
  • Can be downloaded: Click here (PDF)
• IMTT form request to reissue second document 
  • To download the form: Click here (PDF)
• Photocopy of passport (main pages) or ID card and presentation of the originals
• Two colour photographs (3.5 x 2.5cm) with name clearly printed on the back
• Fee 

Further Information

• Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMTT)
  At: Terrestres IP, Ave das Forças Armadas 40, 1649-022 Lisboa
  Tel: 217 949 000
  Fax: 217 973 777
  Website
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Driving in Portugal
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Portugal
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Accidents in Portugal
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Car Insurance in Portugal

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