When the UK left the EU on January 31 2020, a transition period regarding recognition/exchange of driving licences between Portugal and the UK was established that will continue until December 31 2020.
UK citizens will be able to drive in Portugal with a UK driving licence until December 31 2020. During this Brexit transition period the UK’s recognition/exchange of driving licences existing before Brexit is maintained. That is, UK driving licences are considered EU driving licences.
Navigating the issue regarding what driving licences are valid in Portugal in the Brexit transition/post Brexit periods is not easy. That’s why I prepared the following Q&A, after consulting and translating documentation supplied by Portugal’s Transport Authority, IMT (last updated on March 6 2020).
Will I be able to continue driving with my British driving licence in Portugal?
Until the end of the Brexit transition period (December 31 2020) your UK driving licence is considered a EU driving licence. As a UK citizen you will be able to drive with your British licence in Portugal and other EU Member States.
From January 1 2021 driving licenses issued by the UK are considered non-EU licences. Because of that, Portuguese legislation on the recognition of driving licences issued by non-Eu countries applies.
As a UK driving licence holder this means that you will continue to be able to drive motor vehicles for 185 days from your entry into Portugal, provided you are not a resident in Portugal. (See below for “Driving licences for UK citizens taking up residence in Portugal”).
NOTE: If an agreement on mutual recognition of driving licences is signed between the UK and Portugal, the new rules of that eventual agreement will prevail.
What about UK citizens who transfer their residence to Portugal after Brexit?
From January 1 2021 UK driving licence holders will be able to drive motor vehicles for 185 days from their entry into Portugal, provided they are not residents in Portugal. (See below).
Driving licences for UK citizens taking up residence in Portugal
After taking up residence in Portugal following the Brexit transition period, UK citizens will have 90 days to change their UK licence to a Portuguese licence, otherwise they will no longer be authorised to drive.
During the period of 2 years from the date of residence, UK citizens can exchange their UK driving licence to a Portuguese driving licence, with no need to carry out a practical driving test.
After the end of the two-year period, the exchange of the UK licence for Portuguese licence is subject to a practical driving test.
Will new residents (who enter Portugal after Brexit) have to take a driving test in order to exchange their licence for a Portuguese one?
After December 31, 2020, new residents in Portugal who hold a UK driving licence have a period of 90 days (counting from the date of residence), to exchange their driving licence. Otherwise they will no longer be allowed to drive.
During the period of two years from the date of residence, they can exchange the UK licence to the Portuguese licence, with no need to carry out a practical driving test.
At the end of the two-year period, the exchange of the UK licence for Portuguese licence is subject to a practical driving test.
Until the end of the Brexit transition period (December 31,2020), for the reasons stated above, you do not have to exchange your UK driving licence for a Portuguese license.
During the Brexit transition period, if a UK citizen still wants to exchange licences, they will be exempted from the delivery of a certificate of authenticity of their original licence, under the same terms as the driving licence holders of EU Member States.
What’s the process for exchanging a UK driving licence to a Portuguese driving licence?
After the end of the Brexit transition period (December 31, 2020), the following documents will be necessary for the process of exchanging a UK driving license into a Portuguese driving licence:
- Identification document;
- Proof of residence in Portugal or student status in Portuguese territory;
- Tax Identification Number (Portugal NIF);
- Medical certificate (confirming you are fit to drive);
- Original foreign driving license;
- Declaration proving the authenticity of the original driving license issued by the issuing service.
Present the above documents at Portugal’s Transport Authority – IMT (Instituto de Mobilidade e dos Transportes).
IMT (Instituto de Mobilidade e dos Transportes):
Av. das Forças Armadas 40
1649-022 Lisbon
Phone: + 351 217 949 000 | Email: imt@imt-ip.pt | Website: www.imt-ip.pt
How much does it cost to exchange a UK driving licence for a Portuguese one?
- € 30 if application is placed within two years;
- € 75 If application is made after the legal period of two years (€ 15 for the issuance of the learner’s licence + € 30 for the practical exam + € 30 for the issuance of the licence).
If I exchange my British driving licence for a Portuguese one, will I be able to drive in the UK after the end of the Brexit transition period?
That will depend on the legislation that the UK adopts on this matter.
If I exchange my British driving licence for a Portuguese one, will I be able to drive in the other EU countries after the Brexit transition period ends?
Yes. As a holder of a Portuguese driving licence, you can drive in all other EU Member States.
As a British tourist who will not stay for longer than 185 days in Portugal, do I have to apply for an International Driving Licence after the Brexit transition period ends?
No. The UK has ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention. This means UK licensees can drive in Portugal for a maximum of 185 days without the need to present an International Driving Licence.
Related Questions:
Is it safe to drive in Lisbon?
Many drivers new to Lisbon, particularly those already used to driving on the right hand-side of the road, might find that driving in Lisbon is not much more challenging than in their own busy cities. Local drivers don’t perceive Lisbon as unsafe, just intense. Manoeuvring in some of Lisbon’s narrow streets takes skill and the kind of nerve that can be developed with practise.
Neighbourhoods with narrow one-way streets, like Alfama and Mouraria, are usually only fun to drive in if you are not in a hurry or if you love a challenge. Many local drivers have developed swift manoeuvring skills that might appear risky (and sometimes are).
See below for a real time driving in Lisbon video:
Can I enrol in a driving school to practise driving in Lisbon?
Yes. The driving school Segurança Máxima, which has schools throughout greater Lisbon, offers courses specially targeted at drivers who already hold a valid driving licence but are too afraid to drive in intense traffic areas such as Lisbon.
If you come from a country where driving on the left is the norm, driving in Lisbon with confidence will take some adjusting. Not only will you need to get used to drive on the right hand-side, but also to drive from the a different seat and using your right hand to change gears.
The Segurança Máxima “training classes for licensees” (aulas de treino para encartados) could be the answer if you feel you need the expert guidance of a driving instructor to help you get accustomed to the Portuguese road environment.
The Segurança Máxima website page on these training classes promises to develop the “automatisms necessary for safe driving” through a method of controlled immersion in the road environment to replicate everyday experience. It would not be difficult to arrange these classes with an instructor who speaks English, given that most Portuguese people under 50 with a high school education can speak it well enough to be understood.
What is the best driving school in Lisbon in English:
If you’re an English-speaker and need to get a driving license in Lisbon, there are currently 2 driving schools that offer theoretical and practical driving lessons in English:
- Escola de Conducao Radical
- Escola de Conducao Sao Lazaro
They also organise for a translated theory test.
The driving examiner might not speak English, but you can organise for an interpreter on the driving test day through your embassy.
ESCOLA DE CONDUÇÃO RADICAL (Anjos neighbourhood):
Av. General Roçadas, 48-A
1170-163 Lisbon
ESCOLA DE CONDUÇÃO SÃO LÁZARO (Intendente neighbourhood);
R. Nova do Desterro, 1
1150-240 Lisbon
Happy Driving!
Read related articles:
Planning your trip to Portugal: What you should know before you leave
If you are travelling to Portugal any time soon, you want to plan it just right so you have a worry-free time when you get there. There are a few Portugal-specific tips you will be glad you prepared for - and that’s what this article is for. Portugal is a developed...
How Portugal Addresses Work: 8 essential tips to keep in mind
Understanding addresses in Portugal takes some know-how, but it’s not as hard as it might look. You only need to memorise a few Portuguese postal conventions to be able to address correspondence properly and to get around with confidence. So, hold tight as we guide...
Where to Buy Furniture in Portugal: Best online stores ultimate guide
Looking for a unique furniture piece to match the charm of your Lisbon apartment? Or maybe you want to furnish your entire home in Algarve, but without breaking the bank? Fortunately for those of us who prefer to avoid the wall-to wall IKEA route, Portugal now has...
