Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Portugal (IMT Guide)

Can you drive in Portugal with your licence from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or Nepal? And can you exchange a foreign driving licence for a Portuguese one? The answer depends on which country issued your licence and how long you have lived in Portugal. The Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT) is responsible. This guide explains the rules in simple terms.

Three groups of licences

The IMT divides foreign licences into groups:

The “conventions” are the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949) and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968).

What about South Asian licences?

The IMT publishes a list of countries that signed one of the conventions. When we checked the IMT list in September 2026:

• India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were on the list of convention countries.
• Pakistan and Nepal were not on the convention list, and they were not on the IMT list of bilateral agreements either.

This means that, based on the IMT lists:

• a licence from India or Bangladesh can generally be exchanged without a driving test, if you apply on time;
• a licence from Pakistan or Nepal is treated as a licence from a non-convention country. It is not valid for driving in Portugal, and to exchange it you must pass the theory and practical tests.

Lists can change. Always check the current IMT lists (links at the end) before you decide. If you think your country should be on the list, ask the IMT directly.

Visitors: the 185-day rule

If you do not live in Portugal (for example you are a tourist), you can drive with a licence from a bilateral-agreement or convention country for up to 185 days from the day after you enter the country.

Residents: the deadlines matter

When you become a resident, the clock starts. The IMT counts these deadlines from the date your residence permit was issued. For licences from bilateral-agreement or convention countries:

• Up to 90 days: you can still drive with your foreign licence, but you must apply for the exchange at the IMT within this period.
• From 90 days up to 2 years: you can still ask for the exchange, but you can no longer drive with your foreign licence.
• After 2 years: you can no longer drive with the foreign licence, and to exchange it you must pass a practical driving test.

So the best advice is simple: apply in the first 90 days after you get your residence permit.

How to apply

The exchange request is made online.

1. Get a medical certificate. Your doctor issues it on the electronic platform for medical certificates. You do not need to send a copy. It is sent to the IMT automatically.
2. Log in to the IMT portal “A Minha Carta de Condução” and fill in the exchange form.
3. Attach your documents (see the list below).
4. Submit the request and wait. The IMT will contact you to come to a service counter.
5. At the counter, you hand in your foreign licence and give your photo and signature (biometric data).
6. Receive your Portuguese licence by post, or collect it at an IMT counter if you prefer.

Documents

According to the IMT, attach:

• your identity document;
• proof of residence (the IMT list mentions registration of residence with the local council for people without a Portuguese Citizen Card);
• a certificate of your tax address from the Portal das Finanças, if your address is not on your residence document;
• your passport, if your residence document does not include your photo and signature;
• your foreign driving licence;
• a psychological assessment certificate, if you want to exchange professional categories C, D or E;
• for bilateral-agreement and convention countries: a certificate of authenticity of your licence, issued by the authority that issued it or by your consulate. It must show which categories you got by exam (and what type of test) and which by equivalence.

Getting the certificate of authenticity can take time. Contact your country’s licensing authority or consulate early.

How much does it cost?

• Exchange request: €30. The IMT gives a 10% discount if you apply online.
• For non-convention licences (such as Pakistan or Nepal): the theory test and the practical test cost an extra €30 each, according to the IMT.

Driving schools may charge for lessons and for preparing you for the tests. Those are private prices.

If your licence is from a non-convention country

Here is the path, step by step:

1. Do not drive in Portugal with that licence.
2. Get your medical certificate and submit the exchange request online, like everyone else.
3. The IMT will schedule a multimedia theory test and a practical driving test for each category.
4. If you pass, the IMT issues your Portuguese licence. If you want more categories, the other tests are scheduled.

Many people take lessons at a driving school before the practical test, to learn Portuguese road rules and the test routes.

Common mistakes

• Waiting too long. After 90 days, you cannot drive with the foreign licence. After 2 years, you need a practical test even for convention countries.
• Driving with a licence that is not valid. This can lead to fines and serious problems with insurance after an accident.
• Missing the certificate of authenticity. Without it, the request can be delayed.
• Wrong address. Your new licence is sent by post. Keep your address up to date.

Quick checklist

• Check if your country is on the IMT convention list or bilateral list.
• Get your residence permit, then apply within 90 days.
• Ask your doctor for the electronic medical certificate.
• Prepare the certificate of authenticity (convention countries).
• Apply online and pay €30 (10% discount online).

Official sources

• IMT – Exchange: countries with agreements or that signed the conventions
• IMT – Exchange: countries that did not sign the conventions
• IMT – List of convention countries (PDF)
• IMT – List of bilateral agreements on driving licences (PDF)
• IMT – User manual for the exchange platform (PDF)

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change often; check with the official body before acting. Last updated: 28 September 2026.