Third-country licences — issuing-authority validity declaration is mandatory
Verified
FACT ID · driving-third-country-authentication
Canonical value
For a non-EU/EEA (third-country) licence, the exchange file must always include a declaration attesting the licence’s validity, issued by the licence’s own issuing service OR by the country’s embassy (RHLC Art. 14.º n.º 2 c)). This is a standing requirement for every third-country exchange, not a step triggered only by suspicion. Art. 14.º n.º 3 allows it to be replaced by a verified electronic declaration of equal value, or by official electronic consultation of the issuer’s data where officially validated. Only definitive (non-provisional) licences of a model approved by the issuing country may be exchanged (Art. 14.º n.º 2).●Verified ·
Issuing authority
Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir (DL n.º 138/2012), Art. 14.º
Legal instrument
RHLC (DL n.º 138/2012), Art. 14.º n.º 2 c) e n.º 3
Last verified
Review cadence
quarterly
Notes
Distinct from Art. 128.º n.º 7 b) of the Código da Estrada, which allows a practical exam ONLY where authenticity is in doubt: the n.º 2 c) validity declaration is the routine authentication every third-country file carries, while the n.º 7 b) exam is the exceptional consequence if authenticity cannot be established. Plan the issuing-authority or embassy declaration into the timeline for any third-country licence (e.g. a Cambodian one).
Change history
Initial captureFor a non-EU/EEA (third-country) licence, the exchange file must always include a declaration attesting the licence’s validity, issued by the licence’s own issuing service OR by the country’s embassy (RHLC Art. 14.º n.º 2 c)). This is a standing requirement for every third-country exchange, not a step triggered only by suspicion. Art. 14.º n.º 3 allows it to be replaced by a verified electronic declaration of equal value, or by official electronic consultation of the issuer’s data where officially validated. Only definitive (non-provisional) licences of a model approved by the issuing country may be exchanged (Art. 14.º n.º 2).
No further changes recorded yet — unchanged since it was first captured.
