Ao mudar-se para Portugal, saber se — e até quando — tem de trocar a sua carta de condução estrangeira depende de onde foi emitida. As regras abaixo, do IMT e do Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir (DL n.º 138/2012), definem os prazos que começam quando passa a residente, o percurso sem exame para cartas do Reino Unido e de outros países OCDE/convenção, e como a troca é agora submetida online.
Este conjunto de dados — estado em direto
| Regra | O que se aplica | Base legal |
|---|---|---|
| Driving before residence — validity of a foreign licence | Before establishing residence in Portugal, a visitor may drive on a valid foreign driving licence for up to 185 days, counted from the day after entry.VerifiedApplies to those who have not yet fixed residence. Once residence is established, the exchange clock (driving-exchange-clock) applies. | DL n.º 138/2012 — Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir |
| Residents — EU/EEA optional, third-country mandatory | An EU/EEA licence may be kept and driven on until its expiry (registration with the IMT is the only step). A non-EU/EEA (third-country) licence must be exchanged for a Portuguese one to keep driving legally once the holder is resident.VerifiedThe United Kingdom is a third country since Brexit — so a UK licence follows the third-country exchange rule, not the EU/EEA one. | DL n.º 138/2012 — Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir |
| Third-country licence — the exchange clock once resident | From establishing residence: within 90 days you may still drive while lodging the exchange request; from 90 days to 2 years you may still exchange but may no longer drive on the foreign licence; after 2 years the direct exchange closes and a practical driving exam is required.VerifiedThe clock starts when residence is fixed, not on entry. Lodging the exchange within the first 90 days is what preserves the right to keep driving in the meantime. | DL n.º 138/2012 — Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir |
| OECD / convention-signatory licences — direct exchange, no exam | Licences issued by OECD member states that are signatories of the road-traffic conventions (Geneva 1949 / Vienna 1968) — the United Kingdom included — are exchanged without a driving exam, provided the request is made within the recognition window (before the 2-year cut-off).VerifiedConfirmed for the UK against the IMT OECD/CPLP and Brexit guidance. Licences from countries outside this recognition may require a driving exam regardless of timing. | DL n.º 138/2012 — Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir |
| Which foreign licences exchange without an exam — country recognition | Direct exchange (no driving exam) is available for licences issued by OECD member states, CPLP (Portuguese-speaking) countries, and road-convention signatories, or where a bilateral agreement with Portugal applies. A licence from a country in none of these categories is not directly exchangeable — a Portuguese driving exam is required. The IMT maintains the recognised-country list.VerifiedRecognition depends on the issuing country of the licence, not the holder’s nationality. This step is only reached once the holder is resident in Portugal (see driving-exchange-obligation); a non-resident cannot exchange at all, regardless of country. | DL n.º 138/2012 — Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir |
| 1968 Vienna Convention — current contracting parties | The UN Treaty Collection records 91 parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic as at 3 September 2026. The governed party registry used by the Advisor includes Tunisia (accession 5 January 2004), Qatar, UAE, Morocco, the Philippines and the other contracting states listed by the UN depositary.VerifiedThis fact governs treaty participation. The IMT rule in driving-country-recognition governs the Portuguese exchange consequence. Nationality is irrelevant: classification follows the country that issued the licence. Portuguese residence, timing, validity and documents remain separate requirements. | Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968), UN Treaty Collection, Chapter XI.B.19 |
| Qatar driving licences — Vienna Convention recognition | Qatar acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 6 March 2013. Combined with the IMT rule for road-convention signatories, a valid Qatari licence is within the direct-exchange category, subject to the resident exchange window and document verification.VerifiedThis country-specific fact establishes convention participation only. Eligibility still depends on a valid licence, the date Portuguese residence was fixed and IMT document verification. | Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968), UN Treaty Collection; RHLC |
| Tunisia driving licences — Vienna Convention recognition | Tunisia acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 5 January 2004. Combined with the Portuguese recognition rule for road-convention countries, the Tunisian issuing country is within the convention pathway, subject to Portuguese residence, the applicable exchange window and document verification.VerifiedRecognition follows the licence issuing country, not the holder’s passport. A person resident only in Sweden cannot use the Portuguese exchange procedure until Portuguese residence is established. | Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968), UN Treaty Collection; RHLC |
| Exchange is online via the IMT portal (since 21 January 2026) | Since 21 January 2026 the exchange (Troca de Título de Condução Estrangeiro) is submitted online through the "A Minha Carta de Condução" portal. A medical certificate (atestado médico) is required, and the original foreign licence is surrendered to the IMT.VerifiedIMT typically processes a complete application within about 30–60 days, longer if it must verify the licence with the issuing authority. | — |
