Our temporary paper drivers licenses expired on February 1st. We went to the ACP (Auto Club of Portugal) and asked them what we should do. So for 10 Euro's each, they took our paper licenses, gave us photocopies of our licenses with their stamp on it, and will have someone go to IMT to renew them. It may take up to 2 weeks. It's been a week so far.
Paul and I have been very fortunate in not having any issues with Portuguese bureaucracy up until now. I'm pretty sure this experience is going to make an interesting article on the blog soon.
If you have any other questions about this, drop me an email. You can find out how on the home page of the blog on the tabs on top. CW
Your article about driving and licensing in Portugal was very informative! Love reading about all your adventures and I’m glad you got a car makes exploring much easier
Hello, great article. The rules changed in July. Many foreign residents, including Americans now can drive on there American license until it expires up to the age of 60.
Thank you for your comment, Ludmila. I did hear about the changes but could not find an official notice about it. If you know where that is cited in the IMT website or other official resource, please let me know and I'll make a notation in the post. - CW
Thanks Carol, IMT is a Portuguese agency so with bureaucracy at its finest not sure how soon they’ll update their site but the legal firm lvpadvogados from Lisboa article references the legal law number if that helps.
Thank you Carol! Very informative and helpful, as usual! Excellent information!
And if you get anywhere near Rhode Island when you return to the States, please let me know! I would love to meet you two! You can reach me at Feenagh4@icloud.com.
Thanks for the link, Ludmila. I have seen this article as well. I have made an Author notation about this in the post, although I think the ruling is still unclear (yes, I know...typical for Portugal). I appreciate your help in locating this unofficial citation. - CW
Here you go- official-http://www.imtonline.pt/index.php/troca-de-titulos-conducao-estrangeiros/troca-de-titulos-de-conducao109/9-uncategorised/2287-5-situacao-ocde-cplp
1. Made sure that the doctor you use is registered with the IMT. I went to the hospital de Luz here in Aveiro and got the medical for the driver's license only to be told, when I submitted it online, that the doctor wasn't one of the registered ones. I had to find one that was and retake the exam.
2. You can submit the paperwork in person at your local IMT office. That's what I had to do after trying to submit several times and getting a response (that you cannot respond to) saying that one or another document wasn't correct. Finally took all the paperwork down to my local IMT office and walked out less than an hour later with my temporary license. Permanent one came in the mail about two months later. Not sure if all IMT offices accept in-person walk-ins but it worked for me when the online submission finally got too much.
Otherwise, a great guide and thoroughly researched.
Thanks for your comments, Rob. I'll make a note in the post regarding the doctors/exams. I'm wondering if when you tried to apply online if you used more than one browser? I often find that I have to use a browser such as Firefox instead of Chrome to fill in forms online. In any event, I do appreciate your comments. Thanks for your input! - CW
Re-reading this now as we start our own process and wondering if your licenses have arrived yet.
Hello Scott,
Our temporary paper drivers licenses expired on February 1st. We went to the ACP (Auto Club of Portugal) and asked them what we should do. So for 10 Euro's each, they took our paper licenses, gave us photocopies of our licenses with their stamp on it, and will have someone go to IMT to renew them. It may take up to 2 weeks. It's been a week so far.
Paul and I have been very fortunate in not having any issues with Portuguese bureaucracy up until now. I'm pretty sure this experience is going to make an interesting article on the blog soon.
If you have any other questions about this, drop me an email. You can find out how on the home page of the blog on the tabs on top. CW
Wow carol! Great information. Thanks!
Very detailed and informative information regarding driver's license.
Thank you for sharing.
Your article about driving and licensing in Portugal was very informative! Love reading about all your adventures and I’m glad you got a car makes exploring much easier
Thanks for your comment, Ellen. We're mapping out road trips for 2023! - CW
Hello, great article. The rules changed in July. Many foreign residents, including Americans now can drive on there American license until it expires up to the age of 60.
Thank you for your comment, Ludmila. I did hear about the changes but could not find an official notice about it. If you know where that is cited in the IMT website or other official resource, please let me know and I'll make a notation in the post. - CW
Thanks Carol, IMT is a Portuguese agency so with bureaucracy at its finest not sure how soon they’ll update their site but the legal firm lvpadvogados from Lisboa article references the legal law number if that helps.
https://www.lvpadvogados.com/new-requirements-for-foreign-driving-licences-in-portugal
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2022-08-01/new-laws-for-foreign-driving-license-come-into-force/69119
https://www.portugalresident.com/driving-licence-rule-changes-do-away-with-need-to-exchange/
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/portugal-now-recognises-several-foreign-issued-driving-licenses/
Thank you Carol! Very informative and helpful, as usual! Excellent information!
And if you get anywhere near Rhode Island when you return to the States, please let me know! I would love to meet you two! You can reach me at Feenagh4@icloud.com.
Thank you Barb. I have sent you a private message via email in response. - CW
Thanks for the link, Ludmila. I have seen this article as well. I have made an Author notation about this in the post, although I think the ruling is still unclear (yes, I know...typical for Portugal). I appreciate your help in locating this unofficial citation. - CW
Here you go- official-http://www.imtonline.pt/index.php/troca-de-titulos-conducao-estrangeiros/troca-de-titulos-de-conducao109/9-uncategorised/2287-5-situacao-ocde-cplp
A couple of corrections:
1. Made sure that the doctor you use is registered with the IMT. I went to the hospital de Luz here in Aveiro and got the medical for the driver's license only to be told, when I submitted it online, that the doctor wasn't one of the registered ones. I had to find one that was and retake the exam.
2. You can submit the paperwork in person at your local IMT office. That's what I had to do after trying to submit several times and getting a response (that you cannot respond to) saying that one or another document wasn't correct. Finally took all the paperwork down to my local IMT office and walked out less than an hour later with my temporary license. Permanent one came in the mail about two months later. Not sure if all IMT offices accept in-person walk-ins but it worked for me when the online submission finally got too much.
Otherwise, a great guide and thoroughly researched.
Rob
Thanks for your comments, Rob. I'll make a note in the post regarding the doctors/exams. I'm wondering if when you tried to apply online if you used more than one browser? I often find that I have to use a browser such as Firefox instead of Chrome to fill in forms online. In any event, I do appreciate your comments. Thanks for your input! - CW