Great article and very helpful! One point that I’m confused about in where you mention that you have 90 days to exchange for a Portuguese license. I thought that rule only applies for individuals over the age of 65 and to others with excessive infractions?
I’m hoping that your comment may be incorrect as I’ve been driving close to a year here, but also in my 50’s with no past infractions on my record.
Wow, glad you finally got your PT licenses at last! Nine months is indeed frustrating. We’ve heard several similar stories of lengthy delays at IMT like the ones you experienced—and as some of our other friends like Mary/Mike and Ingrid/Michael have noted in their comments as well. (It IS a small world here, isn’t it?!) Anyway, it is encouraging that you encountered folks in every case, it seems, who did their best to be friendly and as helpful as possible given the issues with a system they don’t control. That’s been Sarah’s and my experience so far in all our dealings with SEF, hospitals, Navegante passes, etc. We elected to not try to get PT licenses so it’s good to know friends who have them, LOL!
I'm glad to hear you finally got them. I am headed to Setubal to exchange mine right before my two year mark. Poor Mike has to start all over again. He and I had identical information sent to IMT - mine was accepted his was not! Who knows????
Helpful hint: before surrendering your driver's license to Portugal, contact your local DMV in the US & tell them you lost your license & need a duplicate. Be sure to give Portugal the old version, as it has some different numbers.
We used to live just around the corner from the IMT in Saldanha. More than 6 months after applying for my license, we moved to Cascais. We went back to IMT to tell them we moved, & check on our status. I got my license (delivered to Cascais) after 8 months. My husband has now been waiting 10 months, still nothing! We also had to go to US for a visit, & were happy to still have US licenses!
Frustration, frustration, frustration
Great article and very helpful! One point that I’m confused about in where you mention that you have 90 days to exchange for a Portuguese license. I thought that rule only applies for individuals over the age of 65 and to others with excessive infractions?
I’m hoping that your comment may be incorrect as I’ve been driving close to a year here, but also in my 50’s with no past infractions on my record.
Thank you
WOW ! And..........I thought it was bad in RI ! Very happy you both received your licenses
Wow, glad you finally got your PT licenses at last! Nine months is indeed frustrating. We’ve heard several similar stories of lengthy delays at IMT like the ones you experienced—and as some of our other friends like Mary/Mike and Ingrid/Michael have noted in their comments as well. (It IS a small world here, isn’t it?!) Anyway, it is encouraging that you encountered folks in every case, it seems, who did their best to be friendly and as helpful as possible given the issues with a system they don’t control. That’s been Sarah’s and my experience so far in all our dealings with SEF, hospitals, Navegante passes, etc. We elected to not try to get PT licenses so it’s good to know friends who have them, LOL!
Thanks for the great info.
I'm glad to hear you finally got them. I am headed to Setubal to exchange mine right before my two year mark. Poor Mike has to start all over again. He and I had identical information sent to IMT - mine was accepted his was not! Who knows????
Hi Carol! Love your column!
Helpful hint: before surrendering your driver's license to Portugal, contact your local DMV in the US & tell them you lost your license & need a duplicate. Be sure to give Portugal the old version, as it has some different numbers.
We used to live just around the corner from the IMT in Saldanha. More than 6 months after applying for my license, we moved to Cascais. We went back to IMT to tell them we moved, & check on our status. I got my license (delivered to Cascais) after 8 months. My husband has now been waiting 10 months, still nothing! We also had to go to US for a visit, & were happy to still have US licenses!