The highway code has changed! Its purpose is to allow holders of driving licenses issued by countries participating in bilateral conventions or agreements with Portugal to drive motor vehicles on national territory.
All permits to drive in Portugal are valid and, with the new rules, cannot be confiscated, suspended, expired or revoked. The diploma is effective from August 1.
Foreign, CPLP and OECD driving licences
According to the LexPoint Portal, driving licenses issued by member states of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as international driving licenses and driving licenses issued by foreign countries, are now allowed to drive in Portugal under reciprocal conditions.
The new rules exempt CPLP and OECD drivers from exchanging driving licenses, allowing non-residents to drive in Portugal with their licenses for six months, as do holders of driving licenses issued by EU member states.
Therefore, from August 1, driving titles issued by other OECD or CPLP member countries are valid for driving motor vehicles in addition to a driving license if the following overall conditions are met: (New)
- The receiving State is a signatory to one of the Conventions referred to in the following subparagraph or
- Bilateral Agreement with Portuguese Government;
- Not more than 15 years have passed since the issuance or last renewal of the security;
- The holder is below 60 years of age.
Oz Non-residents of Portugal Motor vehicles can be driven in the country during the first 185 days of entry into the country as follows: (New)
- Driving licenses issued by a foreign government in accordance with the International Geneva Conventions of 1949,
- or with the Vienna International Convention of 1968;
- Driving licenses issued by a foreign state under reciprocal conditions;
- International driving licenses are issued with a national title that supports them.
