Driving License Exchange in Portugal: IMT Process for Ukrainians

6 to 9 months waiting for a plastic card, a temporary permit that’s only valid inside Portugal, and your original license shipped back to Ukraine through the embassy. That’s the reality of exchanging a driving license in Portugal that nobody warned you about. But here’s the good news: if you’re a Ukrainian with temporary protection, the process is way simpler - no exams, no translation, and no fees. Let’s break it all down.

Two Tracks: Temporary Protection vs Standard Exchange¶

First thing to understand - the driving license exchange process in Portugal is fundamentally different depending on which category you fall into.

Track A: You Have Temporary Protection¶

If you arrived after February 24, 2022 and hold temporary protection status (proteção temporária) - you’re in luck. EU Regulation 2022/1280 gives you serious advantages:

• No theory exam
• No practical driving test
• No certificate of authenticity from the embassy
• No fees - exempt from all IMT charges
• No certified translation - your Ukrainian license is accepted as-is

Temporary protection has been extended until March 4, 2027 (Council of Ministers Resolution 53-A/2026). Around 54,000 Ukrainians in Portugal hold this status.

Track B: You Have a Regular Residence Permit¶

If you’re living in Portugal on a D7 visa, D8 (digital nomad), or another residence permit - it’s the standard process. More paperwork, but still doable.

Here’s the key: both Ukraine and Portugal signed the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. This means that within the first 2 years of getting your residence permit, you can exchange your license without taking any exams. After 2 years - you’ll need a practical driving test.

Documents Required: Full Checklist¶

With Temporary Protection (Track A)¶

With a Regular Residence Permit (Track B)¶

Certificate of Authenticity - What It Is and Where to Get It¶

If you’re on the standard track (no temporary protection), you’ll need a certidão comprovativa da autenticidade do título de condução - a document proving your license is genuine.

You can get it from the Ukrainian Embassy in Lisbon or the Consulate in Porto:

• Cost: €28
• Processing time: up to 1 month (the embassy verifies with Ukrainian authorities)
• Required: original passport
• Payment: bank card via Multibanco terminal
• Language: issued in Portuguese (signed and stamped by the embassy)
• Collection: in person (by appointment) or by mail

Pro tip: if you haven’t moved to Portugal yet - get the certificate of authenticity before you relocate. It’ll save you a month of waiting once you’re there.

License Translation¶

When Translation Is NOT Required¶

Under EU Regulation 2022/1280, Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized across the entire EU for the duration of temporary protection. This applies even to older licenses with Cyrillic text - no international driving permit or certified translation needed.

Digital licenses from the Diia app may also be recognized - EU member states have the option to accept Ukrainian digital driving documents.

When Translation IS Required¶

If you have a regular residence permit (not temporary protection) - IMT requires a tradução certificada (certified translation). Ukrainian isn’t one of the languages IMT accepts without translation (those are Portuguese, French, English, and Spanish).

How tradução certificada works in Portugal: a translator does the translation, then a lawyer (advogado) or notary (notário) certifies it with their signature and stamp. We covered this system in detail in our article about buying property in Portugal.

Cost of translating a driving license: €20-50.

IMT Online Process: How to Apply¶

Since January 21, 2026, all foreign driving license exchange applications are submitted exclusively online. No more queuing at IMT offices - portal only.

Step-by-Step Process¶

1. Register on the IMT portal: aminhacartadeconducao.imt-ip.pt (“A Minha Carta de Condução”)
2. Select “Troca de Carta Estrangeira” (Foreign License Exchange)
3. Fill out the application and upload scanned documents
4. Pay the €30 fee (€27 with online payment - 10% discount). Free for temporary protection holders
5. Wait for an email from IMT with instructions for biometric data collection
6. Visit an IMT office for biometrics and receive your temporary permit (guia)
7. Receive your Portuguese driving license by mail

Temporary Permit (Guia)¶

The guia is a paper document you get when you submit your biometrics. It proves you’re allowed to drive while your plastic card is being produced.

But there’s a catch: the guia is only valid in Portugal. If you’re planning to drive to Spain or any other EU country - this paper might not be accepted. That’s one of the biggest headaches for people who travel regularly.

The guia is valid for 6 months and can be renewed.

How Much Does It All Cost¶

The medical certificate is the one cost you can’t avoid, even with temporary protection. It’s issued by a doctor registered with the Ordem dos Médicos (Portuguese Medical Association) and sent to IMT electronically.

Online option: some services (like OlaDoctor) offer remote medical certificates for €39 - you fill out a form, a doctor reviews it, and within one business day the certificate is sent to IMT.

Timeline: How Long to Wait¶

This is where it gets painful. Official estimate: 30-60 days. Reality? Different story.

• Best case: 1-3 months (smaller cities, no complications)
• Typical case: 3-6 months (Lisbon, Porto)
• Worst case: 6-9 months, sometimes over a year

On expat forums, people reported waiting 7-9 months for the plastic card. IMT had a backlog of over 18,000 licenses to process. Smaller cities tend to process applications faster.

The silver lining: you get the guia (temporary permit) right away when you submit your biometrics. So you can legally drive in Portugal from your first visit to the IMT office.

What Happens to Your Ukrainian License¶

This question worries a lot of people, and the answer isn’t great:

1. Your original Ukrainian license is surrendered to IMT
2. IMT sends it to the Ukrainian Embassy in Portugal
3. The Embassy forwards it to the issuing authority back in Ukraine

If you later return to Ukraine and want your Ukrainian license back, you’ll need to apply for a reverse exchange with your Portuguese license. The Embassy warns this process “can take time.”

So think twice before exchanging - if you’re planning to return to Ukraine soon, it might be better to drive with an international driving permit (if you don’t have temporary protection).

Deadlines: When to Apply¶

• First 90 days after getting your residence permit: you can drive with your Ukrainian license, apply for exchange during this period
• 90 days to 2 years: you can’t legally drive with your Ukrainian license anymore, but exchange is still exam-free
• After 2 years: practical driving test required
• Temporary protection: you can drive for 185 days after entry, then 90 days after receiving the temporary protection card

Don’t procrastinate. As soon as you get your residence permit or temporary protection card - start the process. Given IMT’s processing times, you’ll want a buffer.

Comparison with Other EU Countries¶

If you’re still choosing a country or comparing conditions:

Portugal isn’t the fastest, but for temporary protection holders the conditions are among the most generous in the EU.

FAQ¶

How much does it cost to exchange a Ukrainian driving license in Portugal?¶

For Ukrainians with temporary protection - only the medical certificate (€25-50), everything else is free. For regular residence permit holders - €103 to €158 total: IMT fee €27-30, certificate of authenticity €28, translation €20-50, medical certificate €25-50.

Do I need to translate my driving license for the exchange in Portugal?¶

It depends on your status. If you have temporary protection - NO translation needed, under EU Regulation 2022/1280 Ukrainian licenses are recognized without translation. If you have a regular residence permit - you need a certified translation (tradução certificada) costing €20-50.

Do I need to take a driving test to exchange my license in Portugal?¶

No, if you apply within 2 years of getting your residence permit. Ukraine is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, so the exchange is exam-free. After 2 years - you’ll need a practical test. For temporary protection holders - no exams required at all.

How long does the driving license exchange through IMT take?¶

Officially 30-60 days, but realistically 1-6 months depending on the city and IMT workload. In Lisbon and Porto expect longer waits (3-6 months), smaller cities are faster. The temporary paper permit (guia) is issued immediately when you submit your biometrics.

Can I drive with my Ukrainian license in Portugal without exchanging it?¶

Yes, but with time limits. With temporary protection - 185 days after entry, then 90 days after receiving your card. With a regular residence permit - the first 90 days after getting the permit. After these deadlines, driving with a Ukrainian license is an administrative offense.