suiko

I don't think the automatically-generated code is required. I've only ever needed it for car hire in Latin America.

You should have received the automatic receipt email immediately, ot at least within a day or two. Check spam folder? It is also only sent if one of these emails has never been sent to that address before, so if you have made an application before using the same email address you won't get one.

I've had all the procedures, biometric data taken, UK licence returned to DVLA... but still no licence! Is this normal? All those things happened over a month ago now.

BillBullock

Some people have been waiting up to 12 months for their licences. There is no normal.

wellinever

Well it was sent on 20th March to.................
[email protected]
Nothing received from them at all.

You should have received the automatic receipt email immediately, ot at least within a day or two. Check spam folder? It is also only sent if one of these emails has never been sent to that address before, so if you have made an application before using the same email address you won't get one.

I've had all the procedures, biometric data taken, UK licence returned to DVLA... but still no licence! Is this normal? All those things happened over a month ago now.[/QUOTE]

Bomber Harris

Breathing space.
https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc22/...VNjdu73VIFJfyw

wellinever

9. The decree-law establishing a transitional regime for the recognition and exchange of driving licenses issued by the United Kingdom was approved.
This transitional regime, in force until December 31, 2021, will allow the recognition of driving licenses issued by the United Kingdom to citizens residing in Portugal under the same terms as driving licenses issued by member states of the European Union.

wellinever

so no need to change the licence at all, until at least end of year, wouldnt surprise me if that doesnt get extended at end year, or even scrapped.

BillBullock

I'm not sure it is saying exactly that wellinever. It could be interpreted as saying our UK driving licences are recognised as good enough for exchanging for Portuguese driving licences, a requirement when we become resident in Portugal. What do others think?

Bomber Harris

BillBullock
I agree, I think it is just an extension to the 30/12/20 deadline because IMT are struggling to cope at the moment. The clue being in the words "This transitional regime".

wellinever

why is everything so ambiguous??
I simply take that as meaning that a UK licence is recognised as a valid driving licence when a UK holding driving licence is driving in Portugal, and is also a Resident of Portugal.
In other words the same as other EU citizens.
For me important to fully understand what it means.
If I dont need to exchange my licence this year, despite becoming resident in Dec 2020, then I can still hold a UK driving licence which in turn means that I can insure my UK car in the UK with a UK driving licence, with address of my UK property.....

suiko

[/QUOTE]

They asked, and received my UK licence over a month ago now. Heard nothing whatsoever, so yeah, pretty much as expected!

wellinever

I have not received any reply in spam or other to acknowledge receipt of my request.
This is worrying as I am now out of time, and needed something to at least say that I have applied within the 90 days of becoming resident.
Well I suppose I have a sent email proof, what good that might be.
So of I now get stopped by the GNR (almost on every roundabout at sometime each day now stopping every vehicle) and show my Residence papers, presumably I could be in trouble.

wellinever

Why would IMT be struggling?? There cannt be so many old exchanges to get through ad it must be DVLA that do most of the work for them, except print a new card.

Bomber Harris

Possibly;
1) - Covid.
2) - Huge increase in Brits arriving in Portugal before the end of the Transition Period (6,500 between Jan and Oct 2020).
3) - Brits getting themselves legally resident, despite having lived in Portugal for years (19,000 resident registered Brits in 2016, 40,000 in 2020).
4) - Thousands of Brits having ignored all the advice since the 2016 Brexit vote that they would have to exchange their licences who left it to the last minute.
5) - IMT not stopping processing the licences of their citizens and other third country licences when they should have been concentrating only on Brit licences because Brits deserve special treatment?

I imagine there are probably other reasons (like DVLA) in play as well because the process was taking less than 3 weeks in 2017 from walking in to an IMT office and receiving a PT licence in the post.

wellinever

all the same thing mate...Portugal has also had 4 years to get on top of what they could have assumed would happen.

Bomber Harris

I would assume that IMT didn't expect the Brits to ignore the advice that they, and the UK embassy, have been putting out for 4 years in order to avoid the mad rush that's now happening..