wellinever

I presume that given some sort of Brexit deal coming out, that the UK has this bilateral agreement with Portugal?
So why are Brits rushing to change their licenses before 31st Dec 2020??

Red Eric

Because there's a big regime change about to occur, where Brits already resident come under one set of rules and those not yet resident under completely another. The new rules, even if they appear "more generous", will not apply to existing residents, who must tidy up loose ends in the approved fashion.

So far, all I've seen says that UK citizens resident in PT must exchange their licences by, or shortly after, the end of the transition period. I suppose it's vaguley possible that something else on driving licences might come out of the Brexit agreement which has some different bearing on the matter but right now it looks unlikely. At the beginning of the process, a lot was open to the UK which they since seem to have chosen to close off in favour of a narrow arrangement principally surrounding the trading of goods, hence the lack of continuity on such matters.

wellinever

But for sure makes life easier, if only for 2 years, for those that live a dual life in Portugal and the UK. Removing the insurance issue in the UK for non UK driving license holders.
Just teh added problem of applying for residence after Brexit with the extra admin and questions

Red Eric

I think there's a great deal of potential for confusion for the here-and-theres to run up against.

I'm glad my own arrangements are nice and straightforward, and absolutely, undeniably unambiguous.

wellinever

Does anyone have experience of driving a Portuguese car in the UK with Portuguese insurance?
Is that allowed for say a 3 month period in the UK??

suiko

Applied for my appointment at Faro/Beja literally the day before the new online procedure came out, and sure enough yesterday I got an email saying I had to apply online.

Do I understand from the above that I now have 2 years from date of residency certificate to do this, rather than 90 days?

Red Eric

That's not my understanding, no.

In my view, if you've become resident before the end of the withdrawal period, you have 60 days in which to either register or exchange your UK driving licence. As the IMT are saying they'll no longer register UK licences, that leaves you with no option but exchanging. Failing to do so within the allowed timespan could leave you liable to sitting a PT driving test.

The other regime will be for people becoming resident after 1st Jan as non EU citizens.

wellinever

Would the test required include the Oral part or just actual driving?

suiko

Thanks, Eric! I thought as much. Better get it under way as soon as I've registered.

suiko

Right. A productive day... I now have residency and a SNS Utente number. Also had a (private - SNS doesn't do this anymore, at least in Algarve) medical for the IMT's purposes.

So I think I am ready to send off the stuff to IMT. The form is MOD37IMT_TrocasTESTE, right?

I guess I can just attach the medical certificate? What about this DVLA Certificate of Authenticity business? I don't have anything like that, and presumably won't be able to get it until I go back to UK?

Loafing Along

Even a private doctor needs to be authorized to do the medical so it should be automatically processed to IMT.

suiko

Well, I asked at the Centro de Saúde about a clinic, and they sent me across the road to the "Olhao International Clinic". No idea whether they sent anything off - though they were clearly thoroughly used to the procedure. They gave me a printout and I paid me 40 euros!

planky

"Also had a (private - SNS doesn't do this anymore, at least in Algarve) medical for the IMT's"............Not strictly true - SNS in some Algarve areas still does, but it takes weeks....

cfs

I applied to change my Brazilian licence for a Portuguese one via the new email address on 06/10. I got a reply today asking to send a scanned copy of my NIF. After I sent it I then I got another email 4 hours later with the details on how to pay the 30 euros, you have to wait 24 hours before paying as the information is not in the banking system yet. Then I got another email asking me to send my original driving licence and consular certificate of authenticity (because it is not an EU licence) by registered mail direct to IMT. So looks like things are finally moving. My nearest IMT is Porto but all contact today has been from IMT Aveiro so looks like they are spreading the workload around the different offices

Lou71

Have been looking into this and have been told by a few clinics that only private doctors will carry out the medical and you still need a SNS numero de Utente to have it done by the private doctor.