Lisbon — Brazilians living in Portugal will gain an important benefit as of this Monday (8/1). National driver's licenses (CNH) begin to be valid in the European country with the entry into force of Decree-Law No. 46 of 2022. The benefit applies to all nations of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and the Organization for Economic Development Cooperation (OECD).
Until the changes in the Highway Code, in order to legally drive in Portugal, Brazilians and other foreigners were obliged to exchange their license for the Portuguese one. The change had to be made within a period of 90 days, counting from the date of the residence permit in Portuguese territory.
After this initial deadline, drivers could ask for a driver's license to be exchanged over two years, but without the right to drive using the document issued in Brazil and in other countries. From that period onwards, counting from the date of the residence permit in Portugal, they lost the right to automatically exchange their CNH. Plus, they would have to pass a practical driving test.
heavy punishment
According to lawyer Thiago Huver, a partner at Martins Castro, the decree-law reduces bureaucracy and costs for foreigners to drive in Portugal. For him, the measures facilitate the integration of migrants and should positively impact the economy of Portugal, as they will speed up the filling of job vacancies that require a driving license.
Cabe explains that the changes in the Highway Code benefit drivers with foreign driving licenses issued or renewed for less than 15 years and aged less than 60 years. He adds that the new law is aimed at those who have driving licenses for motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles with 50 cylinder capacity or more and vehicles with up to eight passengers, with or without a trailer and semi-trailer. In Brazil, these types of license correspond to the Authorization to Drive Cyclomotor (ACC) and category A and B licenses.
The lawyer recalls that, in the case of those who drive heavy vehicles for up to 17 seats with a maximum length of 8 meters, heavy goods vehicles and agricultural vehicles with or without trailers, it is still necessary to carry out theoretical and practical tests at the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT), in Portugal, a body similar to the transit departments in Brazil, the Detrans. In Brazilian legislation, these types of authorizations to drive are found in categories C, D and E driving licenses.
Another important piece of information: those with an expired driver's license have the option of filing a request to issue a driving license via IMT or returning to Brazil to renew it with the Detran of their home state. In Portugal, driving without a license is considered a serious crime by the Highway Code and can result in a prison sentence of up to two years.
tourists
For tourists, nothing changes. The Brazilian document allows the direction for the period of visit to Portugal. The maximum term in these cases is 185 days.
By Vicente Nunes