The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de SousaOn Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the Brazilian government signed the decree approving the mutual recognition of driver's licenses between Brazil and Portugal. The agreement had been signed in Lisbon in September 2023.
With this measure, the Brazilian National Driver's License (CNH) becomes valid in Portugal, including for work purposes. Similarly, licenses issued in Portugal are recognized in Brazil.
The regulation establishes that automatic recognition applies only to categories A and B. Furthermore, the Brazilian document, which can be presented in digital format, must be within its original validity period.
The agreement has an age limit. The validity of the recognition ends when the driver turns 60. After that age, Brazilian citizens residing in Portugal must comply with local rules to renew or obtain the document, and the rule is reciprocal for Portuguese citizens in Brazil.
Experts recommend that Brazilians residing in Portugal pay close attention to the expiration date of their driver's license. If the Brazilian driver's license expires, the advice is to apply for a Portuguese license to avoid seizures by the police authorities.
In November 2025, the Supreme Court of Justice of Portugal ruled that Brazilians with expired driver's licenses commit an administrative offense, not a crime. The decision applies to drivers under 60 years of age whose license expired less than 10 years ago.
Brazil maintains a similar agreement with Italy regarding the recognition of qualifications.Currently, Brazilians represent the largest immigrant community in Portugal, with approximately 500 citizens registered in the country.
