A wealth of useful tips here, thanks! And happy birthday! BTY, the so-called medical test (they didn’t really test anything but they know your record) at the Centro de Saúde is free. We are registered at the one in Castro Marim with a family doctor.
Hey Nancy, this one is a keeper. Thank you for sharing such good advice. My wife and I are in a similar situation and the details around it are typically tedious, perhaps amusing - with time.
We went through all the rigmarole, gave in our licenses, got a temporary one and then - when our licenses were gone - the UK and Portugal decide that they would recognise each other's driving licenses as valid. Shucks!
I drove around for three months before realizing my license was expired. (Yikes!) I renewed at IMT Coimbra. They were charming. It took 10 minutes and they corrected my incorrect birthdate plus added in my residence card number, which previously they hadn’t had. It’s possible to renew online if you apply with the correct document numbers. The medical certificate is sent automatically to IMT from the doctor’s computer. Sounds complicated, but the key is to follow all the steps and not panic!
That went really smooth. My son just passed his permit test...we gotta go in person to pick up the card and like your friends suggested we'll be driving down to the Keys or over to Naples to avoid the chaos of the metropolitan DMV.
Interesting: I, too, waited a year for my license/exchange and it finally came within three months of my US driver license expiration (my birthday). I expected that my new PT license would also expire on my birthday but, no, it expires on some random day. Go figure. A big obrigado for the information on the "how", as I have been wondering (and dreading!) as my date gets closer, so this is a nice bit of good news! Até já!
This may be common knowledge by now but since you mentioned Faro - United Airlines will be offering a direct flight to FAO from EWR (Newark, NJ) beginning May 24th. The first and only direct flight to Faro from USA.
A wealth of useful tips here, thanks! And happy birthday! BTY, the so-called medical test (they didn’t really test anything but they know your record) at the Centro de Saúde is free. We are registered at the one in Castro Marim with a family doctor.
Hey Nancy, this one is a keeper. Thank you for sharing such good advice. My wife and I are in a similar situation and the details around it are typically tedious, perhaps amusing - with time.
We went through all the rigmarole, gave in our licenses, got a temporary one and then - when our licenses were gone - the UK and Portugal decide that they would recognise each other's driving licenses as valid. Shucks!
I drove around for three months before realizing my license was expired. (Yikes!) I renewed at IMT Coimbra. They were charming. It took 10 minutes and they corrected my incorrect birthdate plus added in my residence card number, which previously they hadn’t had. It’s possible to renew online if you apply with the correct document numbers. The medical certificate is sent automatically to IMT from the doctor’s computer. Sounds complicated, but the key is to follow all the steps and not panic!
Another post to save for later. Thanks for the useful information. Have a great birthday 🎈
Feliz aniversário! Great information.
Love this story about a smooth experience updating your driver's license.
Happy birthday!
Happy upcoming birthday , dear Nancy! World of useful information, indeed.
Agora você sabe como dar um Jeito - impressionante, você e portuguese na coração
That went really smooth. My son just passed his permit test...we gotta go in person to pick up the card and like your friends suggested we'll be driving down to the Keys or over to Naples to avoid the chaos of the metropolitan DMV.
Happy Birthday Nancy! Enjoy your special day!!
Interesting: I, too, waited a year for my license/exchange and it finally came within three months of my US driver license expiration (my birthday). I expected that my new PT license would also expire on my birthday but, no, it expires on some random day. Go figure. A big obrigado for the information on the "how", as I have been wondering (and dreading!) as my date gets closer, so this is a nice bit of good news! Até já!
Yeah…fellow 1954 babies. Happy Birthday to both of you 🥳‼️. I turn 70 in November.
Happy Birthday! I turn 68 in six days so it's nice to know another Aquarius-type expat person. Feliz Carnaval and have a great time in Madeira!
This may be common knowledge by now but since you mentioned Faro - United Airlines will be offering a direct flight to FAO from EWR (Newark, NJ) beginning May 24th. The first and only direct flight to Faro from USA.
Nancy, Juliana flew home yesterday. When I return, we have to do the DL exchange. So looking forward to it…….not!