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Portugal-UK Driving Licence Agreement: Strengthening Post-Brexit Mobility

26 October 2023

The two nations have signed a mutual recognition and exchange agreement for driving licenses. This is great news for UK licence holders who live in Portugal, as they can use their UK licence for its entire validity period. If necessary, they can exchange it for a Portuguese licence without taking any driving or theory test. This also applies to Gibraltar licenses.

To benefit from this agreement, UK and Gibraltar residents must register their Portuguese address with the licensing authority. The agreement is still in its ratification stage, but it is expected to take effect from the beginning of 2024.

It's worth noting that the agreement is reciprocal, so Portuguese residents in the UK or Gibraltar with a Portuguese driving licence can use it in the UK and Gibraltar.

Another good news is that the Portuguese driving licence can be renewed automatically using a new mobile app launched by the government. However, this feature is only available for drivers up to 50 years old.

The app is a pioneering solution that aims to simplify, automate, and reinforce the proximity between citizens and public services. In Portugal, drivers already benefit from an information system capable of sending reminders via SMS, for example, the IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes) reminds drivers to renew their driving licenses.

Update: Legislative notice N0. 6, 2024

By higher order, it is hereby made public that on the 30^th of November 2023, and the 1^st of December 2023, notifications were received, respectively, by the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Lisbon and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic. It is communicated that the internal requirements necessary for the entry into force of the Agreement between the Portuguese Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Mutual Recognition for Driving Purposes and Exchange of Driving Licenses, signed in London on the 13^th of October 2023, have been fulfilled.

If you need any assistance with this paralegal issue or another one, please feel free to reach out to us for more information and support.

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Immigration Law Update: Major Changes for CPLP Citizens

21 February 2025

On Friday, 14 February 2025, Law No. 9/2025 came into effect, introducing amendments to Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July, which governs the legal framework for the entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreign nationals from Portugal. For context, Law No. 9/2025 introduced amendments to seven articles, aiming to facilitate and simplify the entry and stay of citizens from the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) in Portugal. The CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries – Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) is an international organisation comprising countries where Portuguese is an official language. Its primary objectives are to promote cooperation in political, economic, and cultural areas among its member states while fostering the Portuguese language and cultural exchange. Among the amendments, Article 75, paragraph 2 is particularly noteworthy. It states: When the applicant is covered by the CPLP Agreement and holds a short-stay visa or has legal entry into the national territory, they may apply for a temporary residence permit. In practical terms, this means that citizens who enter Portugal legally can apply for a temporary residence permit without the need for a visa. They simply need to enter the country as tourists, as is the case for citizens of CPLP member states. Tourist stays are limited to a maximum period of 90 days. Citizens from countries that are not members of the CPLP can still apply for a temporary residence permit; however, they must first obtain the appropriate visa . Temporary stay visas are intended for individuals planning to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days but less than one year. Various types of temporary stay visas are available to accommodate different purposes, such as medical treatment, family reunification, employment, study, and seasonal work. These visas are formally classified as E1 Visa, E2 Visa, and so forth. The member states of the CPLP include: The Republic of Angola The Federative Republic of Brazil The Republic of Cape Verde The Republic of Guinea-Bissau The Republic of Equatorial Guinea The Republic of Mozambique The Portuguese Republic The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Portugal stands out as a jurisdiction that facilitates the transfer of wealth.

Inheritance and Wills in Portugal: A Tax-Free Legacy for Close Family Members

by Margarida Tempera • 13 February 2025

Portugal’s favourable inheritance laws make it an excellent choice for individuals seeking to efficiently secure their family's financial future.

At LVP Advogados, we provide personalised guidance to navigate the complexities of these visas.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Portugal Temporary Stay Visas

by Luís Maria Branco • 6 February 2025

Portugal’s comprehensive Temporary Stay Visas offer customised solutions for a variety of personal and professional needs.

This option is ideal for those residents who fall in love with Portugal.

To Be or Not to Be a Permanent Resident: Your Options After Five Years of Calling Portugal Home

by Danielle Avidago • 5 February 2025

Portuguese immigration law allows two paths: the Permanent Residence and the Long-Term Resident Status.

AIMA Subpoena Data: Understanding the Real Numbers

4 February 2025

As of 4th February 2025, the total number of pending AIMA subpoenas by the end of January, specifically until the 31st, stood at approximately 50,046 cases. Despite this high number, the subpoenas in January reflected a downward trend, with a daily average of 335 cases. For context, the daily average in November 2024 was 536 cases, while in December 2024, it was 404 cases.