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Driving licenses for foreigners have been linked to the validity period of a residence permit

Portugal

Decreto-Lei 114/2026, an amendment to the rules for issuing driver's licenses, has been in effect since June 8. For citizens of non-EU countries, there is an important rule in it (art. 16.°, n.° 9-10): the validity period of Portuguese rights can no longer be longer than the validity period of a residence permit.

In the new licenses, this is indicated by the restriction code 794. The licenses are valid "as long as the residence permit is valid or in the process of being extended." The law provides for a "transitional regime" — the same conditions apply to previously issued rights, even without the 794 code on plastic. The rule came into force the day after publication, without delay. The mechanism of implementation of the law in the case of previously granted rights is not yet clear

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  • Yellow Chili

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    Jul 27

    May lord give some reasoning brain cells to the ones who make law…. I genuinely love portugal and I want to be a part of it… but when I hear these absurd laws, it will make you more insecure… it’s hard to enjoy portugal that way because you dont know what is going to happen tomorrow. I never had any driving license before, but I decided to pay the fees, went to driving school, learned portuguese needed for driving, worked my ass off to get a license, and now, just in case I leave portugal, after this law, basically it says that they are not going to recognize my driving license anymore, if I move to a different country. Because my driving license will be expired with my residency…. I never had heard these rules elsewhere. Why is it only in portugal? Why are the lawmakers allowed to have Sagres? I genuinely want to know their thinking process on how do they think to come up with these laws.