🚗 Driving licence in Madeira
New to the island and need to sort your driving licence in Madeira? Good news first. It is more straightforward than the forums make it sound. Here is who you deal with, where to go in Funchal, what to bring and how much you can do from your sofa.
Last updated: June 2026You sort your driving licence at the IMT counter inside the Loja do Cidadão da Madeira on Rua de São Pedro in Funchal, or online with the Chave Móvel Digital. EU licences are exchanged when they expire or after about two years of residency. A licence from outside the EU must be exchanged within 90 days of getting residency.
Do you even need to exchange it?
If your licence is from the EU or EEA, you can keep driving on it and only swap it when it expires or after about two years living here. If it comes from outside the EU, you usually have to exchange it within 90 days of getting residency, and only when Portugal has an agreement with the country that issued it. Visiting on holiday? Your own licence is fine.
Who you deal with: IMT Madeira
Madeira runs its own service, so forget the national websites you found first. The regional IMT, at imt.madeira.gov.pt, handles every licence matter on the island and has an English page for exchanging a foreign licence. Most of it now starts online, with one short visit to finish.
Where to go in Funchal
The counter sits inside the Loja do Cidadão da Madeira, on Rua de São Pedro 25 e 27, right in the centre of Funchal. It opens weekdays from 8:30 to 19:30 and Saturday mornings. Grab a queue ticket when you arrive, or book one in advance (our Chave Móvel and SIGA guide shows you how).
What to bring
Your current licence, your residency document, your NIF, a recent photo and, in some cases, a medical certificate (atestado médico). A licence from outside the EU may also need an official translation and a confirmation from the authority that issued it. Bring copies and you save yourself a second trip.
Do as much as possible online
From 2026 the renewal and exchange flows are mostly online. Set up the Chave Móvel Digital first, then start the request on the IMT Madeira portal. You only show up in person for the final step, which is exactly how it should be.
Rather not deal with it at all?
The paperwork and the translations are where most newcomers lose a morning. If you would rather a trusted local handle it, tell us what you need and we match you with a vetted person. Free, no obligation, and no tourist price surprise at the end.
IMT Madeira at the Loja do Cidadão da Madeira
Rua de São Pedro 25 e 27, 9000-219 Funchal
🕒 Loja do Cidadão: weekdays 8:30 to 19:30, Saturdays 8:30 to 13:30
Get directions →Get vetted help with the paperwork
Skip the guesswork and the tourist price surprises. Tell us what you need and we connect you with a vetted local. Free, no obligation.
Get a free quote → Live Madeira infoFrequently asked questions
Can I drive in Madeira on my foreign licence?
Yes, for a while. EU and EEA licences stay valid until they expire. Visitors from outside the EU can drive on their own licence short term, sometimes with an International Driving Permit. Once you become resident you must exchange a licence from outside the EU within the legal deadline.
Where do I exchange my licence in Madeira?
At the IMT counter inside the Loja do Cidadão on Rua de São Pedro in Funchal, or online through the IMT Madeira portal using the Chave Móvel Digital.
Is the process available in English?
The IMT Madeira website has an English section, but most forms are in Portuguese. This guide is in English, and you can ask a vetted local to handle the paperwork if you prefer.