Getting a Brazilian driver's license

Kurterino Serial expat

Member since 28 August 2011

KurterinoSerial expat29 December 2023 11:04:41

418

I know there are already a number of threads on this subject, but I still have a couple of questions.

I have temporary residency status at the end of September, so I don鈥檛 have much time left to convert my drivers license to a Brazilian one, since it has to be done within 6 months, if I don鈥檛 want to have to do the whole test.

Two questions: I don鈥檛 have an international driver鈥檚 license, however mine (a Swiss license) is in multiple languages, and the categories are in self-explaining pictogrammes, I think in a European standard format. Is there a chance that Detran will work with this?

If so, which of these categories on their website should I choose (I guess it鈥檚 one of the links under habilita莽玫es, but which one?) : ?

abthree Brazil Expert

Member since 28 December 2017

abthreeBrazil Expert29 December 2023 15:26:33

6111

12/29/23 Two questions: I don鈥檛 have an international driver鈥檚 license, however mine (a Swiss license) is in multiple languages, and the categories are in self-explaining pictogrammes, I think in a European standard format. Is there a chance that Detran will work with this?If so, which of these categories on their website should I choose (I guess it鈥檚 one of the links under habilita莽玫es, but which one?) : ?聽聽聽聽 -@Kurterino

Hi, Kurt.聽 To answer your second question first, I think you'll need to go to DETRAN-BA and ask at the Information Desk.聽 I was able to enter the site and looked at the Menu of Services, but couldn't find any reference to exchanging a foreign license for a Brazilian one.聽 The Request a New License tab seems to be only for getting a first license.聽 When I went to the Information Desk at DETRAN-AM to get mine, they had a form for the foreign license exchange that listed all the requirements; DETRAN-BA probably has their own version of that.聽

As for your first question, unless one of the languages on your Swiss license is Portuguese, you'd better get a Sworn Translation.聽 Sworn Translation was one of the requirements listed on the form here.聽 I got mine, fast and cheap online, from Fidelity Translations.聽 There was an issue (resolved) about the electronic signature; I would hope that DETRAN is more familiar with them now than they were in 2019.

The only test that you can be sure you'll be exempted from is the Road Test.聽 The only tests that you can be sure you won't be exempted from are the Eye Test and the "psychotechnical" test.聽 Everything else seems to vary by state.聽

If the Information Desk tells you that you'll have to take tests that you don't want to take, consider talking to a Driving School about getting your license through them.聽 My impression is that most "Driving Schools" in Brazil are really despachantes who obtain licenses for their clients for a fee and that also give driving lessons if necessary, rather than the kind of driving school that might be familiar to you.

BTW, you can only drive on your foreign license for six months, but you can get a Brazilian license based on it anytime you want, as long as the license is still valid.聽 DETRAN will only refuse to do the exchange if the foreign license has already expired.