Driving License in Brazil for Expats
Yes, for 180 days from your date of entry into Brazil, on a valid foreign licence plus an International Driving Permit (required for licences from Vienna Convention 1968 countries). After that, you must convert to a Brazil license. The official test is only in Portuguese, but you can practice in English with AutoviaTest.
Key Facts: Brazil Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- DETRAN — Departamento Estadual de Trânsito
- Official Test Language
- Portuguese
- Grace Period
- 180 days from your date of entry into Brazil, on a valid foreign licence plus an International Driving Permit (required for licences from Vienna Convention 1968 countries)
- Processing Time
- A few weeks, mostly determined by exam-scheduling availability at the state DETRAN; the digital CNH appears within about 24 hours of issuance and the physical card in roughly 3–4 business days. Spain and Italy cases take longer because the file is routed through SENATRAN.
- Theory Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Practical Test Required
- Yes (if no exchange agreement)
- Medical Exam
- Required
- Total Cost
- São Paulo: roughly R$250–400 in DETRAN and exam fees, plus the sworn translation. Costs vary significantly by state DETRAN.
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
Spain and Italy have an in-force reciprocal-recognition agreement with Brazil — Spanish and Italian licence holders swap their licence for a CNH without a driving test (the medical and psychological exams still apply). Holders of licences from any other EU/EEA state have no agreement and convert under the general rule of CONTRAN Resolução 1.020/2025: a medical exam and psychological evaluation, plus — for a "non-recognized" licence — a practical driving exam, though major states such as São Paulo waive the practical test for licences from Vienna Convention 1968 countries. No conversion route requires a written theory test.
US/UK Citizens
The United States and the United Kingdom have no reciprocal-recognition agreement with Brazil, but both are Vienna Convention 1968 parties — so in major states the practical driving test is waived and conversion is a medical exam plus a psychological evaluation, with no theory test. The exact procedure and the practical-test waiver are decided by the state DETRAN where you are resident.
Other Non-EU Citizens
Brazil has an in-force reciprocal-recognition agreement with only three countries: Spain, Italy and Mozambique — their licence holders swap for a CNH with no driving test. Everyone else converts under the general two-track model: a medical exam and psychological evaluation for a recognized licence, with an added practical driving exam for a non-recognized licence (often waived in practice for Vienna Convention 1968 countries). No conversion route includes a theory test.
Students
You may drive on a valid foreign licence (with an International Driving Permit) for up to 180 days from your date of entry into Brazil. To convert to a CNH you need a CPF, a CRNM (foreigner ID) and legal residency — students staying beyond 180 days should start the conversion before the window closes.
Required Documents
- ✓Valid passport
- ✓CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas — tax number)
- ✓CRNM / RNM (foreigner registration; legacy documents show RNE)
- ✓Original foreign driving licence — valid and definitive (provisional/learner licences cannot be converted)
- ✓Sworn translation (tradução juramentada) of the foreign licence — not required for licences from Portuguese-language countries
- ✓Medical exam (exame de aptidão física e mental) certificate
- ✓Psychological evaluation (exame psicotécnico) certificate
- ✓Proof of address and the DETRAN scheduling protocol number
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- State DETRAN fees — in São Paulo (2026) the physical CNH costs R$126.79 plus R$11 postage; the digital CNH is free. Fees are set by each state DETRAN and vary.
- Medical Exam
- São Paulo (2026): medical exam R$90 and psychological evaluation R$90; a practical driving exam, where required, is R$52.83
- Translation
- Sworn translation (tradução juramentada) by a registered sworn translator — roughly R$100–350 for a licence document; not required for licences from Portuguese-language countries
- Total Estimated
- São Paulo: roughly R$250–400 in DETRAN and exam fees, plus the sworn translation. Costs vary significantly by state DETRAN.
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 3
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) · 3
No Agreement (Full Test Required): Mercosur is NOT a licence-exchange agreement — Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela licence holders get no special benefit and convert under the same general rules as any other country. Holders of a "non-recognized" licence convert under CONTRAN Resolução 1.020/2025 Art. 103: a medical exam, a psychological evaluation and a practical driving exam. No conversion route requires a theory test.
Tips for Expats in Brazil
- Converting a foreign licence never involves a theory test — the Portuguese theory exam only applies to foreigners obtaining a CNH from scratch.
- Brazil has an in-force reciprocal-recognition agreement with only three countries — Spain, Italy and Mozambique. Mercosur membership gives no licence-exchange benefit.
- The psychological evaluation (exame psicotécnico) is mandatory for every conversion — it is a Brazil-specific requirement under Art. 147 of the Código de Trânsito Brasileiro.
- A sworn translation (tradução juramentada) of the foreign licence is mandatory unless the licence is from a Portuguese-language country.
- Each state runs its own DETRAN — fees, document checklists, processing times and whether the practical test is waived all vary by state.
- The CNH is issued digitally in the Carteira Digital de Trânsito app (rebranded "CNH do Brasil") with the same legal value as the physical card, and is free.
From a recent expat graduate
A real story from someone who got their licence as a foreigner
“I find the service invaluable. It helped me immensely and I am impressed by the format and content. First class!”I have now passed my driving theory test. The course and information was great and very helpful. The reason I had to take the test is because I am living in Chile which does not recognise the driver licence of my mother country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to take a driving test to convert my foreign licence in Brazil?
Can Mercosur citizens (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) exchange their licence easily in Brazil?
How long can I drive in Brazil with my foreign licence?
What is the exame psicotécnico?
Why do requirements and fees vary across Brazil?
Official sources
SENATRAN (Secretaria Nacional de Trânsito, Ministério dos Transportes) regulates; the state DETRAN of your domicile processes the conversion and issues the CNH
https://www.gov.br/transportes/pt-br/assuntos/transito
License Conversion Info
https://www.gov.br/transportes/pt-br/assuntos/transito/conteudo-Senatran/carteira-internacional