P10E - Documents you must carry

Personal
Portugal requires everyone over the age of 10 to have a means of identification always carried on them. For Portuguese nationals this means an ID card (cartão de cidadão) but for non-Portuguese the position is more complex. 

Foreign residents are required to produce on demand by a competent Authority, a valid Residência (Bulletin P02E). Residências are difficult to replace if lost and the AIMA (former SEF) has indicated that a notarised photocopy is acceptable in most cases. Where the original document is required to be shown however, the holder has eight days in which to present it at the indicated venue (usually a local police station). 

One occasion when a notarised photocopy is not acceptable is when a national of a non-EU country returns to Portugal, the immigration authorities insisting on seeing the original. This means that when a national of a non-EU country leaves the country and intends to return by air, the original Residência must be carried. 

For visitors to Portugal, i.e., those who stay for less than 90 days and who intend to spend a total of less than 183 days in a calendar year here, the usual means of identification is a valid Passport which again should be carried at all times. 

It is an offence under Portuguese law not to be in possession of an acceptable means of identification and penalties can be applied for default. 

Driving
As well as the above documents drivers of Portuguese registered motor vehicles (car or motorbike) are required to show on demand the following documents: 

a) Valid Driving Licence (Carta de Condução) 

b) Valid Insurance Certificate (Seguro) 

c) Vehicle Registration document (Livrete) 

d) Ownership registration document (Título de Registo de Propriedade)

e) Documento Único Automóvel (Replaces points c & d above when applicable). 

f)Vehicle Inspection Certificate where obligatory (Certificado de Inspecção) 

g) Fiscal number

No need to keep anymore a Proof of payment of the annual car tax (IUC).

In addition, where the driver is not the owner of the vehicle or is not the spouse of the owner, the driver can carry an authorisation to drive the vehicle. This authorisation must be written in accordance with the pattern form you may find in the Bulletin M01E or in the afpop office.