Government extends the acceptability of expired residence visa documents in Portugal, as well as acceptance of driving licences issued in the United Kingdom, until 31 December 2023

The Government has extended the acceptability of expired documents in December, regarding the stay in national territory. Decree-Law No. 90/2022 of 30 December also extends the acceptance of driving licences issued by the United Kingdom to citizens of Portuguese nationality and also establishes a transitional regime for the recognition of parking cards issued by that country, for persons with disabilities.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 disease pandemic and as a result of the temporary closure of some services to the public, the Government has been extending deadlines. In June 2022, it extended until the end of that same year all documents and visas relating to the stay in the national territory (provided that proof was provided of the scheduling of its renewal), which now sees its deadline extended again until the end of 2023.

The decree-law maintains that in the same terms the documents continue to be accepted after the end of 2023 provided that the holder proves that he has made the renewal schedule.

Also the transitional regime of driving licences issued in the United Kingdom, to citizens of Portuguese nationality had already been extended in November 2021 until the end of 2022 and will now see its extended period another year. This scheme will allow the acceptance of driving licences issued by the United Kingdom to citizens residing in Portugal, in accordance with driving licences issued by a Member State of the European Union.