Transfer of foreign driver's license

0POSTS

8 years ago

I just got approved to transfer my USA driver's license and should receive a Brazilian driver's license in approximately 15 days.

I live in the state of Goias, in a small town about 90 minutes drive from the capital city of Goiania. Apparently, Detran offices in the smaller towns and cities are not able to process license transfers from other countries, so I had no choice but to use the Detran office in Goiania.

First, I had to get my license translated by an official translator. The nearest is in Anapolis, about 30 minutes drive from here. The cost of the translation was R$90. I emailed a photo of my license first and then went to get the translation when it was ready a few days later.

Per Detran's website, I brought my CIE (ID card) and a certified copy, my CPF card and a certified copy, my USA driver's license and a certified copy, the original translation of my license and a certified copy, my most recent set of utility bills and certified copies, and a certified copy of the lease for the house where I live. Although it doesn't specify on their website, they also wanted to see my passport. Fortunately, I brought it "just in case". They made a copy of the passport photo page and also flipped through it. I was not required to surrender my USA driver's license.

The Detran fee to begin the process was R$236,54. I verified all of my documents at Detran the 1st morning, was photographed and fingerprinted, and paid the Detran fee at a nearby Caixa bank. Then I had to call and schedule the 2 required exams. The psychological exam was R$100 and the medical exam was R$90. They were given at 2 different locations in Goiania. I was able to take the psychological exam the 1st afternoon and the medical exam the following morning. Then I had to go to Detran a 2nd time to submit the final paperwork along with proof of payment of the fee and successful passing of the exams.

The exams were not difficult, but the instructions for the 3 part psychological exam were given in Portuguese of which I have very limited understanding. The 1st and 3rd parts had to do with pattern recognition and logical thinking. The 2nd part was repetitive drawing of vertical lines with periodic horizontal lines on command. I had to do the exams without the help of my Brazilian wife, but as the instructor was giving the instructions, he demonstrated what needed to be done using a blackboard. By watching what he did on the blackboard, I was able to understand how to do the psychological exam. Fortunately, the doctor for the medical exam spoke English. The medical exam was a brief interview, followed by the doctor checking my blood pressure and giving me an eye exam (reading the letters on a chart at a distance).

The Detran in Goiania doesn't mail your new license, so I will need to make one final trip in about 15 days to pick it up. Overall, the process wasn't too difficult. However, I wouldn't recommend anyone trying to navigate through all of this without the help of a native Brazilian.

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Adnankhan1 Active member

46POSTS

8 years ago

thanks for sharing a good experience,i will also try my Driving licence first to translated into portuguese

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stevefunk Serial expat

671POSTS

8 years ago

I got a 10 year license straight away even though my old one was soon to expire....

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highestflowers Guest

0POSTS

8 years ago

highestflowers:
Welcome to Brazil! Just make sure to keep your sanity while you struggle along the confusing hallmarks and irregularities that will beset you. He, he. That´s just a start!
Wait till an individual spit his phlegm in front of you in a shiny airport floor or put their shopping carts at the back of your car or defecate on your front lawn!

stevefunk:
10yr drivers license? Never heard of that. I renewed mine last year and along with other previous renewals, I was only given 4 years at a time. Are you not confounding that with a 10yr RNE renewal?

robal

1 member reacted to this post

stevefunk Serial expat

671POSTS

8 years ago

Ok checking the date now....2021....I guess its five years, sounds longer though

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highestflowers Guest

0POSTS

8 years ago

Yeah bro, but missing the date by 5 years? You have to have a spinal tap to determine your CSF tau protein level or a temporal lobe biopsy to determine beta amyloid deposition and tau protein onslaught. LOL!

robal

Ron Pinto Serial expat

215POSTS

8 years ago

Wow! Amazing bureaucracy. I drove in Brazil with my California DL for a long time, and now I am driving with my Mexican DL. If I get tickets I will pay them, but no points in my record, no losing my license. If I am still here when my foreign license expires I will then have to get a Brazilian license, but I hope it will not come ti this.
Funny is that no even Mexico was that bureaucratic.

Retireeyoungen Active member

46POSTS

8 years ago

So how do I find out Information I need to get a Drivers License for Salvador, Brazil. Is it different all over the country or pretty much the same standard? I am coming from the US.

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highestflowers Guest

0POSTS

8 years ago

#10

Hi Guys , I'm also looking for any info about swapping my USA license for 1 in Brazil (Bahia) Moving to Brazil at the end of month , so finding this site should really help

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highestflowers Guest

0POSTS

8 years ago

#11

Have your driver´s license translated by a sworn translator (juramentado) and bring your foreign license with the translation to a local DETRAN to have a Brazilian Driver´s License (Carteira de Habilitação). It´s standard all over the country so bring copies of the documents needed
to be certified by a cartorio. For comprovante de enderço (proof of residence) you can just bring your already paid water or electricity bill as they will keep that as proof...

Also Google to any DETRAN site to see if any changes has just occurred.

robal

2 members reacted to this post

highestflowers Guest

0POSTS

8 years ago

#12

Thanks for that info . My Step kids are very helpful and I'm in the process of getting all the documents in order to take to Detran . Should be next month or so ., I'll post an update of what happens when I get further along in the process .

BobGrik Active member

48POSTS

8 years ago

#13

Dear friends and shopping!
In Brazil today there is a lot of bureaucracy and in these cases it is better to do everything together with a lawyer and so everything is easier and faster and with 100% positive results according to the laws emvigor.

nv91 Active member

94POSTS

7 years ago

#14

Anyone have any experience getting their drivers license exchanged in Sao Paulo?
I am from Canada and my family will be arriving in Brazil in 2 months.

Help would be appreciated.

post Contributor

161POSTS

7 years ago

#15

highestflowers wrote:
I just got approved to transfer my USA driver's license and should receive a Brazilian driver's license in approximately 15 days.

I live in the state of Goias, in a small town about 90 minutes drive from the capital city of Goiania. Apparently, Detran offices in the smaller towns and cities are not able to process license transfers from other countries, so I had no choice but to use the Detran office in Goiania.

First, I had to get my license translated by an official translator. The nearest is in Anapolis, about 30 minutes drive from here. The cost of the translation was R$90. I emailed a photo of my license first and then went to get the translation when it was ready a few days later.

Per Detran's website, I brought my CIE (ID card) and a certified copy, my CPF card and a certified copy, my USA driver's license and a certified copy, the original translation of my license and a certified copy, my most recent set of utility bills and certified copies, and a certified copy of the lease for the house where I live. Although it doesn't specify on their website, they also wanted to see my passport. Fortunately, I brought it "just in case". They made a copy of the passport photo page and also flipped through it. I was not required to surrender my USA driver's license.

The Detran fee to begin the process was R$236,54. I verified all of my documents at Detran the 1st morning, was photographed and fingerprinted, and paid the Detran fee at a nearby Caixa bank. Then I had to call and schedule the 2 required exams. The psychological exam was R$100 and the medical exam was R$90. They were given at 2 different locations in Goiania. I was able to take the psychological exam the 1st afternoon and the medical exam the following morning. Then I had to go to Detran a 2nd time to submit the final paperwork along with proof of payment of the fee and successful passing of the exams.

The exams were not difficult, but the instructions for the 3 part psychological exam were given in Portuguese of which I have very limited understanding. The 1st and 3rd parts had to do with pattern recognition and logical thinking. The 2nd part was repetitive drawing of vertical lines with periodic horizontal lines on command. I had to do the exams without the help of my Brazilian wife, but as the instructor was giving the instructions, he demonstrated what needed to be done using a blackboard. By watching what he did on the blackboard, I was able to understand how to do the psychological exam. Fortunately, the doctor for the medical exam spoke English. The medical exam was a brief interview, followed by the doctor checking my blood pressure and giving me an eye exam (reading the letters on a chart at a distance).

The Detran in Goiania doesn't mail your new license, so I will need to make one final trip in about 15 days to pick it up. Overall, the process wasn't too difficult. However, I wouldn't recommend anyone trying to navigate through all of this without the help of a native Brazilian.

Just wonder who can issue the certifed copy of your documents:

USA driver's license - certifed by a diplomatic mission of USA in Brazil?

Other documents - certified by the issuing party / notarized by a local notary public?

abthree Brazil Expert

6520POSTS

7 years ago

#16

You can get an authenticated copy of any original document at a Cartório. The "authentication" really just means that the Cartório examined the original, and that the copy is a true copy.

1 member reacted to this post

stevefunk Serial expat

671POSTS

7 years ago

#17

I don't even think the copies need to be certified, but I could be wrong, but always bring a photo copy of every document whenever you do anything, so many times I've had them spring on me "oh we just need a copy of this document" , often government offices won't make a copy then you have to run around like crazy to get a copy....

The above posters account of getting the license is accurate, my medical check was literally just blood pressure and briefest of eye exam

You can drive on your Canadian license for 180 days before you need the Brazilian one
but don't leave it two late, the license can take about a month to 6 weeks from start to finish and I was actually driving without the technically valid one......how they prove your original license is over 6 months is another story, I suppose they would have to compare it to your CIE identity card issue date or entry stamp....

Texanbrazil ViP

2744POSTS

7 years ago

#18

Well I was surprised when I first applied, Did everything at Detran and paid. They sent me for the psychological exam and the person there would not allow me to take the test since I could not speak Portuguese well. I thought on it a week and decided to go to the PF. PF said it was not a requirement and I asked could he call the testing office. Sure enough he did. When I showed up for the exam the lady was not please and no help was given. But I passed.

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