← Calculators · TVDE Portugal · 5 min read
TVDE License: what it costs and how long it takes
Before you can accept your first ride, you need the TVDE Driver Certificate (CMTVDE), issued by IMT. Here's what it genuinely costs and how much time to set aside for the whole process.
What it costs, item by item
The full process typically runs between 250€ and 450€, split across: the mandatory 50-hour training at an IMT-certified school (between 200€ and 350€, depending on school and region), the IMT fee for issuing the certificate (discounted if requested online through the IMT's official TVDE driver certification portal), and medical exams — psychotechnical assessment and medical certificate — which together run around 45€. On top of that comes vehicle insurance, which is a separate, recurring cost, not a one-off.
How long it takes
From your first day of training to having the certificate issued, count on 4 to 8 weeks. The training itself usually takes 1 to 3 weeks, depending on whether you choose an intensive or evening schedule, and then there's IMT's processing time before the certificate comes through. If you need to be working by a set date, start at least 8 weeks earlier — the full span, not just the training.
What you need before you start
A category B driving licence issued more than 3 years ago, with Group 2 endorsement, a valid citizen card or residence permit, and an up-to-date criminal record certificate — the last one you can request free and instantly at registocriminal.justica.gov.pt. If your driving licence is foreign, the distinction is EU/EEA versus outside it: EU or EEA licences work, and their age counts toward the 3-year requirement, while licences from outside the EU may need exchanging for a Portuguese one at IMT first, which adds its own time on top of the 4 to 8 weeks.
Cost breakdown, worked
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mandatory 50-hour training at an IMT-certified school | €200–€350 |
| Medical exams (psychotechnical assessment + medical certificate) | around €45 |
| IMT fee for issuing the certificate | check the current amount on the official portal |
| Total for the process | €250–€450 |
Worked through: a driver whose training costs €280 and whose medical exams cost €45 has spent €280 + €45 = €325 before the IMT fee. That sits inside the €250–€450 total the page gives, with the IMT fee on top — which is why the total is a range, not a single figure: the training price varies by school and region, and the IMT fee is discounted when requested online through the IMT's official TVDE driver certification portal. At the cheap end, €200 training plus €45 exams is €245 before the fee; at the dear end, €350 plus €45 is €395 before it. Either way, the fee lands the total inside the stated range. Vehicle insurance is separate and recurring, not part of this one-off total — the TVDE insurance page covers what that policy must include and what it costs to compare.
Timeline, worked
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Training (intensive or evening schedule) | 1–3 weeks |
| IMT processing after the exam | the remainder |
| First day of training to certificate issued | 4–8 weeks total |
The practical point is the buffer: if you need to be working by a specific date, start at least 8 weeks earlier, because the training schedule you choose and IMT's processing time both move the finish date. An intensive schedule finishes the 50 hours in about a week, while an evening schedule stretches the same hours across three weeks — and that two-week difference at the start is still there at the end. The certificate itself, the CMTVDE, is what you need before your first ride; the process is not complete when training ends, but when IMT issues the certificate.
What to have ready before you start
Three documents decide whether you can start at all. First, a category B driving licence issued more than 3 years ago, with Group 2 endorsement — the 3-year rule is a hard gate, not a guideline, so a licence that is 2 years old means waiting, not applying anyway. Second, a valid citizen card or residence permit. Third, an up-to-date criminal record certificate, which you can request free and instantly at registocriminal.justica.gov.pt. Getting the criminal record certificate early costs nothing and removes one unknown from the timeline. If your driving licence is foreign, check the exchange question before anything else: licences issued in the EU or EEA work, and their age counts toward the 3-year requirement, while licences from outside the EU may need exchanging for a Portuguese one at IMT first, which adds its own time on top of the 4 to 8 weeks.
Driver certificate vs operator licence
The two licences are easy to confuse and they are not the same thing. The Driver Certificate, the CMTVDE, is what you as the driver need in order to drive — it certifies you, after the training, the medical exams and the IMT process described above. The operator licence is different: it belongs to whoever operates the service, not to the individual driver. A driver signing up to drive for a platform needs the driver certificate; whether the operator side is covered is a separate question that sits with the operator, not something the driver certificate answers. Keeping the two apart matters because holding one does not give you the other, and the checks at the roadside and on the platform concern the driver certificate first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a TVDE license?
Between 250€ and 450€ in total, adding up training (200€–350€), the IMT certificate issuance fee (check the current amount on the official portal), and medical exams (about 45€). Vehicle insurance is a separate, ongoing cost.
How long does it take to get a TVDE license?
Typically between 4 and 8 weeks, from the start of training until the certificate is issued by IMT — this includes training time and the administrative processing after the exam.
Does my foreign driving licence work?
Licences issued in the EU or EEA work, and their age counts toward the 3-year requirement. Licences from outside the EU may need to be exchanged for a Portuguese one at IMT before you can proceed with TVDE.
Is the operator license the same as the driver license?
No. The Driver Certificate (CMTVDE) is what you, as the driver, need to drive. The operator license is different — it's for whoever forms a company to run the activity — and normally isn't something an individual driver needs to deal with.
Can I drive for Uber before the certificate arrives?
No. Before you can accept your first ride, you need the TVDE Driver Certificate (CMTVDE) issued by IMT. Starting the process early matters because the full timeline runs 4 to 8 weeks from the first day of training to the certificate being issued.
What if my driving licence is less than 3 years old?
You do not meet the starting requirement yet: the page requires a category B licence issued more than 3 years ago, with Group 2 endorsement. Until the licence passes the 3-year mark, the process cannot start, so the waiting time has to be built into your plan.