just back

[laserblazer]

CVO solicitors who would do this for estrangeiros FOC

I think solicitors are losing business with next to no property sales and the loss of Fiscal Rep. revenue. I can't see them doing it for nothing, unless you are an existing customer. Eeven then, I wouldn't expect mine to do it for nowt.

[DVBRO]

Hi all

A good idea is to copy your passport and drivng licence before you go on holiday and ONLY carry the copies with you when out and about. Technically if they are not notorised in Portugal or certified in the UK you will be at risk from an over zealous poilce officer (GNR) but losing the copies is no drama v losing the originals which will ruin your holiday! You can get the copies certified at home by a solicitor or here in CVO notorised by a Portuguese solicitor and the copies will be legal. Perhaps residents who read this could help visitors by posting details of CVO solicitors who would do this for estrangeiros FOC????

Pickwick

Just go to the main Post Office. They will Certify your Passport, which is recognised by the Police. No Problem. Home made copies are not acceptable.

[joeysoap]

sometimes (only sometimes) I take my driving licence with me in portugal but never my passport. is this a legal requirement for driving in portugal? are locals obliged to carry a portuguese passport because if they are not then it's surely against EU rules to insist on a passport from another EU citizen. isn't this what got Spain in a pickle over the capital gains/withholding tax ie treating EU citizens differently than their own. afaik all EU citizens have the same standing rights/obligations in the various EU countries as the citizens of that country has.

[TomUK]

When out in the car, I always carry good quality colour scans of our passports and the paper part of my driving licence. I also have my plastic photo driving licence with me. I have the hire car company paperwork with me also. So I have plenty of ID. I have always (perhaps wrongly) assumed the scanned copies would be accepted until I presented the originals to a GNR station within 24 hours.

As regards car thefts and doors. We once drove to Seville, and on returning to the car in an underground car park below a shopping mall, I found the top of the driver's door had been prised open. The thin frame around the window bends out easily where it joins the door at the base of the window. Sometimes this results in the window breaking. The thief is then able to unlock the door. Fortunately our window was intact and I was able to (very easily!) bend the window frame back to its normal upright position, and no lasting damage was caused. They appeared to have used bare hands, there were no scratch marks from a metal bar or anything. Incidentally, there was nothing in the car to steal and nothing on show. It was about four years ago I 've been trying to remember the car make. Could have been a Clio or a Punto.

[laserblazer]

My solicitor has just told me that the police will not accept document copies, even if they are signed. His recommendation is to carry passports and licences with you and not to leave them in the vehicle.

[EMM]

We have been stopped by the GNR and they were happy with our UK photo lisence, but we have also been warned that the national transport police are far more rigid when it comes to paperwork.
Still not happy carrying passports with us.

[maccasa]

I have colour copies of my passport in the car - with a printed note on the bottom saying - I certify this is an accurate copy of the passport of Mr............ and signed with an unreadable signature, with heavy type "GB passport authority" under it. Worked twice for me when police have stopped for their usual document checks - both times just outside Pau da Azucar.

[EMM]

It is not the local GNR but national transport police we have to be wary off.

[joeysoap]

Just go to the main Post Office. They will Certify your Passport, which is recognised by the Police. No Problem. Home made copies are not acceptable.

[/quote]

Hi DVBRO,

just to clarify, home made copy not acceptable (talking passport here, no problem carrying driving licence) but if you take this copy into the post office they will certify it or do they make a copy on their machine and certify that?

[thefellon]

I have one of those Fiscal Tax identification cards, are they acceptable as ID in place of a passport?

[EMM]

No ,according to the strict letter of the law, non residents must carry their passports with them when driving.

[DVBRO]

Take your Passport, not copy to the Portuguese Post Office. They will copy and certify it for you. Then you keep your Passport in the safe at the Villa and use the certified copy, when required. Cost, if I remember about 12 Euros.

[e-richard]

No ,according to the strict letter of the law, non residents must carry their passports with them when driving.

That sounds familiar, and I'm afraid I cannot remember where I read it, but I have a vague recollection that now it is:

" non residents must carry their driving license and photo-id with them when driving." Where new style credit card size licences with photo cover both requirements in one.

[fmm]

No ,according to the strict letter of the law, non residents must carry their passports with them when driving.

So those of us with properties are considered residents, so no problem then?

[EMM]

Owning a property does NOT make you a resident.
You have to take out full Portuguese residencia which has a lot more implications than just not having to carry your passport with you.