Brazil relocation rules
Driving in Brazil with a foreign license
Identify the issuing country, governing agreement and entry date before treating a foreign license as accepted in Brazil.
On this page
The short answer
CONTRAN Resolution 1020 of December 1, 2025 now governs the cited foreign-license provisions. Eligible drivers have an entry-based period of up to 180 days, subject to license validity and recognition. The resolution distinguishes treaty documents and conversion routes. A rental company still needs to confirm its own acceptance and contract conditions.
- Recognition depends on the issuing country and applicable rules.
- The eligible period runs up to 180 days from entry.
- A driving permit does not replace the underlying license.
- Current Resolution 1020 repealed Resolution 933 of 2022.
Which recognition rule applies?
CONTRAN Resolution 1020 of December 1, 2025 makes recognition dependent on conventions, agreements and its own requirements. International agreements can establish prevailing specific conditions.1
Eligible foreign drivers can drive for up to 180 days from entry, subject to the original license remaining valid. Convention, agreement or reciprocity recognition applies. It is not universal license acceptance.1
Keep the issuing country, license category, expiration date and entry evidence together. Ask the relevant state traffic authority how the recognition provisions apply before relying on a daily driving plan.
Carry the required original documents
Carry the valid foreign license, identification and entry-date evidence. Vienna Convention documents also require a valid international driving permit beside the foreign license. Confirm issuer recognition and vehicle conditions.1
Confirm the actual license and permit format, vehicle category and validity. Ask a rental operator about its age, deposit and driver requirements before paying. No operator acceptance was established by the national legal research.
Plan the license route for a longer stay
After 180 days of regular stay, the rule requires physical and mental aptitude examinations and a psychological assessment for a Brazilian license. Unrecognized foreign licenses have a separate conversion and driving-test route.1
The state authority handles the practical application, appointment and examination process. This guide has not verified a personal fee or processing time. Use the city transport guide while arranging any required conversion.
Check the current instrument
Resolution 1020 Article 140 item X repeals Resolution 933 of 2022. The Ministry of Transport current status index identifies 1020 as in force.1,
Read Articles 101 to 103 and the relevant agreement together. Preserve the issue and entry dates. Old guidance that cites the repealed resolution needs a current-rule check.
Before you commit
How this page was researched
Settle in Latin America prepared this page from retained official sources opened on October 9, 2026. The work used document research. It does not claim local fieldwork, professional assessment or provider partnerships.
Questions people ask
Does Brazil accept every foreign license?
No. The resolution makes recognition dependent on the applicable conventions, agreements or reciprocity provisions.
When does the cited 180-day period start?
It runs from entry, subject to the original license remaining valid and the other recognition requirements.
Can I drive after my original license expires?
The eligible foreign-license provision remains subject to license validity.
Does an international driving permit replace my license?
The cited Vienna Convention provision requires the valid permit beside the foreign license.
Do I need entry-date evidence?
The cited document provision includes proof of entry alongside identification and the driving documents.
What changes after 180 days of regular stay?
The resolution describes examinations and assessment for a Brazilian license. The unrecognized-license route differs.
Is Resolution 933 of 2022 the current instrument?
Resolution 1020 Article 140 item X repeals it. The current status index identifies Resolution 1020 as in force.
Does legal recognition guarantee a rental car?
Ask the actual rental operator to confirm its contract and driver conditions. This page has not verified an acceptance decision.
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Sources and how we check them
Sources and how we check them2 sources
Every figure on this page comes from the official or primary source listed here. We checked them in . Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the source before you act on it.