A non-resident may legally drive a car with Ukrainian (non-EU) plates in Portugal for up to roughly 183 days (6 months) within any 12-month period, under the admissão temporária (temporary admission) regime. After that you have two legal options: legalize the car in Portugal — paying the ISV import tax — or take it out of the country. Overstaying risks a fine of hundreds to thousands of euros and seizure of the vehicle by customs. Ukrainians under Temporary Protection have had special extended regimes, which you must verify. Below: how the 180/183-day rule works, what you risk, and how to choose between legalizing and selling.
Important disclaimer: rules, deadlines and fine amounts change through government dispatches, especially for Ukrainian citizens under Temporary Protection. This article is informational, not legal advice. Before deciding, confirm the current rules with the AT (Autoridade Tributária — tax authority/customs), the IMT and SEF/AIMA.
Temporary admission in Portugal: 183 days per 12 months
The admissão temporária regime lets a non-resident use a foreign-registered car in Portugal without paying Portuguese registration taxes. The logic is simple: a tourist or temporary visitor does not have to register the car locally right away. The permission is time-limited and tied to non-resident status.
A car with foreign plates, brought in by a non-resident, may stay and be driven for up to roughly 183 days within any 12-month period. The limit is often quoted as «180 days» — work to the lower of the two figures and do not push the limit. After that, the car must be legalized (registered in Portugal) or taken out of Portuguese territory.
When the «clock» starts ticking
The count is tied to your actual stay and residency status. Once you become a resident of Portugal — residence permit, registered address, centre of interests moved here — the right to temporary admission effectively ends. This is the nuance most people miss: it is not only about days; a resident cannot drive indefinitely on foreign plates.
Special regime for Ukrainians under Temporary Protection
Ukrainian citizens with Temporary Protection in the EU and Portugal have had special regimes and extended deadlines for their cars: the government issued dispatches (despachos) that temporarily eased or postponed the legalization requirement. These rules have changed and been extended several times.
In practice this means you may have more time than the standard 183 days. But every relief has its own end date. Never rely on rumours or a neighbour's experience «a year ago». Whether the regime still applies, and until when, must be confirmed directly with the AT, the IMT and SEF/AIMA — checking the latest official data is your responsibility.
Overstaying the limit: fines and seizure
If the temporary-admission period has ended and you keep driving on Ukrainian plates, the car is in the country illegally from a tax standpoint. The fine for overstaying runs from hundreds to thousands of euros, and the car can be seized. Enforcement comes from the Guarda Fiscal / Guarda Nacional Republicana and customs (AT).
| Infraction | Possible consequence | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Driving beyond the temporary-admission period | Administrative fine (coima) | from hundreds to thousands of € |
| Car neither legalized nor removed | Seizure (apreensão) of the vehicle | car impounded |
| Non-payment of the registration tax (ISV) | Tax assessment + interest | ISV amount + fine |
| Continued use after seizure | Aggravated penalties | case by case |
Exact amounts depend on the circumstances and the rules in force at the time of the check, so the table shows orders of magnitude, not fixed figures. The key takeaway: this is not a «small fine» — in the worst case you lose access to your own car until you regularize the situation.
Two ways out: legalize or sell
As the deadline approaches, you have two legal paths: legalize the car and get Portuguese plates, or sell it before the deadline. Let us look at both.
Option 1. Legalize the car in Portugal
Legalizing means officially importing and registering the car in Portugal. Simplified, the process is:
1) File the DAV (Declaração Aduaneira de Veículo) — the customs declaration for the car. 2) Pass the inspection (IPO, category B). 3) Pay the registration tax — details at the ISV link. 4) Get Portuguese plates. After registration, the car is taxed annually with the circulation tax — details at the IUC link.
Non-EU nuance: a Ukrainian car originates outside the EU, so on top of the ISV, customs duties and VAT (IVA) may apply at clearance. That makes legalizing a non-EU vehicle more complex and more expensive than importing from an EU country — calculate the full amount in advance.
For a turnkey route, see our main guide to legalizing an imported car and use the import/legalization service — we handle the DAV, inspection and registration.
Option 2. Sell the car before the deadline
If legalizing a non-EU car turns out too expensive or complex (high ISV, duties, VAT, an older vehicle), it is often smarter to sell the car before the deadline. You avoid fines and the seizure risk, and the money can go toward a car already registered in Portugal.
We provide a valuation and buy your car — quickly, without unnecessary bureaucracy. Submit a request on the sell your car page, get a valuation and close the matter before the deadline. If you plan to buy a local Portuguese car instead, use the car sourcing service.
Legalize or sell: comparison for Portugal
A direct comparison of the two options in the context of Portugal and a non-EU car from Ukraine.
| Criterion | Legalize | Sell before the deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | high (ISV + duties + VAT + inspection) | none / minimal |
| Time and bureaucracy | significant (DAV, inspection, registration) | minimal |
| Ongoing costs | annual IUC, PT insurance | none |
| Fine/seizure risk | removed | removed |
| When it makes sense | car is new/valuable, you stay long-term | car is old, legalizing not worth it |
| Outcome | Portuguese plates, the car is yours | cash in hand, no car on Ukrainian plates |
Action plan: five steps
1) Determine your deadline date — from the day the car entered, allowing for any special Temporary Protection regime. 2) Confirm the current rules with the AT, the IMT and SEF/AIMA. 3) Calculate the cost of legalizing: ISV plus any duties and VAT, then the annual IUC. 4) Compare it with the market sale price. 5) Decide — legalize or sell — and do not leave it to the last day.
Frequently asked questions
How many days can you drive in Portugal on Ukrainian plates?
Under the general temporary-admission rule — up to roughly 183 days (about 6 months) within a 12-month period for a non-resident. For Ukrainians under Temporary Protection a special extended regime may apply. Confirm the exact deadline with the AT, IMT and SEF/AIMA.
What happens if you drive beyond the limit?
You risk an administrative fine (coima), a tax assessment and seizure of the car by customs or the Guarda Fiscal. Amounts depend on the circumstances and the rules in force, but the consequences can be significant — including the temporary loss of access to the car.
Is legalizing a car from Ukraine more expensive than from the EU?
Usually yes. Ukraine is outside the EU, so besides the ISV import tax, customs duties and VAT may apply at clearance. This makes the process more complex and more expensive than importing a car from an EU country. Calculate the amount in advance.
What are the ISV and the IUC?
The ISV is the one-off tax for registering the car in Portugal, paid at the moment of legalization. The IUC is the annual circulation tax that the owner pays every year after registration. They are two separate taxes.
Which is better — to legalize or to sell?
It depends on the car and your plans. If the car is new or valuable and you are staying long-term, legalizing may be justified. If the car is old and legalizing a non-EU vehicle gets expensive, it is often better to sell before the deadline and buy a car already registered in Portugal.
This article is not legal advice. Deadlines and amounts change — always check with the official sources AT, IMT and SEF/AIMA.