Portuguese drivers can now legally present digital versions of their identification and vehicle documents during traffic stops, marking a significant step towards modernizing roadside checks.
The id.gov.pt mobile application, also known as gov.pt, allows citizens to display their official documents with the same legal validity as their physical counterparts. This eliminates the mandatory requirement for drivers to carry paper documents.
Authorities will accept digital presentations of the Citizen Card, the Driving License, and the Single Automobile Document (DUA). These digital documents must be current and displayed through the official government application.
This change is supported by Portuguese legislation, specifically Dispatch No. 9503/2020 and Law No. 14/2021, which officially recognize the validity of documents shown within the app.
However, a contingency exists: if an enforcement agent is unable to validate the digital data in real-time for any of the documents, a notice will be issued. This notice grants the driver a five-day period to present the original physical documents or send them electronically.
This grace period applies only when there is no immediate necessity for document seizure by the authorities.