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Exchanging a licence for a Brazilian CNH

How to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Brazilian CNH in Rio de Janeiro: documents, translation, medical and psychological checks, prices and timing; category A.

With a foreign licence you may drive in Brazil for 180 days after entry (Buying a car). After that you need a Brazilian CNH (Carteira Nacional de Habilitação). Below is how the exchange went for Russians in Rio de Janeiro in 2023 and 2025 and what it cost. In other states the procedure and prices differ: check your state's DETRAN.

Checked on 8 October 2026. Prices in the posts are as of the stated date.

In short

  • You need: the RNM, a valid foreign licence, its sworn translation and proof of address.
  • Stages: a protocol at DETRAN, payment of the fee, a medical check and psychological tests at an accredited clinic, and collecting the card.
  • Russians in Rio did not have a practical driving test: it is required if the country of issue is not covered by international agreements or the principle of reciprocity (DETRAN-SC).
  • In 2023 the licence was issued five working days after the clinic check, in 2025 about a month later.

Steps in Rio

  1. Translation. First a sworn translation of the Russian licence (Translations and apostille).
  2. A protocol at DETRAN. In 2023 it was possible to book "opening of the process" only in person: the phone did not answer and e-mail went unanswered; they booked almost a month ahead (post, 14.04.2023). At the office you get a protocol and a boleto to pay (about R$ 202 in 2025) and a list of documents (post, 03.08.2025).
  3. Documents. The RNM, a valid licence and its translation, proof of address (an electricity, gas or internet bill, or a declaração de residência), and the payment receipt. The licence must be valid (post, 14.04.2023).
  4. Filing. You are photographed, fingerprinted and given the details of the clinic where the check will take place; you book it yourself, according to your area of residence.
  5. The clinic. Another fee: R$ 230 in 2023 and about R$ 288 in 2025 (Pix was accepted). Then an eye test and psychological tests: logic (41 tasks), attention (crossing out identical objects), memory (you are shown a picture and asked to list what was on it) and coordination (drawing strokes on a "start/stop" command). It all takes 2–4 hours (post, 10.08.2025). If you wear glasses, the licence will carry a note about driving in glasses or lenses.
  6. The card. In 2023 the results went to DETRAN automatically and the licence was collected five working days later; in 2025 it took about a month (post, 14.04.2023, post, 03.08.2025).

Adding category A (motorcycle)

In 2024 the @brazil_lifehacks author added category A to his existing B:

  • sign a contract with a driving school; the school sets the day of the DETRAN visit, where you get a Renach document and the phone number of a clinic for the eye test;
  • 15 lessons at a training ground, one of them in the dark; it all came to about R$ 981 plus a R$ 191 fee for opening the category; after a long break the author bought another eight hours (about R$ 900);
  • the exam at the DETRAN ground: arrive at 6:30 for an 8:00 slot and bring the RNM or CNH and the Renach;
  • the card is ready in about 10 days, the digital version sooner; the whole process stretched over two months (post, 27.03.2024, post, 17.06.2024).

An international licence from Brazil

The Brazilian CNH is not valid in some countries. For trips there the author obtained a Brazilian international driving permit in August 2025 (post, 21.08.2025).

Renting a car

For rental from the big companies (Localiza, Movida, Unidas) a valid licence, a passport and a credit card are enough; in 2023 the author needed only a Brazilian licence and a credit card (post, 10.07.2023, post, 09.01.2025). Details on renting are on the Running a car page.

Sources

Official:

Personal experience (channels @brazil_lifehacks and @russo_no_brasil, in Russian):