Forklift and aerial platform licence in Portugal: what training is required, how to get it, cost and duration (2026)

In short: Portugal has no official "forklift licence" and none for aerial work platforms either. The law requires operators of these machines to be "properly qualified" (Decree-Law 50/2005, article 32), which is proven with a training certificate from a certified training provider. A forklift course usually costs €120 to €180 and takes 8 to 12 hours (one or two days); aerial platforms, €120 to €170 and 8 to 12 hours. Free courses from IEFP and training centres also exist, but are longer (25 to 50 hours). A driving licence is only required if the machine is driven on public roads.

Is there an official forklift licence?

No. Contrary to common belief, the Portuguese State does not issue any "forklift licence", "platform licence" or "operator licence". What the law says is different:

• Self-propelled work equipment may only be driven by properly qualified workers (Decree-Law 50/2005, article 32). Forklifts, telehandlers, self-propelled aerial platforms, excavators and loaders are all self-propelled equipment.
• Equipment with specific risks may only be used by an operator "specifically qualified for the purpose" (same law, article 5).
• The employer must provide information and training suited to the job and to high-risk activities (Law 102/2009, articles 15 and 20), at no cost to the worker.

The law does not define "properly qualified" or set a number of hours. In practice it is proven with a professional training certificate issued by a DGERT-certified training provider (registered in SIGO and in the worker's Passaporte Qualifica), plus training on the specific machine the worker will use.

The old IEFP certification for machine operators (Ordinance 58/2005) was optional and was revoked in 2011. When people talk about an "IEFP forklift licence" today, they mean a training course, not a licence.

What training each machine needs

How much it costs and how long it takes

Short courses, with a theory part (often online) and a practical part on the machine, are the most popular with people who need the certificate quickly. Some published offers:

Free courses

• IEFP and training centres (certified modular training): national-catalogue units such as UFCD 0420 "Forklift handling and operation" (50 h) or UFCD 8386 "Counterbalance forklifts" (50 h) are free for employed or unemployed adults. They are longer and run on fixed dates.
• Sector centres such as CENFIC (construction) and some recruitment companies offer free forklift courses after working hours or in one-off campaigns.

Online courses

Theory-only online courses cost €40 to €125. They cover the theory, but without practice they do not show that the person can drive the machine: the employer is still required to provide practical training on the equipment.

How to get the "licence", step by step

1. Choose the course for the machine you will use: counterbalance forklift, telehandler, platform (scissor, articulating, telescopic) or crane. A forklift course does not cover aerial platforms, and vice versa.
2. Check that the provider is DGERT-certified and issues its certificate through SIGO. Ask for the programme: it should include theory (safety rules, stability, loads) and practice on the machine.
3. Do the theory (in person or online) and the practice with a trainer, usually at a yard or warehouse of the provider or of a rental company.
4. Pass the theory and practical assessment.
5. Receive the certificate (usually by e-mail) and, with many providers, an operator card. With IPAF, the PAL card appears in the ePAL app as soon as you pass.
6. At the company: the employer should complete the training with instructions for the specific machine (manufacturer's manual, controls, load limits) and keep a record. You can read JLG manuals for free on our site.

IPAF and the PAL card for aerial platforms

IPAF is the international federation of the powered-access industry. Its operator course follows ISO 18878 and leads to the PAL card, valid for 5 years (IPAF). In Portugal it is not required by law, but it is often requested on sites run by large companies and abroad. The card shows the categories the operator is trained on:

IPAF centres in Portugal include Transgrua (Alcochete), Nortaluga (Viana do Castelo), Soluções Outdoor (Vila Real), Going Up (Avanca), Jorge Lozano (Queluz), Condominium Verticali (Braga), Machrent (Palmela) and CIFESP (Póvoa de Santa Iria). None publishes prices: ask for a quote. The course takes 1 to 3 days depending on the number of categories (about 8 hours per category).

If you are not sure which type of platform you will use, see the guide Types of aerial work platforms.

On public roads you do need a driving licence

Inside a warehouse, factory or closed site, training is enough. But a machine driven on a public road is an "industrial machine" under the Highway Code (article 109), must be registered (Decree-Law 107/2006), and the driver needs a driving licence of the right category (Driving Licence Regulation, article 3):

In other words: a category B driving licence does not qualify you to drive a forklift at work (training does), and a training certificate does not let you drive on the road (a driving licence does).

Validity and refresher training

• The law sets no expiry date for training. But the employer must train and inform again when the worker changes job or starts using new or modified equipment (Law 102/2009, article 19).
• Every worker is entitled to 40 hours of training a year (Labour Code, article 131), which can include refreshers.
• The IPAF PAL card is valid for 5 years; renewal is a shorter course.
• Many companies and project owners require a refresher every 3 to 5 years, as an internal or contractual rule.

What the employer risks

Letting someone without training drive a forklift or platform is a serious offence (DL 50/2005, article 43); failing the duty to inform is very serious. Fines depend on the company's turnover and on negligence or intent (Labour Code, article 554; 1 UC = €102):

Common myths

• "IEFP issues the forklift licence." IEFP runs courses; it does not issue licences.
• "With a B licence I can drive a forklift." Only on public roads and only light machines. At work, training is what counts.
• "The IPAF card is mandatory." It is good proof of training, but Portuguese law does not require it.
• "The certificate lasts forever." The law sets no expiry, but requires new training when the equipment or job changes.
• "An online course is enough." Without practice on the machine it hardly proves the operator is qualified.

Where Trapézio de Prismas comes in

We are the JLG dealer in Portugal: we sell new and used JLG aerial work platforms and telehandlers and carry out the mandatory periodic inspections the same law requires for the machines. We do not run training courses, but we can help you choose the right machine for the job. If you only need a machine for a few days, see the aerial platform rental companies by district.