Moroccans living in Portugal will soon find it easier to use and exchange their driving licences after the two countries signed a new agreement to remove a long-standing problem. The agreement was signed by Morocco’s Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh and Portugal’s Infrastructure and Housing Minister Miguel Pinto Luz.
It updates a deal first signed in 2003 and changes how driving licences issued by the two countries are recognised and exchanged.
For years, many Moroccans living in Portugal faced difficulties when trying to exchange their Moroccan licences. In most cases, Portuguese authorities only accepted category B licences because of differences in licence formats and the information they contained.
To solve the issue, Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) held technical talks with Portugal’s Institute for Mobility and Transport. The discussions involved Morocco’s Foreign Ministry and the Moroccan embassy in Lisbon.
Under the new agreement, people holding a driving licence issued by either country can drive in the other country for up to one year after arrival, subject to local laws.
The biggest change affects Moroccans living in Portugal. They will now be able to exchange licences from all categories obtained before becoming residents in Portugal. Previously, exchanges were generally limited to category B licences.
The agreement also updates the legal framework to match Morocco’s road traffic laws and includes the licence models currently used in both countries.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Kayouh said the agreement reflected the strong relationship between Morocco and Portugal.
He said more than 15,000 Moroccans live in Portugal, while over 3,000 Portuguese citizens live in Morocco.
Mr Pinto Luz said the agreement marked the start of a new phase of cooperation between the two countries and would be followed by further initiatives in transport, logistics and infrastructure.
The agreement comes as ties between Morocco and Portugal continue to grow.
Portugal has seen a sharp rise in its Moroccan population in recent years, with official data showing growth of more than 30%. Moroccans are now one of the country’s fastest-growing non-European communities.
The deal could also help Portugal deal with a shortage of professional drivers. The country is estimated to be short of around 12,000 truck and transport drivers, and the new rules will make it easier for Moroccan drivers with commercial licences to work there.
Morocco is investing more than $5bn in transport projects ahead of the tournament, including railway expansion and stadium upgrades. Portuguese construction and logistics companies are among those seeking contracts linked to the projects.
Trade between the two countries now exceeds €1.5bn a year. More than 1,300 Portuguese companies export goods to Morocco, while Morocco has become Portugal’s second-largest trading partner in Africa and its biggest partner in North Africa.
