Morocco asks the DGT about the validity of the Moroccan driving licence in Spain
Thousands of Moroccan citizens have been penalised in recent years for not having a Spanish driving licence, despite the existence of an agreement between Morocco and Spain since 2004 that granted validity to Moroccan driving licences in Spanish territory.
After several years of receiving fines, Sabah Yacoubi, president of the Association of Moroccan Immigrant Workers (ATIM) in the region of Murcia, declared on her social networks that ‘the situation has reached a critical point that requires an immediate solution’.
Although the aforementioned agreement between the two countries is still in force, it has undergone several changes to simplify and streamline bureaucratic processes which, however, have added problems for some users. In the latest amendment to the agreement, the specific test for drivers with special categories was eliminated, which does not affect ordinary users whose driving licence is only valid for driving.
On Friday 31 January, Sabah supported the thousands of Moroccans who peacefully demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) in Madrid to demand that the situation of the thousands of Moroccan workers who need a driving licence to work be normalised. In addition, the group gathered in front of the Moroccan Embassy in Spain on the same day.
The language barrier
Lack of knowledge of the language is a major stumbling block for Moroccan users. Many of the drivers do not know the Spanish language and, therefore, have greater difficulties when it comes to taking the exam. For this reason, Sabah is calling for the driving licence they obtained in Morocco to be respected.
Moroccan drivers are increasingly being stopped by traffic officers to ask for their documentation, which usually results in a fine of up to 500 euros. The problem lies in the validation of documents: despite the existence of agreements that allow the use of the Moroccan driving licence, many of the users, even those who have Spanish nationality, have found that their driving licence has not been updated in accordance with current regulations.
‘This has left thousands of Moroccan citizens with a Moroccan driving licence, but with no possibility of exchanging it for a Spanish one. As a result, many face financial penalties for driving with an unrecognised licence,’ Yacoubi added.
This is not only a bureaucratic problem, but also a safety issue in the event of an accident, as a Spanish driving licence is compulsory in Spain.
‘We can't work’
With more than a million residents, the Moroccan community is the largest non-Spanish-speaking group in Spain, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). For this reason, reaching an agreement that allows Moroccan drivers to drive freely in Spain is of great importance.
It should be borne in mind that most of these workers are transport workers who travel the country's roads every day, or they work in the agricultural sector and use specialised machinery.
Sabah, in an X-shaped line, explained that the main problem faced by Moroccans residing in Spain with an Algerian driving licence is that they need it to work. The representative of Moroccan workers in Murcia explained that the need for the DGT to propose a solution is vital in many cases. To this end, the vice-president of ATIM asked that drivers who hold Moroccan driving licences only have to pass the practical test. ‘We call for unity among the Moroccan community in Spain and for awareness-raising among the Spanish and Moroccan authorities to resolve this situation in a fair and equitable manner,’ Sabah said on social media.
How to validate a Moroccan driving licence
Although in Spain you cannot drive with a licence other than a Spanish one, Moroccan citizens can drive in Spain with their Moroccan driving licence, but they must meet certain requirements and follow a validation process: be over 18 years of age; be legally resident in Spain; have a valid Moroccan driving licence; have held it for at least one year; and not have been deprived of the right to drive by judicial or administrative decision.
However, to validate the licence, users must request an appointment at the Provincial Traffic Headquarters corresponding to their place of residence, where they must present a valid Moroccan driving licence, passport or NIE, certificate of registration, a recent passport-size photograph and pay the corresponding fee.
Subsequently, a test will be carried out to assess psychomotor skills and, in some cases, a short driving test. Once the test is over, the user with a Moroccan licence can drive freely throughout the territory.