Morocco and Portugal have signed an agreement allowing the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses, a move aimed at facilitating mobility and easing administrative procedures for citizens of both countries.
The agreement was signed in Rabat on Wednesday by Morocco's Minister of Transport and Logistics and Portuguese Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz. It updates a 2003 accord on the recognition and exchange of driving licenses and reflects the growing cooperation between Rabat and Lisbon in the fields of transport and mobility.
According to Morocco's Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the revised agreement was designed to address practical difficulties encountered during the implementation of the previous arrangement, particularly those affecting Moroccans residing in Portugal.
Portuguese authorities had limited the exchange of Moroccan licenses to Category "B" permits because of differences in the format and information contained in Moroccan driving licenses. The new framework seeks to overcome those obstacles while modernizing the legal and technical basis for mutual recognition.
The agreement is based on the principles of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which provides the international framework for road traffic regulations and harmonized standards among participating countries.
Under the new arrangement, holders of driving licenses issued by either Morocco or Portugal will be allowed to drive in the other country for up to one year from the date of entry, in accordance with national laws and regulations.
A key provision expands the exchange mechanism to cover all categories of Moroccan driving licenses obtained before the holder established residence in Portugal, ending the previous restriction to Category "B" licenses.
Moroccan authorities said the measure is expected to facilitate the professional and social integration of Moroccans living in Portugal and improve their mobility opportunities.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Portuguese Minister Miguel Pinto Luz described the agreement as a new step in bilateral cooperation and said it would pave the way for further initiatives aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries.
He also praised Morocco's recent progress in infrastructure development and logistics modernization, saying the Kingdom's investments demonstrate an ambitious strategy to support sustainable economic growth and reinforce its role as a reliable regional and international partner.
