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Morocco and Portugal signed an agreement in Rabat on Wednesday providing for the mutual recognition of driving licenses, in a move aimed at easing mobility and simplifying administrative procedures for citizens of both countries.
The agreement was signed by Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, and Portugal’s Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz. It updates a previous accord signed in 2003 and reflects the growing cooperation between Rabat and Lisbon, particularly in the fields of transport and mobility.
According to Morocco’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the revised agreement addresses difficulties faced by Moroccans living in Portugal when exchanging their Moroccan driving licenses. Under the previous arrangement, Portuguese authorities generally limited exchanges to Category B licenses due to differences in license formats and data requirements.
The new agreement broadens the scope of mutual recognition and allows holders of driving licenses issued by either country to drive in the other for up to one year from the date of entry, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
A key provision allows Moroccan residents in Portugal to exchange driving licenses from all categories obtained before establishing residency, rather than being restricted to Category B. Moroccan authorities said the measure would facilitate professional and social integration while improving mobility for the Moroccan community in Portugal.
The agreement was negotiated by Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Moroccan Embassy in Lisbon, alongside Portugal’s Institute for Mobility and Transport.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Kayouh described the agreement as a major step forward reflecting the strong ties between the two countries, noting that more than 15,000 Moroccans live in Portugal and over 3,000 Portuguese nationals reside in Morocco.
For his part, Pinto Luz said the agreement marked the beginning of a new phase in bilateral cooperation and praised Morocco’s progress in infrastructure development and logistics, describing the Kingdom as a reliable regional and international partner.
