DRIVING LICENCES ISSUED IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA RECOGNISED IN SPAIN
The Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the Kingdom of Spain on the mutual recognition and conversion of national driving licences was signed in Chisinau. The Agreement was signed by the Minister of Interior of the Republic of Moldova, Adrian Efros, and his counterpart from the Kingdom of Spain, Minister of Interior Fernando Grande - Marlaskape, on April 18th, 2024 and will enter into force in 60 days after mutual notification of the completion of the relevant internal procedures.
The Agreement provides for the verification of the authenticity of the driving licence through the exchange of digital data and in real time, directly between the competent Moldovan and Spanish authorities. In Moldova, the information will be verified via the governmental digital interoperability and data exchange platform MConnect (mconnect.gov.md), developed and managed by the e-Governance Agency (EGA).
According to this Agreement, citizens of the Republic of Moldova, holders of driving licences issued by the Moldovan authorities, are authorised to drive motor vehicles of the categories for which their licence is valid temporarily on the territory of Spain for a maximum period of 6 months.
They can also exchange their driving licence without taking the theoretical or practical tests, provided they are of the minimum age required by Spanish legislation.
For licences issued after the entry into force of the Agreement, to obtain their exchange, it will be necessary for the licences to be issued in the State where the applicant has his/her legal residence.
If there are reasonable grounds to doubt the driving fitness of the licence holder, the Spanish authorities may require the licence holder to take a test.
Citizens of the Republic of Moldova applying to exchange their Moldovan licences for the Spanish equivalents of categories C1, C1+E, C, C+E, D1, D1+E, D and D+E will have to take a test of skills and behaviour on a closed circuit and a driving test on public roads open to general traffic.
The Agreement does not cover Moldovan driving licences issued by exchanging another licence obtained in a third State.
Driving licences which have been exchanged will be returned to the Moldovan authorities. Upon return to the Republic of Moldova, citizens will be able to collect their Moldovan driving licence, provided they surrender their Spanish licence.
