Several ministries in Spain, including the Ministry of Integration, Social Security and Migration, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, and the Ministry of the Interior, have joined forces to speed up the authorisation procedures for drivers from third countries within the European Union who wish to work in the Spanish transport sector.
The main objective of this agreement is to simplify the administrative procedures related to the recruitment of foreign drivers in order to address the existing shortage of professionals in the sector. In particular, the agreement sets out clear requirements, including possession of the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card and the relevant driving licence.
To streamline the recruitment process, four different routes have been established, each with specific requirements.
Hiring as an employee exempt from the CPC requirement:
This route is aimed at drivers who are exempt from the initial Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), including those with a Class D or C licence issued before 11 September 2008 or 2009 respectively.
It allows them to apply for a residence and work permit as an employee, subject to social security registration and the validity of the employment contract after the continuous CPC. However, vacancies are expected to be difficult to fill.
Hiring as students:
Designed for foreigners who have not previously resided in Spain and who need to obtain the CPC card, this route starts with an application to stay as a student in order to obtain the CPC training and exchange their driving licence.
During this period, individuals may work up to 30 hours per week, but not as a driver until they have obtained the CPC qualification.
The students then must obtain a work contract to get the final authorisation to stay and work as a transporter or driver.
Rooting for training for irregular migrants:
This route is intended for migrants who have been in an irregular situation in Spain for at least two years.
It allows them to apply for an exceptional temporary residence permit for training purposes by enrolling in an authorised centre to obtain the CPC card or in a specific vocational training course.
The temporary residence permit is granted for the duration of the training, subject to the successful completion of the training, and leads to a subsequent residence and work permit as a transporter or driver in Spain for two years.
Collective management of contracting at origin:
Tailored for seasonal employment, this route allows individuals to obtain a four-year residence and work permit, allowing them to work for a maximum of nine months per year.
The foreign worker must obtain the CPC card within the first six months of this authorisation. Failure to do so will result in the termination of the permit, requiring the worker to return to his or her country of origin.
This model is similar to the system of fixed-discontinuous contracts and aims to collectively manage seasonal contracts in the land transport sector in Spain.