RP driver's license now recognized in Belgium

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos living in Belgium can now exchange their valid Philippine driver’s licenses with Belgian licenses without having to take written and practical examinations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said this is due to an administrative arrangement made that had been under discussion for the last eight years.

"Prior to the implementation last April 22, Filipinos living in Belgium took written and practical examinations in either French or Dutch/Flemish to obtain a Belgian driver’s license," the DFA said in an article on its website (www.dfa.gov.ph).

The DFA added this arrangement also applies to Belgian nationals living in the Philippines who can also exchange their valid Belgian driver’s license for a Philippine driver’s license at any LTO office in the Philippines.

Basic requirements for exchanging the Philippine driver’s license to the Belgian driver’s license include:

• Valid Philippine driver’s license;
• Belgian identity card or work permit;
• one passport-size photo; and
• fee of €16.

For further information, Filipinos in Belgium can visit the Federal Public Service, Mobility and Transport website at www.mobility.fgov.be or contact their local commune.

Before the arrangement went into effect, those who wanted to take the exams in English had to pay for translation fee of €50.

Filipinos who did not want to take the exams were allowed to use an international driver’s license obtained in the Philippines to be able to drive in Belgium.

Because of this, the Philippine Embassy in Brussels and the Belgian Federal Public Service, Mobility and Transport worked on the arrangement.

Alex Fernandez and wife Jovelle were the first Filipino expatriates to get their Belgian driver’s licenses under the new arrangement last April 22, the DFA said.

“They had absolutely no trouble. They simply presented the requirements including their valid Philippine driver’s licenses at their local commune, and a week later, they received their Belgian 4driver’s licenses," Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Cristina Ortega said.

Ortega added that this arrangement is a manifestation of Belgium’s recognition of Filipino competence especially those who work as drivers for diplomats and local Belgians.

Belgium agreed to the arrangement since the Philippines is a signatory to both the 1949 and 1968 Geneva Conventions on Road Traffic.

In her meeting with the Belgian officials, Ambassador Ortega gave her assurance that only valid Philippine driver’s licenses will be exchanged for Belgian ones.

The Philippine Land Transport Office (LTO) submitted a list of security features to the Embassy with which the Embassy or Belgian officials could check the driver’s license validity. - GMANews.TV

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