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Do I need a forklift licence to work in Spain?

By (LaborIA) · Updated

Do I need a forklift licence to work in Spain? There is no official forklift licence in Spain: no authority issues a «carnet de carretillero». The law says only workers who have received specific training may drive a forklift (Royal Decree 1215/1997, Annex II, point 2.1), and that training, theory and practice with the machine, is your employer's responsibility (Law 31/1995, Article 19). In practice warehouses and temp agencies ask for a forklift training certificate and the employer authorises you to drive. The theory part can be done online: LaborIA's is free, in English or in Spanish.

Take the free forklift theory course (English)Take the test in SpanishCheck your Spanish level

What employers in Spain call it

  • Carnet de carretillero or carnet de carretilla elevadora: the «forklift licence». It is a training certificate, not an official licence.
  • Carretilla elevadora: forklift truck. Transpaleta: pallet truck. Mozo de almacén: warehouse operative.

What Spanish law actually requires

  • Specific training. Only workers who have received specific training to drive self-propelled work equipment safely may drive a forklift (Royal Decree 1215/1997, Annex II, point 2.1).
  • Theory and practice, paid by the employer. Training must be theoretical and practical, suited to the job and the machine, and given at the employer's cost (Law 31/1995, Article 19).
  • Authorisation. The INSST (Spain's national occupational safety institute) recommends that the employer authorises each driver in writing (technical note NTP 713).
  • Training standards. Many training centres follow the UNE 58451 standard, which is not mandatory.

How to get forklift training for a job in Spain

  1. Theory, online and free: LaborIA's forklift theory course in English (stability, the load plate, driving, ramps, racking, parking and the daily check), with a final test and a free PDF certificate.
  2. Want it in Spanish? Take the same test in Spanish: the certificate comes out in Spanish, with an optional verifiable version with a code (4,99 €).
  3. Practice with the machine has to be in person: your employer, the temp agency or a training centre provides it, and the employer authorises you to drive.

Which language? LaborIA's course and its test are available in English and other languages, with a free PDF certificate in that language. The same course in Spanish gives you the certificate in Spanish, which is what an employer in Spain reads, and only the Spanish version has the optional verifiable certificate with a code (4,99 €, one-off payment). The Spanish test uses everyday warehouse and workplace Spanish: if you are not sure you can follow it, check your level first with the free Spanish level test (instructions in English).

What LaborIA's certificate is, and what it is not

It is a theory training certificate in free format. It is not a licence, no public body has approved it and it does not authorise you to drive: you still need practice with the machine and your employer's authorisation. What it does: it shows a warehouse or a temp agency that you already know the theory.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official forklift licence in Spain?
No. There is no official «carnet de carretillero». The law requires specific training, theoretical and practical (Royal Decree 1215/1997, Annex II, point 2.1; Law 31/1995, Article 19), and the employer authorises you.
Is an online forklift licence valid in Spain?
Only the theory part. The practice with the forklift has to be done in person, and your employer must ensure your training covers the machine you will drive.
Is my forklift licence from another country valid in Spain?
Spain has no official forklift licence, so there is no procedure to recognise a foreign one: the employer checks that your training covers its machines and authorises you. A certificate from your country helps, but it is their decision.
How much does forklift training cost in Spain?
At LaborIA the theory course, test and PDF certificate are free; the optional verifiable certificate (Spanish version) costs 4,99 €. The practical part is given by the employer, the agency or a training centre, each with its own price; when your employer trains you, it pays (Law 31/1995, Article 19).
Who pays for forklift training?
If you are hired to drive a forklift, the employer must give you the training at its own cost (Law 31/1995, Article 19). Many people do the theory beforehand to stand out in a warehouse or temp agency application.
Is LaborIA's forklift course official or approved?
No. It is a theory training certificate in free format. It does not authorise you to drive and does not replace the practice with the machine.

Sources

Written and maintained by Eric Rodríguez. LaborIA is a Spanish website about work in Spain; it is not a public body. Summaries of Spanish law are for guidance: the source texts above prevail. How we work (in Spanish).