San Cristóbal de La Laguna Launches €75,000 Grant Program to Help Youth Obtain Driver's Licenses

The San Cristóbal de La Laguna City Council has launched a new €75,000 aid program to help local young people cover the costs of getting their driver's license. Managed by the Department of Education and Youth, the program offers individual grants of up to €500 to pay for driving school fees, administrative costs, and study materials.

The initiative aims to boost employment and personal independence, recognizing that having a license is often essential for finding work. By removing the financial barrier of training costs, the council hopes to help residents under 30 enter the job market more easily.

To be eligible, applicants must have been registered as residents in the municipality for at least six months and be enrolled in a local driving school. The grants cover expenses incurred from the start of 2026 until the deadline announced in the Official Gazette of the Province (BOP). Once the official call for applications is published, residents will have 20 days to apply online.

Councilman Sergio Eiroa described the program as a step toward greater social equity, while Councilor for Local Development Domingo Galván noted that it also helps meet the needs of local businesses. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process, with priority given to those facing the greatest challenges, including the unemployed, those in the National Youth Guarantee System, people with disabilities, members of large or single-parent families, and young people living independently.

The Canary Islands’ driving school sector has welcomed the news. Javier Báez, head of the Federation of Driving Schools of the Canary Islands (FEACA), said the support not only eases the financial burden on families but also improves road safety by ensuring more drivers receive professional, regulated training.