18 Apr 2013 10:28 AM:

Thanks so much for all this information and sorry for starting "world war II" 

 

I should maybe point out that I moved straight to Spain after university graduation and that in 2001 I was just 22 and had no idea of notion of "residency" and still to be honest dont have it clear now.  I got a short term TEFL job and accordingly applied to get my NIE (a card then) in order to have my contract.  I did not however empadronarme until 2006: which document to people's knowledge really counts as being a resident, the NIE or the empadronamiento?   I thought the empadronamiento was just for local residence in a specific place in a town, so Im guessing the NIE is the document that proves my "residency" is this right?  The first few years in Spain i worked on 9 or 11 month contracts and travelled a lot back to the UK, sometimes for work (non contracted Im afraid) and mainly to visit friends and family.  I kept up my paperwork in the UK at my parents address (the same one today) and decided in 2003, having no knowledge of "residency", to do my test in the UK for reasons stated that I didnt speak Spanish that well and didnt think at that time that my long term life plan was likely to be Spain.

 

So in short I guess if the NIE, is the key residency document, then in 2003 when i got my license i was definitely legally a resident in Spain, also practically i definitely spent 4/5th of the year in Spain in rented accommodation.  At the same time in the UK as said I had kept up my paperwork (as I understand this) but hadnt paid any "taxes" (as I hadnt had contracted work) but the beginning of that period at least i think my parents were still registering me for "electoral poll".

 

So in short the keys things I guess are:

- is the NIE the residency document for Spain?  If so i was a resident in Spain when i did my driving license but I dont understand how my UK residency was "taken away" from me when that happened?

- As I was allowed to sit my test in the UK as I kept up a UK address, why cant this in itself prove i was a resident of the UK at that time?  Also, and I guess this is part coming from emotional feeling Im saying this, but why does it even matter where I did my test when it was in another EU country when the whole point of EU licenses, as I understand it, is to have a standard for tests throughout the union.  Especially this point seems pertinent when I did it in country for which I am a national.

 

From what I can understand from most people's comments and the official information from trafico, my situation for changing to a Spanish license doesnt look good and seems pretty impossible as I cant see it easy getting UK papers nor Spain accepting them :(.

Anyway thank you to everyone for all the help, much appreciated.  Thanks Robert for the person msg, I appreciate the info.

Saludos, Douglas.

Thread: British driving licence and Residence in Spain

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17 Apr 2013 9:38 AM:

Thanks for all the tips.

- I sent the queries to solvit so thanks for the tip guslopez.  Ill wait to see what they say.

- Gus: the dgt websit does say on its page about "canje del permiso de conduccion de países de la union eueropea" that you have to accredit your residencia and provide  "autorizacion de residencia " and not knowing this is is an issue i provided my NIE which says "certifca que ..... como residente con cárater permante en España, desde el veintitres de enero de dos mil uno" (that i have been a permanent resident since 2001).  I provided my British passport as identity.  I have actually only be "empadronado" in Spain since 2006 but the problem was I provided my NIE and they asked for it.  It does also say "que el permiso no se haya obtenido siende residente en españa" which is the point causing me the problem and i must admit i have overlooked when applying and just cant understand on what on logic it is an issue anyway when I have a valid EU license from a country where i was also a resident.

- Rob: since 2001, I got my license in 2003, I have been a registered resident in Spain so  I was already a resident in Spain when I applied for my UK driving license but i was also still a resident in the UK otherwise i wouldnt have been able to get my UK license.  As you say i might be able to get some paperwork form the UK confirming i was a resident there (anyone know what that would be, i actual know more about Spanish requirement than UK) but I cant imagine Spain accepting this paperwork anyway when my NIE says i have been here since 2001.

Thanks for all the help really appreciate it as i do find this really annoying issue and any tips definitely help. :D Douglas.

Thread: British driving licence and Residence in Spain

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16 Apr 2013 7:03 PM:

I have a new and unique problem connected to this.

Recently I received in my UK address (I still have one), my letter to update my photo of my driving license.  I hence decided it was as good a moment as any to do what i had been putting off and change to a Spanish driving license.  I speak to some Spanish friends, get all documents ready and even do my medical and off i go to Jefatura de Trafico en Cadiz.  They look at my paper, all goes smoothly and I even dont have to wait long, i cant believe my luck....  then suddenly "tenemos un problema", "como" i ask.  The nice lady then goes on to explain that I obtained my British license after i was a resident in Spain. explaining that this isnt allowed and they cant issue me a Spanish licence.  I insist and insist and one "responsable" after another and finally I have to except that it isnt possible.  Anyone ever been in this situation?  Here is summary of my personal situation in case it helps:

- I lived and worked between Spain and the UK during my first years of living in Spain.  To work in Spain of course I had to get my "residency".

- I didnt have a driving license and decided to do it in the UK as i didnt speak good Spanish at that point and didnt think I would stay long term in Spain.  So in summary i got my licence in the UK whilst a resident in both countries.

- Speed forward 10 years, i want to change to a Spanish license and I'm told the above with the only solution they can give me is to provide them with a residency NIE letter that is after my driving license date (impossible as far as I know) or sit the Spanish test which i clearly dont wish to do.

For now Im going to renew my photo in the UK and continue with my UK licence (valid to 2048) but has anyone ever been in this situation?

Appreciate any advice anyone can give as im at a bit of loss and anyway do want to change to the Spanish license if i can.

Cheers, Douglas

Thread: British driving licence and Residence in Spain

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