UK driving licence address

Hi,

If you are relocating permanently to Spain, won't you need NIE/ Residencia and to change your DL to a Spanish one once you have your Residencia? Are you having your car matriculated or selling it and buying a Spanish plated replacement? Need NIE & think Padron.

What about your Healthcare?

Best Wishes,

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Hi, I think youre Residencia is a requirement after youve been here 6 mths. Not sure about how you stand with NIE.

If youre only renting you'll need to get paperwork from youre landlord to prove the fact,

Are you of pensionable age ?, theres health insurance to sort.

You'll have a further 6 months inside which you'll have to surrender youre UK driving licence for which you'll need to have a general medical, eyesight and co-ordination test/exam, not as fearsome as it all sounds.

Buying as opposed to renting for me is the better way to go.

Give us some more details if you can.

D/l is a requirement 6 mths after Residencia, you'll also need Padron from the local town hall.

I second all the above; you’ll have to have a physical UK address if you want to change the address on your UK driving licence, be careful of what you tell DVLA as you are only entitled to a UK Licence if you spend more than 183 days in a year in UK.

Bob and Chevy are quite right; if you are relocating here, i.e. intending to spend more than 90 days in any 180 day period here, you are obliged to seek Residencia.  Residencia will also give you that all important NIE (Número Identidad de Extranjero or Foreigners Identity Number). This is your Fiscal identifier and will be used for everything.  One step at a time though.  The three most important “must haves” to obtain Residencia are:

1. Certificado de Empadronamiento - the Padrón.  You get this by registering at the town hall.  What you will need caries from Ayuntamiento to Ayuntamiento, but basically you’ll need rental contract and passports.

2. Health insurance.  You need to show you will not be a drain on Spanish health system, so you need either Private Health Insurance (I’m given to understand Banco Santander can offer a good rate, but please don’t quote me - I simply do not know for certain). If you are of pensionable age, you can still I u defat and transfer UK pension rights to Spain.  This puts you on Spanish health system.  Last method is by payment of Autónomo - this occurs if you are legally employed (i.e. have a contract) or if you are self employed and pay Autónomo yourself.

3. Income.  Tied in to health insurance really.  You need to either show an income of about 5.800€ per year, however derived, or an annual average bank balance of 9.750€ per person applying.  

Once you have Residencia, you are then obliged by Spanish law to surrender your uk Licence and obtain a Spanish Carnet de Conducir (Licence).

It’s not as scary as it sounds and once you tick all the boxes, relatively easily navigated

Hi,

There is a company called CATS that will sort and guide you though all of the red tape, their office is in La ALfoquia, which is a about 45 mins from Mojacar (I think). They are very helpful, & speak English. Their phone number is 950 63 43 88  or 627 635 514 .

Trying to do it all yourself when you have just arrived is a minefield.

Good luck Jenni

Hi, yes, we used CAT Services, they know everything there is to know, our wait time from handing over the paperwork including medical forms etc, (and be very aware that if you dont sort everything out youre medical is only good for three months, we had ours done at the policlinica in Huercal Overa), wait time can be anything from 5 weeks upwards, CATS will get you a temporary driving licence and give you the option of having it delivered to youre Spanish address or pick it up from the office in La Alfoqia. Likewise youre driving licence, presuming you intend being a full time resident.

Hi again,

I note that this post originated on the Sorbus forum so really is CAT Services La.Alfoquia a good option. One assumes the poster has a car but even so.

Maybe there's a suitable Abogado/ Solicitor in Sorbus & of course Mojacar Playa is closer. Having had experience.of CAT Services, & the running around they expect you to do getting forms notarised, we would no longer recommend them and now deal solely with Ana at Grupo Salvador, Paseo del Mediterraneo, Mojacar Playa. It's so pleasant to have an individual who will take the time to explain & e mail and other communication is immediate & excellent. Never did get replies to emails to CATS & phone went unanswered.

Agree with last poster, &,  as we did, commission a legal advisor to take you thru the bureaucracy, which actually beats India.

Also to note that after Brexit, which I believe most of us now see as a certainty, we shall need to change our Residencias for new ID Cards.

I can't remember the name but Dario will.

Best wishes again,

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Thanks for all the advice. I'll seek further legal advice once I know I'm in Spain full time. 

Thanks Bob, yes; we will be obliged to change our Residencias for TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) which is a plastic biometric ID card with photo on, and I believe, renewable every 5 years like the Spanish citizens DNI card.