The DGT Spanish traffic department is continuing to refuse to accept paper licences, despite assurances from the British Embassy that according to the latest agreement between the British and Spanish governments, paper licences are valid.
Well they are not and the DGT in Palma has made that blatantly clear to the Bulletin and judging by comments on social media platforms, it is not just in Mallorca where traffic departments are adamant that paper licences are not valid.
What is more, for British residents in Spain who no longer have a place of residence in the UK, they cannot exchange their paper licence for a new biometric one the DVLA has told the Bulletin.
So, for those expatriates in Spain who have a paper licence, which are valid until they expire in the UK and other EU countries, as of Friday, the latest deadline in what will surely be the last window, they can no longer drive on a UK licence although they can drive a hire car.
The Bulletin is aware of a number of cases in Mallorca of expatriates who are extremely frustrated and have no idea of what to do because being unable to drive is going to seriously disrupt their lives.
The ambassador has been stressing the need for expats to exchange their licences but the trouble is for those who have paper ones, they cannot which means that the only solution is to take a Spanish driving test but that is easier said that done for Britons of a certain age, not to mention the cost.
The embassy is aware of the problem, it has been for the past five months, but it does not appear to have been resolved and this is a crunch week for British residents in Spain.
33 comments
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You have to differentiate between intelligent British people and stupid British people who I still don't understand what they have inside their brain. The first, the welcome... have learned to speak a little Spanish, they have integrated and they are cool These have already had their licenses for a long time. On the other hand, the others, the fools... will continue to complain all their lives. They complained in the UK, that's why they left. Now they reside here, complaining and drinking pints. ARTOS of the country that one day welcomed them, will go to another more correct one, and will continue to complain, crying. Misadapted cretins
Why are these UK citizens who have moved to Spain still being referred to as Expatriates or Expats ? They are immigrants from the UK in Spain.
Richard PearsonAre you resident and living in Spain or the UK? Clarification would be helpful. If you live in the UK, I can understand why you believe you are "superior", even to the Welsh, according to your previous comments. If you live in Spain, as it suggest by your driving licence and your use of Spanish words (although some obviously were misspelled), I think a bit more humble opinion and tone from you would not go amiss, if that is at all possible from a man of high self opinion. Regarding my nationality is of no concern to you whatsoever. But history is not you strong point, that's for sure. Bigots usually are usually narrow minded.
Richard PearsonP.S. You actually sign the oath renouncing your British citizenship at the Juzgado, not when you get your Spanish passport (if you want one, it’s not obligatory) and your DNI. Those are issued later at the police HQ. You don’t sign anything there. P.P.S. British ‘subject’? I think that should be ‘citizen’!! You certainly live in the past! Over and out again.
Richard PearsonI never said they didn’t have to renounce their British citizenship in writing!!! Of course they do. They sign an oath. However you said they are “asked to sign a document where they state that they will return their passport to the U.K. authorities”. Not exactly the same thing. You are never told what to do with your passport. Over and out from me too.
SaraI quote from one of Ulla’s comments: “Why would she hand back her UK passport and renouce her citizenship?” Any more questions ?
Ulla JacksonI can’t find anything wrong with being “superior” in my own country. Nothing wrong with that is there ? I hope you are not Swedish. Look at the mess they are in and they didn’t even have an “empire”.
SaraOh I certainly understand irony, real good humoured irony, but not Spanish “irony”. By the way, your mate Ulla didn’t understand it either, Anyway, thanks for confirming that U.K. subjects DO (capitals) have to renounce ,in writing, their citizenship when they receive their Spanish passport. It took a long time but we finally got there. Over and out.
Richard PearsonReferring to your earlier comment: “ Good for you for being a foreigner with a Spanish DNI and a Spanish husband. I suppose you also renounced your U.K. citizenship and handed back your passport to the authorities.” Why did you assume “foreigner” meant UK? I could have been any nationality! Remember that the MDB is a publication for English speakers, not exclusively for UK nationals! And my “Spanish husband”? Again an assumption. Why Spanish? Even if I were British I wouldn’t have needed a Spanish husband to become Spanish myself. Those days are very long gone!
Richard PearsonOf course I said “pesky foreigner” on purpose! I was being ironic (like someone else who often comments here) but you clearly don’t do irony. I assure you I am fully brushed up on the legalities of becoming Spanish. At the ‘Juzgado’ you sign a document renouncing your British nationality, full stop. At no point either then or later do they ask you (or make you sign a document) to return your British passport to the British authorities. However you certainly can’t use it from then onwards. You say you don’t use capitals. So what is “EXACTLY”? Congratulations on your Catalan but rainament should be raonament, and torn is Mallorcan (torno in Catalan). I fail to see why we should dislike you because you drive buses and any amount of other vehicles. Good for you. Do you sail boats too? Maybe the arrogance in your comments has something to do with all the negative marks?