This is my first posting and I need a little help. I’ve been living in Spain for three years now and I haven’t been back to the UK once and I don’t think it likely that I’ll ever want to return. I don’t have Spanish citizenship and need to know where I stand with passports. I checked mine yesterday and it had expired last month. I have no intention of travelling outside of Spain ever again but the question is, as a UK national living in Spain, am I required by law to have a current passport?

Thank you.

George.

Tumbit;

I think your information is incorrect.
Passport renewals are carried out by the UK Passport Service attached to the UK Embassy in Madrid.
Province consular offices can only issue emergency travel docs, and as the title suggests only in emergency.

The fee for Passport renewal that you quote is also wildly incorrect…
The current fee is 161? plus a courier fee which I believe is around 13?.

For full details please refer to the following

http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/iberia/

So far as I know, Spanish law requires all residents, temporary or permanent to carry current identification documents.

Since most debit/credit card transactions require back up with photo identification one could be faced with problems without a passport…since some stores will not accept anything else!

Unfortunately (given the cost, much higher than most other EU countries) I do not think it is an easy as saying ‘Because I don’t travel, I don’t need a passport’

The only fully legal way to prove ID in Spain is with a passport NIE, residencia or DL do not prove ID and would not be acceptable by notaries, banks or many other legal issues.

Given the new UK government is scrapping the ID cards (which was on a trial scheme pre election) that leaves us Brits with only passports as valid ID.

Yes I fully appreciate (I do it myself) we use DLs for day to day stuff like when using a credit card but that is not the whole picture.

This from UK Gov site
“Withdrawal of Residence cards in Spain

At present the only legitimate form of ID for British Citizens that is recognised by the Spanish Authorities is the British passport.  For making payments at shops and stores you may find that a photo driving licence or certified copy of your passport is accepted. However, please bear in mind that there is no obligation to accept either of these forms of ID, and you may be asked to show your passport instead.”

see here
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/residence-req