Kathyslad, the statement i made does not contradict itself you have obviously not interpreted what it says and the information within the statement in the manner it should be.
The EU directive everyone suddenly claims does not exist for some reason actually states that the country of residence is defined as the country of primary residence, I.E, living there for more than 185 days in any year.
As your licence has a UK address on it you cannot change it until your new country of residence is legally defined by occupation for a minimum of 185 days in any particular year, so this would be a minimum of 185 continuous days, or may if a combination of days be as much as a whole year elapsing, this is why the regulation provides for two years from initial residence. This is also defined within the EU directive earlier mentioned by myself. I show the link once more,
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2006L0126:20121121:EN:PDF
the regulations that are pertinent are,
Article 2
Mutual recognition
1. Driving licences issued by Member States shall be mutually recog
nised.
2. When the holder of a valid national driving licence without the
administrative validity period set out in Article 7(2) takes up normal
residence in a Member State other than that which issued the driving
licence, the host Member State may apply to the licence the adminis
trative validity periods set out in that Article by renewing the driving
licence, as from 2 years after the date on which the holder has taken up
normal residence on its territory.
And also,
Article 12
Normal residence
For the purpose of this Directive, ‘normal residence’ means the place
where a person usually lives, that is for at least 185 days in each
calendar year, because of personal and occupational ties, or, in the
case of a person with no occupational ties, because of personal ties
which show close links between that person and the place where he
is living.
However, the normal residence of a person whose occupational ties are
in a different place from his personal ties and who consequently lives in
turn in different places situated in two or more Member States shall be
regarded as being the place of his personal ties, provided that such
person returns there regularly. This last condition need not be met
where the person is living in a Member State in order to carry out a
task of a definite duration. Attendance at a university or school shall not
imply transfer of normal residence.
Article two defines the period of two years from the date of taking up residency that you must exchange your licence, and article 12 defines the period of time BEFORE you may apply residency rights to the country you have adopted as your residence (185 days).
All these details are defined within the EU directive, NOT the UK (DVLA) or the Spanish equivalent.
I still do not see how these definitions cannot be be found within the relevant EU directive, or how they can be disregarded, as they are there for all to see , and THEY ARE enforcable in the relevant country of residence.
I really dont see how the definitions cannot be understood, they seem quite clear to me.
Johnzx, i fully agree with your comment ,if you can see you are going to live in a country for the forseeable future, why not update your documentation to reflect the country of residence?
All it seems to show me is that people are backing away from regulations and seem to be witholding something, and usually it is people that have run away from officialdom in the UK in the first place. Changing countries, especially within the EU, will not release you from your responsibilities, so you may as well register your current residence and exchange your licence when you relocate.