I discovered today that the UK is going ahead with Identity cards on a voluntary basis.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governme...ards/DG_174258

So I assume we could obtain a card which would be acceptable as ID in Spain (given it is issued by a government) and also we could travel with it around the EU.

Don`t say that, I have just paid an arm and a leg for a bloody passport.

When the original ID card was being suggested some time ago, it was not going to be available to non UK residents.

There is nothing on their current website to confirm or deny this.

I have contacted the IPS for clarification.

The new ID card will not be generally available until 2012.

Can't see the point.

The main point is that it is an ID card. If you don't want a pasport (because you don't travel), then in Spain you have no way of proving your identity.

I absolutely object to having to get a passport when I don't travel!

Why can't Spain issue Expats with an ID card of some sort - based on NIE, DL, residencia or whatever!

They used to. Some expats felt that having one was a breach of their human rights, took it to the EU and as a consequence we don't have them any more.

Problem is - even a British ID card isn't going to have your Spanish NIE number on it - therefore won't be much use.
My wife - who has the AMAZING good fortune to NOT be European - has just got herself a new residencia card (just like we used to have).

Yes you are right a UK card would not have the Spanish NIE on it. It still could be used for EU travel though - save on passport fees!

I bet they'd find a way of charging us 100 euros for one though

The Spanish ID card / extrajaneros will not let you cross the frontier to Gibraltar.

The proposed ID card would be in every way equivalent to a national ID card and there would be no requirement to present a passport as ID unless travelling outside the EU.

Of course it wouldn't have a Spanish NIE on it any more than a French or German ID card would.

The old residencia card could not be used for travel - it got me out of Spain but not into the UK.

But a UK national ID card will permit EU travel.

I know of people whot traveled to Uk with residencia cards and others with Gib ID cards (Not Gib nationals who can still travel on their cards) before Schengen came into operation but not afterwards.

But note with reference to Gibraltar, Spain insists Gib is not in Europe

Ive sent parcels to Gib.

You need a customs label, like those for outside EU.

If Gibraltar was in the EU we could take as many ciggies and alcohol and other aparently duty free high value goods across the boarder with ease.

I do not believe that Gibraltar is in the EU zone.

Long may it stay that way.

Gibraltar is in the EU but the normal customs exemptions and other EU policies do not apply.

http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/latest_n...atus_in_eu.htm