keithwalters

Yes, I agree. Despite having the option of NOT having a residency card, I would prefer to have one as it just makes your life much simpler all round.

Unexpat

I won't answer for the latter, but I suspect the former may have advantages in terms of how often you need to retest and which classes of vehicles you are permitted to drive. i.e. the swap to a Spanish driving license is not necessarily a direct equivalent. I personally have not looked into this.

Beachcomber

If you use a DGT validated foreign driving licence in Spain you are subject to the same rules and limitations regarding age and retests as someone with a Spanish licence.

mikelincs

If you are geting near the 70 yr deadline for retests, then it is certainly essential to get a Spanish licence as getting a retest using an UK one is very difficult, I'm certainly considering having mine changed.

DrStarsky

The point is that it takes three months to get a residence card and I want to open a bank account now.

mikelincs

Suggest you contact the various banks in your area, it seems as though they do have different requirements, some do not offer incentives for residents, but all accounts are the same. Cam Bank certainly are like that, but what you need to open accounts I dont know. Ours were all opened by our lawyers and notary, and we only had an NIE number, and of course an address in Spain of the house we were buying.