The price is unbelievable compared to a Spanish one.

Bit like a UK passport. A Spanish 10 year one is 20€ obtainable at a nearby National Police Station, and it will take the holder to all the countries the UK one does.

I was thinking of changing my nationality. Brits can apply after living in Spain for 10 years.

According to the website it is £30.

Since you no longer need a valid passport then I cannot see how they could take it off you if you became non resident - they don't take your passport off you!

John and Kath.

I don't think there is official info to answer your question. This would 'seem' to be the only Gov info available. But I know I will be corrected if I am wrong, so watch this space.

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

I have just looked at the website and it says

Who can get the cards?

Identity cards will eventually be available to everyone over the age of 16 who has the right to live in the UK.


So it would appear that all "British" Spanish expats will be able to get one eventually

Yes it definitely says £30 I was quoting the last figure I heard on BBC news some months ago. It seems they have come to their senses or this is not "the real thing".

Yes but it specifically excludes non UK residents.

Not sure why those that are time qualified don't change nationality. Why would they want to remain British, they all seemingly hate the place, are forever slagging it off. If Spain is so great, show your commitment to your adopted country and become a citizen of it. Has anyone here become a citizen of Spain?

Thats a good idea, we have to go to the local health centre, queue on the stairs for ever to see the secretary to get our repeat prescriptions !!

Did you have to ask for the chip to be put on the SIP card ?

No, it was on the cards when we got them when I retired, when I went to the docs instead of giving me a prescription he just put my card in his pc and typed away and told me to take it to the farmacia every month.

So the famacia just scans it and gives you the tabs. How many weeks supply do you get at a time and presumably you have to see the Doc at some time to check that your prescription is still valid?

Is this a private health care card or the "normal" version from government health care system?

It is the normal state health care card.

The prescriptions can be for up to 12 months.

I don't know if it has been introduced in all regions yet, but when it was introduced about a year ago in Andalucia it reduced the time doctors spent with patients by over 20% almost immediately as previously you had to see the doctor every month to get a new scrip.

Can we now get back to the question of UK ID cards or open a new thread on the health card subject.

ive still got my national identity card from l948 when i was born, they still had them after the war ended, but no photo - wouldnt be much good now - i dont think they would recognise me......

It works quite well.

The only problem I have is that I am on four medications, which come in different size packs, 20 caps, 30 caps etc, thus I have to go the the farmacia when the new lot are ready to be supplied. As they rarely coincide I spend a lot of time queuing to find out if I am due any.