Tag Archives: application

Spain

Driver’s License Success

We finally, completed our Spain driver’s process including the final practical exam. The procedure of acquiring a Spanish driver’s license is a major undertaking for people who live in Canada and the USA. The Spanish government does not recognize the equivalency of a Canadian or USA driver’s license. You are required to complete the entire driver license process regardless of your past experience identical to that of a new Spanish driver.

We began the process back in fall with completing the written exam. The written exam was an experience and adventure on its own. If you haven’t followed the post on our progress follow the links below.

http://wp.me/p6PTzi-11N             http://wp.me/p6PTzi-12T

We have been taking the practical driving lessons which are a requirement in order to complete the driver exam process. Although we are both experienced drivers and have held a Canadian driver license for years the lessons were of value.

The driving techniques in Spain and Europe are somewhat different from Canada. We do drive on the same side of the road however, there are some notable differences.

Yield signs are common and stop signs are minimal in Alicante. There are numerous roundabouts in Spain and some roundabouts are complex with three or more lanes wide.

Typical roundabout in Spain

Traffic signs are also slightly different, there are multiple signs for the same intersection which can be confusing at times.

After completing numerous practical driving lessons, we finally had our driving test days. Ray’s test was first and it was done during a torrential downpour. The examiner only speaks Spanish and no translator is permitted for the exam.  The exam took approximately 20 minutes and when completed I was informed to wait outside the car. The examiner and the driving instructor remained in the car for a few minutes to discuss the exam.  Ray was then allowed back in the vehicle and he was dropped off at the apartment. The results of the exam would not be available for 24 hours.

Shelley’s Driving exam was held on the Wednesday before the Easter long weekend. Traffic was congested and there were three other students in the car when the exam took place. The examiner asks each student a question about the car prior to the practical exam. Shelley’s question was on the colour of the reverse lights on the car when in reverse. Shelley completed the exam and was also asked to wait outside the car with the other students.

The final result is that we both have passed our driver exams and now have a Spanish driver’s license.

Ray and Shelley in front of the Pausa driving school holding their Driver Licence L

In the first year after obtaining your driver’s license in Spain, you are required to have an “L” on your rear window of your car. We received our “L” from our driving school and will display it proudly when we drive.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Spain

Residency cards renewed

It is hard to believe we have been here a year already.  We were required to renew our residency card which expired in January 2017. We began the renewal process in November 2016 with the first process attending the “Oficina de Extranjero” to have our documents reviewed to ensure they met the requirements.

We headed to the “Oficina de Extranjero” and arrived early in the hopes of getting served quickly. We took a number and waited our turn. After approximately 30 minutes our number was called and we met with a clerk. She reviewed our papers and informed us that we were missing one form. The form was available online and we needed to return with it completed. We were not permitted to complete it there so off we went back home.   We completed the form and returned another day to have our documents reviewed again.

After waiting approximately 45 minutes our number was called and we met with a different clerk. She reviewed our documents and asked for a new document that was not on the list, however, I brought every document we had, including the one she asked for. We provided the additional document and was advised that we would receive a letter in the mail advising if the application was approved.

A month later we received a letter in the mail advising us to proceed to make an appointment at a different office for our residency card. We went online and scheduled an appointment which was three weeks later at a different office.

Campo de Mirra office

We attended the office located on Campo de Mirra with a copy of all our documentation and met with another clerk. They reviewed our documents and the letter we received from the other office.  We were then issued with another letter which required us to return again in another month to pick up our new residency cards.

We returned a month later and after having our fingerprints scanned we were able to pick up our new residency cards. We are now good for two years before going through the process again.

“adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Spain

Today we wrote our theory driver test

We have been studying and spending a lot of time preparing for the theory driver exam. In Spain, the theory exam can be in English which is both a bonus and a curse. The questions are translated from Spanish into English and sometimes the translation changes the question into a very difficult question to understand.

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Shelley studying the sample exams for the driver test

We have been online practicing the sample questions that were provided by our driving school.

Yesterday we attended the driver test location which is on the outskirts of Alicante. The driving school transported us along with two other students to do the test. There were groups of people waiting to do the test at the centre. We waited outside until it was our turn.

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People waiting to do the driving test

We were called in by name and sat at a bank of computers and the instructions were provided in Spanish. We managed to figure out what was being said and entered our identification into the computer only to have a Spanish test display on the screen, Yikes!!! Shelley and I both had our hand up and explain in our best Spanish, “Ayuda por favor”  we needed an English test. After a bit of confusion, they provided both of us with a paper exam. The process which is very different from Ontario; took half an hour and then we were completed. The results of the test are posted online the following day.

So this morning we logged on to the website and found out that unfortunately, we both failed the test. We are disappointed but we are determined to not let this set us back. We know how to drive and it just means completing the test again. Apparently, there is a very high percentage of people who fail the first time, so I guess we are in good company. We will hit the books for another couple of months and try the test again later. Until then we are going to enjoy the beautiful weather and travel a bit.

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

Driver’s Licence Medical process

This morning we went to the Medical Clinic called “Clinica Ume” for our medical certificate. This clinic is the approved location for the driver’s licence medical certificate, which is a requirement prior to writing the theory component of the driver licence in Spain.

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Shelley and Ray outside of the Clinica Ume

We arrived at approximately 11 a.m. and spoke to the receptionist who could not speak any English. We explained to her why we were there and after a few attempts at making ourselves clear she understood what we needed. She then took some information from us and we waited in the  reception area.

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Ray and Shelley waiting in reception area for medical test

Approximately 10 minutes later we went into another room with a medical assistant and she conducted a hand and eye coordination test. This test was unique and something we have never done before. It was completed on an old commodore 64 style computer. The test consisted of two parallel lines approximately 1-inch wide which moved down the screen. They moved independently of each other  and you needed to maintain two small dots inside both lines as they changed course.

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The computer used in medical certification process for driver licence

Once the computer test was completed successfully a digital photo was taken prior to us seeing the doctor. We then attend another room where the doctor did a 10-minute exam that consisted of an eye test and general questions. Once that was completed we were back sent back to the receptionist. We paid our $20. euros each and received our  “Informe de Aptitud PSICO-FISICA” aka- medical certificate.

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Autoescuela Pausa in Alicante

We then returned to the Autoescuela Pausa to drop off the forms and secure our date to write the theory exam. We were required to pay in advance for the cost of the exam which was $90 Euros each.  We also were required to complete another form for the upcoming theory exam.  We paid the exam fee and completed the documentation so now we are set for the exam. But wait there is always a catch! What was really interesting  is the fact that the government does not advise the location or time of the exam until 24 hours before the test. So we need to wait until September 21st to find out the time and location of our test. This is an interesting process and one that requires some patience.

“adios y que tenga un gran dia”

 

 

Canada, Spain

Moving Forward Update

We continue to move forward with our plans, although we have not heard from the Spain Consulate regarding our visa application yet. There is only two months left before we leave and it is getting busy for us.  We have started selling our furniture and have sold numerous items so far. The apartment is starting to look a little bare. The artwork and decorative items on the walls have been removed and given away to family or sold. We have sold our dinning room set and  we are now eating at the coffee table in the den. The computer desk has been sold and now the filling cabinet is our new computer desk.   Adaptation and a positive attitude are important as we move forward.

Our new dinning room table
Our new dinning Table

We have given our notice and plan on leaving Kingston in Mid December to move back home with our parents for a few weeks before we leave for Spain. We have secured a mover for the few belonging we will be keeping in Pembroke. We have also started the task of closing off our accounts related to the apartment. We have notified, gas, electrical, internet and TV companies that we are leaving and closing the accounts.

 

The challenge now is selling the car. We would ideally like to keep  the car until we leave, but that is simply not feasible. We are trying to sell our car now and if it sells quickly we will be renting a vehicle when we need a car in the interim.

We are updating  our wills and preparing for the final pieces to be in place before the move to Spain. There are lots more things to do, we need to finalize our taxes with CRA, change our mailing address, obtain international drivers licences etc. and of course we are still awaiting our Visas.