As the driving licence debate rumbles on and on and on as to whether UK driving licences are valid in Turkey I emailed the DVLA yesterday to ask whether a GB licence is valid / renewable for someone living outside the EU. Here is the response I got today.
Dear Mrs Young
Thank you for your email received on 14/1/13. Your email reference number is 11xxxxx.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency would be unable to issue a further British Licence to anyone who resides overseas for the greater part of the time.
Changes to British legislation resulting in the implementation of the Second EC Directive on Driving Licences (91/439/EEC) since 1 January 1997, have required that driving licences are granted only to drivers who are resident in this country.
I hope this clarifies matters for you.
Regards
S Keeley
Customer Enquiries Group
DVLA