Does my Wife need a Schengen Visa?

Hi,

I am a British citizen, born in the UK and lived here all my life. My wife is from Mainland China. We have been married for five years. She came to the UK as a student in 2004.

I have a regular British passport whilst my wife has a Chinese one as this means that only one of us needs to pay for a Chinese visa when we travel there. My wife has a "Residence Permit" which says "Type of Permit - Settlement" and "Indefinite Leave to Remain".

We want to travel to the Schengen area. The German Embassy website says my wife needs to "hold a British "Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National" or a "Permanent Residence Card".

How do we go about getting one of these? Is it strictly necessary or could we just travel with our marriage certificate as evidence? Can she get this as well as a "Residence Permit"? If so, how? Or do we have to apply for a spouse Schengen Visa each time we travel?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Philster

philster678 wrote:We have been married for five years. She came to the UK as a student in 2004.

Looks like she could qualify for British citizenship/passport (see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/briti ... uirements/ ) and forget about all this visa bullsh*t already.