EEA Permit - Clarification

From another thread, I learned that Estonia is now allowing visa-free travel to EEA Family Member Residence cards:

http://www.estonia.gov.uk/news_events/news/aid-585


However, the website also states:

Please note that Residence Permit does not allow to travel without a visa.

I am unclear on what a EEA Family Member Residence is - I thought that it was something issued to spouses of non-UK Europeans.

If this is the case, then as I am a UK citizen, my Chinese wife would not need/be eligible to apply for one, as she already has ILR in the UK.

However, this seems to leave us at a disadvantage - as a Residence Permit holder, she would still require a visa to visit Estonia.

Is this right, or am I missing something?

Thanks!

Can anyone shine a light on this?

Your wife does not have a residence permit. A RP is given to spouses or other family members of EU/EEA citizens who are exercising their treaty rights in another EU/EEA country. e.g. if you, as British citizen, moved to France, your wife, a non-EU/EEA citizen, would be given a residence permit (or its equivalent in France) under the European directive on free right of movement.

By residence permit, I think they mean a standard UK-issued visa, such as a HSMP/Tier 1 or a student visa. People who are here under the UK immigration rules would still need to apply for a visa if required for entry.

Your wife's situation...it is interesting that they did not mention spouses of British citizens who hold ILR. I assume you would still have to apply for a visa (which should be issued free of charge), but it would be interesting to ask them if anything has changed for people such as your wife.