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Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Immigration to European countries, don't post UK or Ireland related topics!

Moderators: Casa, push, JAJ, ca.funke, Amber, zimba, vinny, Obie, EUsmileWEallsmile, batleykhan, meself2, geriatrix, John, ChetanOjha, archigabe, Administrator

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j41sal
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by j41sal » Thu Jun 18, 2015 4:27 pm

Hi

Have just joined and appreciate the info from this forum I have been reading today :)

me: uk british passport holder
wife: indian passport with ILR resident permit card - settlement ILR - no reference to family member etc. Also has my name included as middle name.

We have previously been to netherlands about 3 years ago and travelled with our indian marriage certificate and was issued after some hour or so of wait. They gave a 2 day visa.

Can we travel to schengen areas together without her having to get visa without waiting so long at the airports?

We plan on going somewhere in schengen area possibly greece, france, spain .....but not sure yet.. will look for last minute deals for next week. So don't have any itinerary proof of flights, hotels, etc? Is this needed with all embassys ?

Can she get a schengen visa for one country and end up not going there at all?
Would it be multi entry 6months given ?

Which embassy consulate is the fastest ?
easiest ?

thanks for reading :)

Hoping ca.funke can share thoughts?

sampathdw
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by sampathdw » Mon Jun 29, 2015 8:38 am

Hi,
I am PR/LLR UK spouse German normally travel together to Schengen states no issues. If I try to travel without EU Passport holder but authorization letter from her may be copy of her ID plus marriage cert but not flying. Channel crossing still the same UK/France control. I can say she is waiting for me in Germany and cannot travel on her own.

Any chance I would go through ....

Please comment

magz
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by magz » Tue Jun 30, 2015 8:14 pm

I am a non EU citizen, married to a British citizen, and I am a holder of a residence card for family members of union citizens issued by the Romanian authorities, I am intending of traveling to Germany from Romania alone using my card and meeting my wife there, what kind of questions should i be expecting at both the Romanian and German airports, do i need to bring any other documents apart from the marriage certificate and my residence card?

Thank you.

uk2005
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by uk2005 » Thu Jul 02, 2015 8:56 am

Hi i have questions i have holding eea PR card from my first marriage now I married British national have son British want to travel spain for holiday do I need visa? Or can I apply for long multiple visa do i have to pay for visa ?
Is this going to be normal tourists visa or i can use family visa?
Please let me know thanks
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by sohois » Mon Aug 03, 2015 12:40 pm

Hi all,
I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but hopefully someone can help me:
What exactly is a "Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen"? My wife and I moved to the UK just recently, her on a spouse visa. She promptly got her biometric residence permit, but is this the same thing as the residence card mentioned above? Or is this something separate which we would need to get, and use part 2 in the meantime?
Finally, if we did use the part 2 specified, our marriage certificate is from China. We had it notarized and translated by the chinese government so would we need to still get a hague apostil for it be recognized? and how would we go about that?
Thanks

noajthan
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by noajthan » Sun Dec 20, 2015 3:51 pm

sohois wrote:Hi all,
I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but hopefully someone can help me:

What exactly is a "Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen"? My wife and I moved to the UK just recently, her on a spouse visa. She promptly got her biometric residence permit, but is this the same thing as the residence card mentioned above? Or is this something separate which we would need to get, and use part 2 in the meantime?

...

Thanks
No, they are two different types of cards.

Note BRP ID cards issued under the UK immigration rules are different from the RC & PR cards issued under the auspices of EU treaty rights, ie issued as per EU articles & rules (eg Article 10, 16, 20 etc).

EU cards are not available to British citizens and their spouses/families who are on the UK Immigration route.
All that is gold does not glitter; Not all those who wander are lost. E&OE.

Adi008
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by Adi008 » Fri Feb 19, 2016 8:55 pm

Hi guys,
Iam in a puzzled situation and need a solution.
Iam married to a Polish girl and currently living in UK with a valid EEA family permit. I have applied for residence card and Iam going to recieve it in 2 weeks
(I have a letter which shows I have a positive decision for my residence card). Iam supposed to go to Poland and recieve it. I have no visa to travel back to Poland. I and my wife have to go back to Poland. I have read many articles travelling without visa to another EEA country.
We are scared we just dont want to be stucked anywhere or sent back. We are planning to go Poland by plane. Is there a chance for us to pass the border?
Thank you.

kishni2001
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by kishni2001 » Sat Feb 27, 2016 10:03 pm

magz wrote:I am a non EU citizen, married to a British citizen, and I am a holder of a residence card for family members of union citizens issued by the Romanian authorities, I am intending of traveling to Germany from Romania alone using my card and meeting my wife there, what kind of questions should i be expecting at both the Romanian and German airports, do i need to bring any other documents apart from the marriage certificate and my residence card?

Thank you.
I have a similar situation. Could anyone advise on this matter please?

noajthan
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by noajthan » Sat Feb 27, 2016 10:07 pm

Suggest take a look at 1st post here - it covers everything you need to know!

http://www.immigrationboards.com/europe ... 95372.html
All that is gold does not glitter; Not all those who wander are lost. E&OE.

Vensai
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by Vensai » Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:15 pm

Hello, I have the EEA family residence card (biometric format) issued with the wordings
'Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen’ '.

I have booked tickets to travel to Italy with my EU Spouse. However the Italy consulate website states that residence card should bear the exact wordings Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National’. My understanding is that this has been changed with the introduction of BRP's. However, the italian consulate in london has responded back stating that I need a Visa to travel since the residence card has a different wording.

Any thoughts please?

disheveledideas
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by disheveledideas » Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:39 pm

I'm a non-EU citizen currently waiting for the EEA2 RC. I need to travel to the EU quite soon to join my EU-national husband (so I'm travelling alone) and I don't know if I will get my RC by then.
I've read through this topic and I understand that technically I am allowed to travel, but I'm worried the UK airport personnel will not let me leave without a visa/RC.

aylintum
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by aylintum » Wed Mar 16, 2016 11:34 pm

disheveledideas wrote:I'm a non-EU citizen currently waiting for the EEA2 RC. I need to travel to the EU quite soon to join my EU-national husband (so I'm travelling alone) and I don't know if I will get my RC by then.
I've read through this topic and I understand that technically I am allowed to travel, but I'm worried the UK airport personnel will not let me leave without a visa/RC.
Hi there!
Did you get any information about your situation? Because l'm in the same position as you just the problem is l will travel with my EU husband to his country (Spain) but meanwhile my EEA1 visa will be expired, so l have just my COA form and my passport, my expired family permit visa ect.. l'm so confused could l travel to Spain and Re-enter the UK. again or not :?
if anyone has idea or experiance could share with me ? many thanks..

mostafarida
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by mostafarida » Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:45 am

Hello, I have the EEA family residence card (biometric format) issued with the wordings
'Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen’ '.

I have booked tickets to travel to Italy with my EU Spouse. However the Italy consulate website states that residence card should bear the exact wordings Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National’. My understanding is that this has been changed with the introduction of BRP's. However, the italian consulate in london has responded back stating that I need a Visa to travel since the residence card has a different wording.

Any thoughts please?
Hi, I have the same situation.

My wife is Slovenian and we live in the UK. I was just issued with a Residence Card which says "Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen" and the letter that came with it states that this is a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

Now some of the Embassy websites state the following:

"According to the EU Directive 38/2004 (Art. 2) family members of EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who are in possession of a British residence permit named "Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National" do not need a visa for visits up to 90 days in the Schengen area if they are joining or travelling with the EU, EEA or Swiss national."

Why does my card state "family member of a Union Citizen"? Did I get issued with the wrong card (not married to a British citizen) and will I be able to enter Italy and Slovenia with my wife with this card, passport, marriage papers and without any Schengen visa or additional Family Permit?

Any answer would be much appreciated as we are really confused with all the information on the web. Still waiting for the Embassies' replies and will let you know what they say.

Thank you!

Cayos
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by Cayos » Tue Apr 12, 2016 11:06 am

Hi! What Schengen countries are you planning to visit?

mostafarida
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by mostafarida » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:11 pm

Cayos wrote:Hi! What Schengen countries are you planning to visit?
Hi Cayos, we are planning to fly into Italy and go by car to Slovenia (my wife's home country) and from Slovenia fly back to the UK.

We just received a reply from Italian Embassy informing us that my residence card with the wording "Family Member of Union Citizen" is a new UK form of residence cards which hasn't yet been officially circulated around Schengen countries and as such we might have trouble at the airport. The Embassy wrote a letter for us to show at the airport that I can enter without visa. They also advised us to take our marriage papers with us just in case. But all in all, they have been extremely helpful.

On the other hand Slovenian Embassy informed us that for Slovenia I do need to have a visa. A bit confused about this but after rereading their website it seems that they really do not accept residence cards only... Is the EU directive not above that?

Cayos
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by Cayos » Fri Apr 22, 2016 9:04 am

mostafarida wrote:
Cayos wrote:Hi! What Schengen countries are you planning to visit?
Hi Cayos, we are planning to fly into Italy and go by car to Slovenia (my wife's home country) and from Slovenia fly back to the UK.

We just received a reply from Italian Embassy informing us that my residence card with the wording "Family Member of Union Citizen" is a new UK form of residence cards which hasn't yet been officially circulated around Schengen countries and as such we might have trouble at the airport. The Embassy wrote a letter for us to show at the airport that I can enter without visa. They also advised us to take our marriage papers with us just in case. But all in all, they have been extremely helpful.

On the other hand Slovenian Embassy informed us that for Slovenia I do need to have a visa. A bit confused about this but after rereading their website it seems that they really do not accept residence cards only... Is the EU directive not above that?
Hi, sorry I am not familiar with the visa application rules at the Slovenian Consulate. Yes, strictly speaking, the rules are the same for all the Schengen countries but in practice there are slight differences in handling the visas. So the best thing that you can do is to listen to what the consulate says, try to speak with a few different people there, if possible.

blackbear
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by blackbear » Sat May 07, 2016 3:58 pm

Hi all,
I am a little confused and wonder if someone can clarify

I have UK Passport as I am a British citizen, my wife is thai with a UK Residence Card.

Her UK residence card states "Spouse/Partner Leave to Remain",
is this the same as "Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen"

She had a schengen visa in her old passport (through French Embassy with remarks "Famille UE/EEE" but this has now expired).
Does she still need to obtain a schengen visa to visit Countrys in Europe ?
we are especially interested in France , Spain, Greece , Portugal, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland.

Thanks in advance for any help.

noajthan
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by noajthan » Sat May 07, 2016 4:30 pm

blackbear wrote:Hi all,
I am a little confused and wonder if someone can clarify

I have UK Passport as I am a British citizen, my wife is thai with a UK Residence Card.

Her UK residence card states "Spouse/Partner Leave to Remain",
is this the same as "Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen"

She had a schengen visa in her old passport (through French Embassy with remarks "Famille UE/EEE" but this has now expired).
Does she still need to obtain a schengen visa to visit Countrys in Europe ?
we are especially interested in France , Spain, Greece , Portugal, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland.

Thanks in advance for any help.
No, wife has a UK BRP not a EU Article-whatever RC type card.

Yes, Schengen visa will be required.
All that is gold does not glitter; Not all those who wander are lost. E&OE.

Royalm
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by Royalm » Sun May 15, 2016 11:49 pm

Hello guys,
I'm wondering if I'm allowed to travel to the UK without a visa if I:
1- have a residency card of a an EU family member issued by Germany and my passport for sure,
2-am a Miserable non-EU citizen obviously,
3-a) will travel with my British wife,
or
b)will travel by myself to join her later after I sort our house here in Germany ),
4-will travel in no means by Air (airlines staff will not let any Non-EU on board no matter what books on EU LAW he/she will have in possession ),
5-plan to apply for whatever permit to stay in the UK after arrival (too early to discuss that) :)

Thank you very much,

abdik1980
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by abdik1980 » Sun May 29, 2016 7:34 am

Hi Guys,

I am UK citizen and my parents with following status would like to visit with me to France and Denmark from UK by road through Euro Tunnel. Purpose of visit is only for Tourism and should not be more than 14 days.

- Pakistani Citizens
- American Green Card Holder
- On 2 years UK visit Visa valid for at least 1 year from now

My question is, can they travel with me to Schengen states without visa under EU treaty rights as EEA family member. They only have 2 years long UK visitor visa. Many Thanks

Regards,
Abd

noajthan
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by noajthan » Sun May 29, 2016 11:22 am

Royalm wrote:Hello guys,
I'm wondering if I'm allowed to travel to the UK without a visa if I:

...

Thank you very much,
See https://eumovement.wordpress.com/2010/0 ... to-travel/
All that is gold does not glitter; Not all those who wander are lost. E&OE.

Royalm
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by Royalm » Sun May 29, 2016 11:46 am

Thanks noajthan,
I made it,
It was a straightforward process,
Really appreciate,

noajthan
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by noajthan » Sun May 29, 2016 1:01 pm

Royalm wrote:Thanks noajthan,
I made it,
It was a straightforward process,
Really appreciate,
Great. So you can start to enjoy English culture and traditions such as a rainy Bank Holiday Monday;
why not go to beach - eat fish and chips with a hanky on your head & etc!
All that is gold does not glitter; Not all those who wander are lost. E&OE.

Royalm
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by Royalm » Sun May 29, 2016 1:10 pm

Hehe Man...I love fish and chips!
So far, I love it here in England, people are more friendly,laid back,they don't stare at you 24-7,food is better as well (which is paramount ),
wasn't so happy in Germany to be honest, maybe the place we stayed in?!
Cheers : -)

DanielleGB
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Re: Travel to Schengen, without visa, for EEA-family members

Post by DanielleGB » Mon Jun 13, 2016 11:48 pm

Hello. I just really need help to understand. I have a residence card of an eea family member issued in UK. Can I travel to spain alone? Or do I need to apple for schengen visa? Pls help. Thanks

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