Travel to Spain Non UK resident with UK settlement Visa

[dalex]

Hi
Sorry if this has been already covered but I am very confused I am a uk citizen and my wife is Ecuadorian with a permanent settlement visa we are due the travel to Spain and are very confused by what we have read ie: direct from http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/en/ ... trada.aspx

Being in possession of a valid visa

This is required of nationals of third countries included on the list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the EU's external borders, unless they are in possession of a valid residence permit or a valid long-term visa issued by another Member State.

can any advise me if we need a visa to enter Spain

many thanks for your help .

[askmeplz82]

It is a common misunderstanding that if a person is married to a British citizen, they do not need a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen area. The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen agreement, that is why if you are a British spouse and hold resident card or indefinite leave to remain you still need to get a visa to enter the Schengen area. Therefore, its visas and residency are not acknowledged by the Schengen states.

She may be able to travel without VISA but i really don't recommend it because success rate is really low. Airline or immigration may not even allow her to enter. Spain

[dalex]

Hi thanks for the response

Im still trying to get my head around this as per the website I linked to the above paragraph states:

Being in possession of a valid passport or travel document
The document must be valid for the entirety of the projected stay. Citizens from any State of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein only need a valid national identity document or passport. In the event of a minor travelling with a national identity document, the latter must be accompanied by parental authorization.

Schengen is not mentioned until the following paragraph after what I posted which I understand to be a different matter !!
or is it just the way its worded.

all these laws given a a headache

[toofan]

you as a British citizen no need visa to visit any other European country for 3 months.

Hi thanks for the response

Im still trying to get my head around this as per the website I linked to the above paragraph states:

Being in possession of a valid passport or travel document
The document must be valid for the entirety of the projected stay. Citizens from any State of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein only need a valid national identity document or passport. In the event of a minor travelling with a national identity document, the latter must be accompanied by parental authorization.

Schengen is not mentioned until the following paragraph after what I posted which I understand to be a different matter !!
or is it just the way its worded.

all these laws given a a headache

[CR001]

you as a British citizen no need visa to visit any other European country for 3 months.

The OP is asking about his wife.

I am a uk citizen and my wife is Ecuadorian with a permanent settlement visa we are due the travel to Spain and are very confused

[toofan]

you as a British citizen no need visa to visit any other European country for 3 months.

The OP is asking about his wife.

I am a uk citizen and my wife is Ecuadorian with a permanent settlement visa we are due the travel to Spain and are very confused

sorry

are you both travelling together ? as British citizen you are classed as eu citizen and your wife will be classed as non eu spouse.
so if you apply for a Schengen visa as spouse of British citizen visa should be issued free of charge and on accelerated basis.
you do not have to provide bank statement or hotel accommodation etc.

according to directives non eu spouses can travel even without visa to another eu state but you might face difficulty getting on board .
and as your wifes permanent visa is issued under uk national law. there is no mention of family member of eu citizen on that.

it will be betterif you apply free Schengen visa as spouse of eu citizen.