slightly O/T - Schengen / other visa's once in the UK

[Davi]

Slightly off topic, but Visa related so hopefully someone can help. My wife is on the 5 year route, currently has her first 2.5 yr residency permit.
We'd really like to go on holiday somewhere warm, but we get so much conflicting info that I think the only option is to get a Schengen Visa. Only problem is we won't know till the last minute when we can go due to my work. Is it possible to get a Schengen Visa without having booked travel and accommodation? I'd rather not pay a couple of thousand pounds for a holiday we don't know if we can go on, either from the visa perspective or the time perspective!

[vinny]

The spouse of a British citizen is currently exempt from those requirements under the Directive.

[Davi]

The spouse of a British citizen is currently exempt from those requirements under the Directive.

That is what we had been told, but when I contacted Spanish embassy, They asked to see her residency permit and immediately responded that she would need a visa. Is there anything we can carry to prove she doesn't need one?

[secret.simon]

The spouse of a British citizen is currently exempt from those requirements under the Directive.

Vinny mentioned that the spouse of a British citizen is exempt from the requirements, not the visa itself.

Your wife needs a Schengen visa. But the requirements are different. She needs to prove that she will be accompanying or joining an EEA citizen (you) in another EEA member-state, that's all.

[Davi]

The spouse of a British citizen is currently exempt from those requirements under the Directive.

Vinny mentioned that the spouse of a British citizen is exempt from the requirements, not the visa itself.

Your wife needs a Schengen visa. But the requirements are different. She needs to prove that she will be accompanying or joining an EEA citizen (you) in another EEA member-state, that's all.

Ahhhhh! Now I get it, sorry late nights and early mornings for work aren't making me the brightest bulb in the pack at the moment lol.

[Russell59]

My Wife is a Non EU National and i am a UK Citizen last Month we decided to visit Belgium for a long Weekend,we did n not have a Schengen Visa for Belgium but took our Marriage Certifacte and Hotel Booking proof with us also a copy of the EU directive regarding the rights of a non EU Family Member travelling with their spouse..Happy to say that the French Border Police at the Tunnel were very courteous and after a few simple questions we we allowed to go on our way without even having to show our paper work...Happy Days

[secret.simon]

My Wife is a Non EU National and i am a UK Citizen last Month we decided to visit Belgium for a long Weekend,we did n not have a Schengen Visa for Belgium but took our Marriage Certifacte and Hotel Booking proof with us also a copy of the EU directive regarding the rights of a non EU Family Member travelling with their spouse..Happy to say that the French Border Police at the Tunnel were very courteous and after a few simple questions we we allowed to go on our way without even having to show our paper work...Happy Days

That approach may work if you are traveling by land/ferry, as you are dealing directly with the border authorities. However, people have reported missing flights because the flight staff would not let them board without an explicit visa. Better safe than sorry.