I'm British, my (Thai) wife has a 2 year multiple entry visa for the UK. We live in Bangkok. We are going to the UK for a holiday soon, and would also like to visit France and Spain for a few days. I read on another forum topic that a "EU Family Permit" is the way to go, but I've no ideas how/where to apply in Bangkok (or do we apply in the UK?). Any advice would be appreciated.

To visit Europe from UK while your wife is in UK on a visitors visa the EU permit is definitely not what you want (you've been reading the wrong forums!).

She needs to apply for a Schengen visa from the French or Spanish embassy in Bangkok before she travels.

Search this forum on the words 'Schengen' 'France' and 'Spain' and you will get more information

And the visa should be free as she is married to a citizen of another EEA country.

Scouse.

Thanks. We already have the airtickets BKK-UK-BKK, but do we also need to get the tickets UK-France-UK before applying for the Schengen, or will we get away with only a hotel reservation? Reason I ask is that I'd prefer to pick-up a deal in the UK when we are there, and I'm still undecided on the travel method (car, eurostar or flight).

Thanks. We already have the airtickets BKK-UK-BKK, but do we also need to get the tickets UK-France-UK before applying for the Schengen, or will we get away with only a hotel reservation? Reason I ask is that I'd prefer to pick-up a deal in the UK when we are there, and I'm still undecided on the travel method (car, eurostar or flight).

I dont know the direct answer to your question but you could ask the same question direct to the French embassy (maybe the UK ticket will suffice) However probably the best deals you will get are on line, you can book on line just as easy from Thailand as you can from UK and you will get an eticket which you could present with your application (Ryan air fly to about 18 destinations in France and about the same in Spain and are probably the cheapest, you can also book hotels from their site), you can book Eurostar, ferries and hotels on line too (but you will first have to make up your mind which travel method you will use)

As you are an EEA national and may travel to France for any legitimate purpose, your wife does not need to show an itinerary. She should, however, provide evidence of medical cover.

Scouse.

Thanks everyone, Schengen visa application was accepted today and will be ready for collection next week. Some points for the benefit of others;

1. Scouse is right, they don't need an itinerary or evidence of travel/accommation bookings in my wife's case (as I'm an EEA national). They only asked me to put a hotel name on the application form, so I did, even though we don't have any booking yet.

2. One thing though, they don't recognise the Thai marriage certificate for the purpose of obtaining the visa free. They said I must go and get some document from the British Embassy showing that they recognise the marriage in the UK to get it free. As the visa fee is only 2,632 baht I decided to pay it (the document from the British Embassy would probably cost more anyway). I don't think this is a scam because we got all the proper receipts.

Sorry to butt in just would like to ask 1 question on this topic please.

i am a uk passport holder and my wife is thai from what i understand its easier to go to france or spain than go to the uk being that the Schengen visa is easier and cheaper ,,

thanks

colino

Scouse seems to know a lot more about this than me, but it seems that the Schengen visa is only easy if you already have the UK visa.

Ok thanks for that Lazy

2. One thing though, they don't recognise the Thai marriage certificate for the purpose of obtaining the visa free. They said I must go and get some document from the British Embassy showing that they recognise the marriage in the UK to get it free. As the visa fee is only 2,632 baht I decided to pay it (the document from the British Embassy would probably cost more anyway). I don't think this is a scam because we got all the proper receipts.

Did you not have your Thai marriage certificate translated into English and certified by the Thai MFA/ British Embassy? This is what they're referring to - makes it a lot easier when applying for visas

Did you not have your Thai marriage certificate translated into English and certified by the Thai MFA/ British Embassy? This is what they're referring to - makes it a lot easier when applying for visas

No, because we never needed a translation before. My wife already has a 2 year UK visa and as far as I recall the British Embassy here didn't require a translation.