Schengen Visa Free For Spouse

[goatfarmer]

I just called the French Embassy to enquire about getting the Schengen Visa free for my wife on the basis that she is married to a UK citizen. The person at the embassy said that my wife would need to have our Thai marriage certificate 'stamped' at the UK embassy in order to qualify for the free visa. Does anyone know anything about this procedure? I searched the UK embassy website and found nothing on the subject.

BTW: my subtopic should read "french embassy requires marriage certificate to be stamped", not "visa" as I brainlessly wrote. I can't see how to amend that one. Apologies for confusion

Edited March 26, 2008 by goatfarmer

[paully]

What they mean is that you have to have a certified translation (assuming the marriage took place in Thailand) of the marriage certificate into English and stamped by the British Embassy and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that they know it is legit.

This is a standard procedure - I'm sure there is a link somewhere as to exactly what you have to do, or someone will post one.

[the scouser]

Although only some London embassies seem to ask for the "apostilled" translation. Certainly the German embassy in London didn't used to, and the original plus a translation were sufficient.

Scouse.

[goatfarmer]

I just spoke to the British and French embassies today. The British Embassy will issue a letter certifying that the Thai marriage is valid under English law. The French embassy said, "Yes that is OK". The British Embassy charges 2,100 baht for pressing the "print button". The letter would be easier than getting the certificate tranlsated and stamped by the MFA and the British Embassy.