Gibraltar And Other British Territories.

[mark515]

Had a little confusion today My Thai wife and daughter entering Gibraltor on there UK settlement visa. The officer had to check if they was allowed in on their Uk settlement visa. After checking they stamped the passport saying only one day. This was all we needed so did not push. I thought the UK settlement visa would allow them the same rights as if in the UK?

[7by7]

A UK settlement visa, even ILR, does not grant the holder the same rights to enter other countries that a British national has. Some countries, though, will allow entry as a tourist for a limited period and one should check with the country concerned before traveling.

See Visiting the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and Visiting the British Overseas Territories for their requirements.

As for Gibraltar, the government of Gibraltar website says that Thais do need a visa to enter Gibraltar. It also says

Those nationals who feature in the chart above but hold valid UK Multiple entry visas which have been issued for 12 months or more, regardless of category, are eligible to enter Gibraltar (at the ultimate discretion of the Immigration Authorities) without the need for an additional visa. This exemption also applies to persons who hold Indefinite leave to Remain in the UK and to persons who hold UK Certificates of Entitlement to the right of Abode (and have not been absent from the UK for more than 2 years).

Persons who hold standard 6 month multiple visit visas are required to hold a separate visa for Gibraltar. In addition, non-EU nationals who reside in the UK and hold residence permits with a specified validity are required to obtain a visa in order to visit Gibraltar.

The bits I've highlighted seem to contradict each other. A settlement visa is multiple entry and it is valid for more than 12 months (unless it's a fiance or proposed civil partner's visa). Yet it is also arguably a form of residence permit with a specified validity!

I have also heard, but can find no official confirmation, that if entering Gibraltar overland from Spain for one day non-EU nationals do not require a visa, provided their Schengen visa is still valid and is multiple entry so will allow them back into Spain.

Can anyone clarify or confirm?

[7by7]

I hope Mark515 wont mind, but I've moved his post above, and my reply, from a Schengen visa thread as it is not really Schengen related and I feel it deserves a topic of it's own.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

See link for further information and the chart it refers to in the paragraph below.

Those nationals who feature in the chart above but hold valid UK Multiple entry visas which have been issued for 12 months or more, regardless of category, are eligible to enter Gibraltar (at the ultimate discretion of the Immigration Authorities) without the need for an additional visa. This exemption also applies to persons who hold Indefinite leave to Remain in the UK and to persons who hold UK Certificates of Entitlement to the right of Abode (and have not been absent from the UK for more than 2 years).

Persons who hold standard 6 month multiple visit visas are required to hold a separate visa for Gibraltar. In addition, non-EU nationals who reside in the UK and hold residence permits with a specified validity are required to obtain a visa in order to visit Gibraltar.

If you will be visiting other countries during your stay in Gibraltar, please contact the relevant Embassies for further information regarding immigration.

The Government of Gibraltar reserves the right to alter visa requirements for other nationals wishing to visit Gibraltar frequently and at short notice. Therefore, travellers should contact the UK Passport Office for up to date information before booking travel.

More Guidance

Edited April 2, 2010 by ThaiVisaExpress

[7by7]

Yeah, got that.

But my confusion is over the following two parts:-

1) Those nationals who feature in the chart above but hold valid UK Multiple entry visas which have been issued for 12 months or more, regardless of category, are eligible to enter Gibraltar (at the ultimate discretion of the Immigration Authorities) without the need for an additional visa.

2) .....non-EU nationals who reside in the UK and hold residence permits with a specified validity are required to obtain a visa in order to visit Gibraltar.

So, does a UK settlement visa with a specified validity of 27 months come under 1) or 2)?

My gut feeling is that it would come under 1) and that 2) refers to permits issued under the EEA regulations; but Mark515's experience would indicate otherwise!

Anyone been to Gib with their Thai partner? What was your experience?

[mark515]

Dont mind the new topic. I did wonder at the time to start a topic.

I had checked before our trip to Gibraltor and I understood they would be allowed in no problem.

I was a little shocked as only getting 1 day visit.

I would of thought they would just pop a stamp in with no length of restriction subject to Uk settlement visa.

I have a friend in Gibraltor and may want to stay longer next time how long can they stay on a UK settlement visa in Gibraltor?

Please provide the link to any answers. So I can print for the next trip.

The wife and daughter are here in my apartment in Spain, Had no problems returning to Spain. they both have a 6 month multi entry Shengen visa

[mark515]

Returned to the UK 5/4/10

Asked UK border at Birmingham how long The wife & Daughter could enter Gib. She was not sure and thought it would be the same as the UK settlement visa.

I have emailed Gib will post reply when it comes.

[mark515]

Email reponse.

Dear Sir

Visa nationals who hold UK Multiple Entry visas valid for one year or more may enter Gibraltar as tourists at the ultimate discretion of the Immigration Authorities without the need for a separate visa.

The Civil Status & Registration Office is not the Immigration Authority in Gibraltar. However, if you need to stay overnight I imagine that their will be no problem. In any case, I would advise you to check with the Immigration Authorities so that they can advise you of the necessary procedures.

Their email address is as follows

[email protected]

Yours faithfully

D E Reyes

Visa Section

Emails [email protected]

[email protected]

Now emailed the same question to immigration

[mark515]

Email address must be wrong it just come back.

[ThaiVisaExpress]

As i posted a link all the information can be found on the web site.

[mark515]

The information on the web site don't say how long can stay?

[mark515]

Dear Sir

Thank you for your email.

I am afraid that I made a mistake. The email address should have read

[email protected]

Sorry for the inconvenience

Yours faithfully

D E Reyes

Visa Section

Emails [email protected]

[email protected]

[mark515]

Dear Mark

If your wife holds a valid multi entry UK visa she can enter Gibraltar without the need of a separate visa for Gibraltar (always at the discretion of the Gibraltar Authorities) Whilst the UK visa is valid she can stay in Gibraltar as long as need (within reason).

Regards

AUSTIN VIAGAS

E.O. Immigration Department

Royal Gibraltar Police

Duke of Kent House

Gibraltar

Tel. No. 00 350 20061564

Fax No. 00 350 20074198

Email: [email protected]

This Message, together with any attachment , is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is legally privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, please be informed that any dissemination, distribution, copying, printing or retaining of this message, or any attachment, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender by reply email, and delete the message.

-----Original Message-----

From: Mark

Sent: 07 April 2010 17:05

To: [email protected]

Subject: Visa??

HI

Can you confirm how long my Thai wife and her Thai daughter are allowed to enter Gibraltar?

Can you confirm if additional visa is required?

This week my Thai wife and her daughter entered Gibraltar. They were given a 1 day visit stamp in there passport. On this visit 1 day was all we needed.

They both have a 27 month multi entry UK settlement visa and a 6 month multi entry Shengen visa in there passports.

I have an apartment in Spain (Benalmadena Costa) so we would visit Gibraltar most times we come to Spain. 1 day visits are ok but there may be one occasion we may need to stay overnight.

Regards

Mark

[mark515]

Reply posted above.

I guess it is just a matter of asking at entry for the days required.

Mark

[Johninphuket]

Hello,

I am from Gibraltar, and had a lot of dealings on Gibraltar.

Basically Gibraltar is part of the UK, but when it comes to Immigration they have their own rules.

If your wife is on a UK settlement Visa or a visa of 12 months or more (MULTIPLE ENTRIES) she can enter Gibraltar by air and also leave by air, as there is border control at the Airport, and usually the Visa will be stammped with four days, this is the standard stamp, if staying longer visit the Police Station/Immigration Dept at Duke of Kend House, for another stamp, to be honest after 1 Day in Gibraltar you would had seen it all.

Another issue is comming over the land boarder from La Linea Spain, your wife will only get a stamp for 1 Day, when entering Gibraltar the reason for this is there in no EXIT control when passing back to Spain, so no one in Gibraltar will know how long you have been there! the 1 day stamp may be a way of getting you worried.

One more suprise she will not get stamped out of Spain, when Entering Gibraltar by land due to the fact Spain have a hard time of reconising Gibraltar.

Just make sure your wife has a Multiple Entries visa (Shengen) or she will be stuck in Gibraltar! as on the way back into Spain they will check her Passport!

I have recently seen a few Thai Girls pushing prams up Main Street, seems these are married to local guys, these girls would had applied for a Gibraltar Visa at the British Embassy in Bangkok, then once in Gib just apply for a Residence Permit to stay if married to a local or EU Man but have to be living there, will need to produce Rental Contracts etc........

The British Embassy in Bangkok are very slow at sending any info to Gibraltar, seems to sit around for over 2-3 weeks on desk doing nothing, the reason for this may be they charge another 3000 Bht on top of the standard Visa Application, they say its for handelling cost and postage, but in fact they only send a copy of the Application Form by email or Fax, so how can they justify this money, to me its a total Rip Off..........

If any more info is needed drop me an email.

John