Visa For Spain

[gham]

My (Thai) wife and me (English) are currently in the UK. She is here on a 6 month family visa. We are going back in April to live in Thailand. I am currently looking at going to Spain for 2 weeks with her in June, for my mum's 60th birthday, staying at our family house in Spain. My wife doesn't have any savings in her name. I provide all our finances.

What documents will we need to get the Schengen visa for Spain. All help is much appreciated

[sketcher]

No problem with her not having any finances as she is married to an eu citizen you can provide your bank statements as evidence of having money. You will need a letter from your parents inviting you to stay with them in Spain and evidence of their residential status and address (ie utility bill). You will need your mariage certificate (If Thai certificate then an official translation into either English or Spanish). 2 completed application forms with photos attached (can be downloaded from www.maec.es/en/Home/Paginas/HomeEn.aspx) Yours and her passport.

You have to apply for an interview appointment via e-mail which they generally give you 14 days from the date of application but this seems easy enough to change of the date is not convenient. The processing time is then given as 14 days (not sure if it actually takes too long as we only had our appointment yesterday)

I'm not 100% sure but think all of this would have to be applied for at the Spanish Embassy in Thailand when you are back here.

[theoldgit]

Yes, the visa has to be applied for in the country where the applicant resides which, if I read your post correctly, as your wife is in the UK on a visit visa would be Thailand.

The visa must be applied for either in person or through a duly accredited representative in the Diplomatic Mission or Spanish Consular Office in the country where the applicant legally resides.

I suppose you could contact the Spanish Embassy in London but be prepared for a refusal.

[gham]

Many thanks for the fast replies.

Yes we will have to apply through the Spanish Embassy in Bangkok. I have spoken to the embassy in London who said she can only apply in her country of residence.

A couple of things i'm not sure about

Do we need to book the flights before we apply, or can we wait until we have the visa? Also, will she require medical insurance to be taken out before applying?

[theoldgit]

Do we need to book the flights before we apply, or can we wait until we have the visa? Also, will she require medical insurance to be taken out before applying?

Certainly when my girlfriend applied for her Schengen Visa for France she was asked for copies of her travel tickets, she was also advised that she needed to show details of her medical insurance when she collected the visa but she supplied a copy when she submitted her application as she already had it as we were going to the UK first.

I don't suppose Spain is any different though I think as long as she could supply a copy of your itinerary and proof that the cost of travel was affordable it would suffice.

[sketcher]

On the receipt we were given at the interview to collect the visa it says that my wife would need to provide travel documents to collect the visa or it would be cancelled. Not sure if just an itinerary would work, we already had the tickets. As for medical insurance would need this at application. Attached are documents they sent me that should help with exactly what you need.

Requirements Schengen visa-updated.doc

Schengen visa application.pdf

Travel Insurance Co. 2010.doc