We live in the UK, both have good jobs and would love to take weekend breaks abroad whenever it suits, such as when we see a cheap flight somewhere or when we get an email for a complimentary stay at a nice hotel courtesy of my business stays etc. We don't know weeks or months in advance nor do we know where we would go each time or even for how long. Yet we cannot go because she needs a visa to travel.

Spain, France, Italy and Germany would form the main countries but also Sweden, Portugal and Malta. Is it possible to apply to one of these for an annual visa which could then be used for any European country ?

You need a Schenzen visa, apply for one from say the French Embassy and it will cover all subsequent European countries that you visit.

Schengen visitor visas are issued for a maximum of 90 days ( this is a Category C visa ). Anything over 90 days becomes a Category D visa, and these are issued for the puprose of, for instance, family reunion, study, etc. The Category C visas are normally issued as single visit visas on the first occasion ( often with the dates for use restricted to the dates you requested on the application), but sometimes as multiple visit visas.

my wife had the same problem when we lived in the uk till she became a british citizen and had a british passport.

I wonder whether this article from the Spanish Embassy http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/Londres/en/MenuPpal/Servicios/Visados/Paginas/family_eunationals.aspx might provide a solution. If I consider relocating to Spain then I will need my wife to visit over an extended period while we investigate suitable properties.

I wonder whether this article from the Spanish Embassy http://www.maec.es/s...unationals.aspx might provide a solution. If I consider relocating to Spain then I will need my wife to visit over an extended period while we investigate suitable properties.

If you relocate to Spain then your wife is entitled to join you with an EEA Family Permit. It does depend what you mean by "relocate" though. In order for your wife to qualify for the family Permit you should be exercising your Treaty Rights in another ( not UK) EU country, eg working or looking for work, resident, etc..

If your wife arrived in Spain on a simple schengen she would be eligible to apply for a residents card in Spain.

If your wife has ILR, then this should count as permanent residence in the UK as far as EU travel is concerned; which means that she should not need a visa to travel to any EU state; provided she was traveling with or to join you.

However, I have read many reports on this and other forums that immigration officials in many EU countries don't always recognise UK ILR as permanent residence, so I would recommend obtaining a Schengen visa. As the spouse of an EU citizen it is free and many of the questions on the form and other requirements wont apply to her.