A Trip To Spain

[falangaman]

Hi all,

My fiancee will soon be arrinving in UK and we have been invited to a friends villa in Spain for a long weekend later in the year.

Does she qualify for a Schengen visa, or is that only valid for couples who are already married? Also, if she is eligible, any idea on how long these things take to arrange? She is arriving in the UK in June and the trip is proposed for August.

Thanks

FM

[vinny]

It is certainly possible for her to apply for a Schengen visa to Spain. However, it would be much easier if she was married to an EU citizen at the time of the application.

If she applies from Thailand before leaving for the UK, then she should make sure that the visa will be valid for the dates that she would like. She can contact the Embassy of Spain at:

Chancery: Lake Rajada Office Complex,

23rd Floor,Suites No.98-99

193, Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey,

Bangkok 10110

P.O. Box 449

Bangkok 10501

Tel: 02 661 8284-6

Fax: 02 661 9220

E-mail: embespth @ mail.mae.es

Office Public Hours: 08.30 -15.30 (Monday - Thursday)

08.30 - 13.30 (Friday)

Visa Section:

09.00-12.00 (Monday - Friday)

If she wishes to apply in the UK then you/she should contact:

Consular Section

20 Draycott Place

London SW3 2RZ

Telephone: (020) 7589 8989

to see how long the application process would take.

[GU22]

She can apply for a Schengen visa in the UK as she will be here as a resident.

See Spanish Consulate, London for details.

Edit; did it really take me that long to type this!?

Edited April 23, 2006 by GU22

[falangaman]

Thanks for your help chaps,

FM

[ayalgueru]

Thanks for your help chaps,

FM

hello

Not sure if she does need a visa with the spouse/fiance situation but bare in mind that you will have to get all your stuff ready well in advance !

I am a spanish citizen and I live in London , my thai girlfriend came for a month visit to europe and we spend 3 weeks in uk and a week in spain. The only thing with the shengen visa for spain is that you gotta bare in mind that sometimes it does a couple (may be 3 ) weeks to get your interview for the visa in the spanish embassy so allow enough time to get it done

Have a good time ! my girlfriend loved spain !

[GU22]

Not sure if she does need a visa with the spouse/fiance situation but bare in mind that you will have to get all your stuff ready well in advance !

Unfortunately, as the UK is not fully signed up to the Schengen agreement, having a residency permit does not exempt a non EU/EEA national from any visa requirements a Schengen state may have. Therefore, I'm afraid she will need a visa to visit Spain.

For anyone living in the UK with a Thai partner who fancies a European holiday, no visa is needed for Switzerland as long as the UK visa was for a period of over 6 months and the visit is for 3 months or less; provided the visa doesn't expire whilst in Switzerland, of course! (Although a fiance visa is of 6 months duration, as the intention is to settle in the UK the Swiss will let you in without a Swiss visa.)

[falangaman]

I think a phone call to the Spanish embassy is required here, I will post my findings once Ive spoken with them.

It all seems a bit of an effort for the sake of a long weekend though, oh well, thats way things are going to be from now on I suppose... I'll just have to stick with holidays in SE Asian countries instead. So its not all bad then

Cheers all,

FM

[GU22]

Only for 3 years.

Once she has her ILR and has been in the UK for 3 years she can apply for British citizenship and a British passport.

First thing my wife did when she got hers? Shopping trip to Paris with her friends!