Taking a Thai wife to holiday in Ireland and Turkey

[AllanB]

We are planning our summer trip to the Uk, perhaps more and a I have a couple of questions..

Whist waiting at the new (nightmare) UK visa office in Bangkok, a well traveled guy was telling me about some new directive from R.O.Ireland visa department, allowing my wife to enter Ireland from a UK location, without requiring a visa.

Secondly he said she didn't need a visa to visit Turkey, if we took a short holiday there.

Anyone know if either of these statements are true and where I could find the appropriate supporting evidence?

[wileycoyote]

Ulster should be fine & you can drive across to Eire (providing she has a green stamp on her passport)

However,Turkey can be a nightmare even for UK passports ,if you arrive at a military airport such as Dalaman ,then there is another carry on ,when you have to buy the £10 stamp & when they recheck the passport again !

[CXinCNX]

There is a short stay visa waiver programme for Thai nationals running to October 2016 to visit Eire but I don't know about Turkey..

The link is here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Visa%20Waiver%20Programme

[dfp]

There is a short stay visa waiver programme for Thai nationals running to October 2016 to visit Eire but I don't know about Turkey..

The link is here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Visa%20Waiver%20Programme

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/entry-requirements

http://www.turkishconsulate.org.uk/en/visa.asp

http://www.turkishconsulate.org.uk/en/visa.asp?PageID=2#2

Looks like a visa is required for UK passport holders.

[lineofentry]

Pack fish sauce and chilli powder if you sort the papers.

[I Like Thai]

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/I%20hold%20a%20valid%20UK%20Visa,%20do%20I%20need%20an%20Irish%20visa%20to%20travel%20to%20the%20Republic%20of%20Ireland

I hold a valid UK Visa, do I need an Irish visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland?

Yes. But recently the Minister for Justice introduced a visa waiver programme for certain nationalities on a trial basis. Please see the list of countries which this applies to through the link below.

[tullynagardy]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

[mogy]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

[mogy]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

Hi Tullynagardy, between Ireland and UK should not be an issue as you say but the rest of Europe is since Ireland and the UK are not part of the Schengen area. Turkey isn't in the Schengen area either.

[roamer]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

How do you work that one out ?

[chickenslegs]

Turkey http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa

Scroll down to near the bottom of the page - Thais get 30 days no visa required.

[tullynagardy]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

Hi Tullynagardy, between Ireland and UK should not be an issue as you say but the rest of Europe is since Ireland and the UK are not part of the Schengen area. Turkey isn't in the Schengen area either.

Sorry you are wrong about this. Its absolutely nothing to do with Schengen, its to do with the EEC,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_2004/38/EC_on_the_right_to_move_and_reside_freely

[tullynagardy]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

How do you work that one out ?

See above.

[djayz]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

This should be okay as the U.K and R.O.I. do not belong to the Schenegen Agreement.

If she can get a visa to (e.g.) the U.K. she can cross over to Ireland no problem and visa-versa.

[djayz]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

Hi Tullynagardy, between Ireland and UK should not be an issue as you say but the rest of Europe is since Ireland and the UK are not part of the Schengen area. Turkey isn't in the Schengen area either.

Sorry you are wrong about this. It's absolutely nothing to do with Schengen, its to do with the EEC,

I am afraid YOU are wrong here. It has EVERYTHING to do with the Schenegen Agreement and NOTHING to do with the EEC (which ceased to exist in 1993)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_2004/38/EC_on_the_right_to_move_and_reside_freely

Sorry but YOU are wrong. It has EVERTYHING

[nidieunimaitre]

For Turkey no problem, see here

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/#

[tullynagardy]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

Hi Tullynagardy, between Ireland and UK should not be an issue as you say but the rest of Europe is since Ireland and the UK are not part of the Schengen area. Turkey isn't in the Schengen area either.

Sorry you are wrong about this. It's absolutely nothing to do with Schengen, its to do with the EEC,

I am afraid YOU are wrong here. It has EVERYTHING to do with the Schenegen Agreement and NOTHING to do with the EEC (which ceased to exist in 1993)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_2004/38/EC_on_the_right_to_move_and_reside_freely

Sorry but YOU are wrong. It has EVERTYHING

Wow you need to learn how to use the quote button dude

Just read the link would you? It has nothing to do with Schenegen, the UK isnt even in it just like several other countries. The directive gives free movement around the EU for citizens and their families.

"The Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States^[1][2][3] defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the European Union (EU) and the threeEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA) members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Switzerland"

Seriously, if you dont know what you are talking about probably best to just say nothing

[CharlieH]

As I read it, its family members have to be "residents" too when reading the "applicable" section.

[sandyf]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

This is only true for the Schengen area. UK and the Republic of Ireland are not in the Schengen area.

[sandyf]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

This should be okay as the U.K and R.O.I. do not belong to the Schenegen Agreement.

If she can get a visa to (e.g.) the U.K. she can cross over to Ireland no problem and visa-versa.

There may have been recent changes but it has not always been the case.

My friends wife had a residential visa for the UK. He was from Belfast and on a visit to the family took her to the south. She was picked up, asked to leave and banned from ever returning to the republic.

[sandyf]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

This should be okay as the U.K and R.O.I. do not belong to the Schenegen Agreement.

If she can get a visa to (e.g.) the U.K. she can cross over to Ireland no problem and visa-versa.

It is not vice-versa. UK visa ok, Irish visa still need UK visa.

If arriving in Ireland and then travelling to Northern Ireland, both an Irish and UK

visa will be required, as is the case at present

If arriving in Northern Ireland and travelling to Ireland, the visa waiver

programme will apply and only a UK visa will be required

[FritsSikkink]

Travelling between UK and Ireland on UK short term visa is fine.

My wife did it just last weekend.

Furthermore, as your wife (i assume), she has the rights for free movement anywhere in the EU as long as she accompanies you.

Hi Tullynagardy, between Ireland and UK should not be an issue as you say but the rest of Europe is since Ireland and the UK are not part of the Schengen area. Turkey isn't in the Schengen area either.

Sorry you are wrong about this. Its absolutely nothing to do with Schengen, its to do with the EEC,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_2004/38/EC_on_the_right_to_move_and_reside_freely

Only if your wife is a resident from the EU or has a visa.

[AllanB]

Wow you need to learn how to use the quote button dude

Just read the link would you? It has nothing to do with Schenegen, the UK isnt even in it just like several other countries. The directive gives free movement around the EU for citizens and their families.

"The Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States^[1][2][3] defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the European Union (EU) and the threeEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA) members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Switzerland"

Seriously, if you dont know what you are talking about probably best to just say nothing

No mate you are wrong here, my wife is not an EU national and in order to travel to other European countries she will require a Schengen visa, as the UK and Ireland did not sign up to the "open border" Schengen treaty.

So if we want to do a tour of Europe she will need at least two visas, when it states and "family members", it means EU nationals. We can get a Schengen visa from the embassy of either the first country we enter within the Schengen region, or our main place of stay, but will need proof of marriage.

If she has a Schengen visa, she may enter Switzerland and Lichtenstein too and, I think, Norway, though I am not 100% certain.

Also I was told (could be wrong) that Thais can enter Switzerland without a visa.

Are there any other countries where Thais can enter without a visa?