Hi Everyone

My wife has lived here for 6 years now and has indefinite leave to remain in the uk on a thai passport. Im looking at going on our first family holiday with the kids at the end of the year. Would she still need to apply for a visa to go to Tenerife? And if she did how long do these applications usually take as with me being self employed I would be looking to book at the last minute when work is quiet. Many thanks in advance

It should be very simply since family members of an EU/EEA national who travel to any other EU/EEA country fall under Directive 2004/38 (freedom of movement). Which means a visa should be processed ASAP, with minimum hassle and documentation.

- apply for a visa (appointment must be granted within 2 weeks)

- processing time of no more then 15 calendar days.

- submit evidence of family relation (marital papers), preferably legalized by the Thai Min. of Foreign Affairs (to confirm authenticity) and an official translation into a language that the embassy can read. If you have legalization stamps from your own country ( UK) even better.

- IDs (her passport, copy of yours)

- Confirmation from the EU national that the Thai national will join him to other EU country (In your case Spain). Could be something as simple as a written and signed letter from the EU national. Embassies tend to be even more happy if you include more evidence such as reservation for transport or accommodation though legally they are optional.

- Completed Schengen application form, skipping questions marked with a * ( evidence of funds, insurance, accomodation, transport etc. are not required). Plus ofcourse 2 photo's for the visa.

- Application is entirely free. If you go via the optional part VFS ( optional for ALL Schengen embassies) you must pay a service fee though. Applications at the embassy are without any costs what so ever.

Sadly the Spanish are notorious for making up their own rules/interpretation of legislation. See the links below.

Schengen FAQ, especially the second post:

- http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/724180-schengen-visa-faq-when-applying-from-thailand/

And:

- http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/829342-the-surinder-singh-route-uk-holiday-first-then-spain-possible/

- http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/819851-practical-experience-of-schengen-for-spouse-of-eu-citizen-application/

If all would fail you could get a visa at the border if you take the marital papers with you and can reach the border (read: travel via Dover-Calais as an airliner would not let your wife board without visa).

Thanks for the thorough reply.