Does my Thai fiancée need to return to Thailand for a visa to Spain after our marriage, or can she apply in the UK?

Nov 23, 2023
a year ago
JoJo *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry if this is a little long winded.

I am a UK citizen with a Spanish residency NIE card. I am marrying a Thai lady soon in the UK, and we would like to go to Spain after we marry.

My question is: does she need to return to Thailand to obtain a visa for Spain or can she apply here in the UK or can she travel with me without a visa because we are married and I have a residency permit.?

Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK citizen marrying a Thai national asks whether she can apply for a Spanish visa from the UK or must return to Thailand for it. The discussion reveals that she generally needs a Schengen visa, which she can apply for in the UK if she holds a UK spouse visa. Otherwise, she may need to return to Thailand to apply. Additional insights include the requirement for her to officially enter the Schengen area after the visa is approved to obtain similar residency rights as the UK spouse.
Chomchanok **********
If she has a UK spouse visa she can apply for a Schengen visa in the UK otherwise she will need to apply in Thailand. My personal experience.
Mark ********
I was in the same situation. Uk citizen, Spanish residency, married in Gib though. (Actually don’t need to get married)

She needs to get a visa in order to join you in Spain (can’t remember name of it, it’s something like a reunification visa) The police in Spain will need to see that she has entered the Schengen area AFTER the date that the visa was approved by the foreign office. If she happens to be in Spain on a tourist visa as in my case then she has to leave Schengen and come back to show an entry date after the visa approval date (even if that is to Gibraltar for a night) once that’s done, her residency will be the same as yours and she can get social security number and start working and paying taxes.

Good luck, all in all a bit of a pain in the arse but worth it in the end
Sacha ****
Ask the Embassy not fb ffs
JoJo *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sacha ***
just ousting keyboard warriors like yourself. 🤣
Sacha ****
@JoJo ********
what a dumb thing to say, how does fb house all the answer is just laziness, for people who cant be bothered to contact the correct departments
JoJo *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sacha ***
but I am told all the experts are on Facebook and it is the best place to ask.
ฉันเป็นทางของประชาชน *********
Unless you’re 60 years or older DO NOT MARRY A THAI WOMAN unless you plan on staying home forever 😂😂. Good luck
Will ************
Need a Schengen visa
JoJo *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Will ***********
and do we get that from UK or have to go back to Thailand.?
Brandon ************
I would think the Spanish embassy in the UK would be the best ones to ask.
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