Travel to European Country from the UK with Residence Card

[PAVA10]

Hi,

I am a citizen of Ireland and my wife is Peruvian. We both live and work in the UK and my wife holds her EEA2 UK Residence Card.

We would both like to travel together to Spain and France. I understand that we do NOT require a Schengen VISA to do this (provided that our stay does not exceed 3 months) but also understand that the interpretation of this directive varies from country to country.

We do not want to book tickets which ultimately we will not be able to use of, even worse, we do not want that my wife be refused entry upon arrival.

Any experience / evidence of people in the same situation would help us to make our decision as to whether to book flights or not.

Thanks in advance

[Wanderer]

Not only on arrival, on departure. The airline desk staff see a non-EU passport and no visa it, they won't let her on the plane for fear of being fined. And u don't get that long to argue!

I'd always get a visa - should be free but that's another battle.

Depends what you want - a stress free relaxing holiday or constant battle against stroppy staff in several languages....

[giruzz]

Not only on arrival, on departure. The airline desk staff see a non-EU passport and no visa it, they won't let her on the plane for fear of being fined. And u don't get that long to argue!

I'd always get a visa - should be free but that's another battle.

Depends what you want - a stress free relaxing holiday or constant battle against stroppy staff in several languages....

From my experience:

1- If your wife residency card is not endorsed in the passport (like the one my gf has) forget about France (not sure about Spain)

2- If the residency card is endorsed, got to the French or Spanish Embassy and get a visa free-of-charge. However, prepare to a long long fight to get an appointment.

giruzz