Cuban wife of EU citizen wants to move to Spain

Petrus · Post by **Petrus** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:58 pm

I am a Danish national and have lived in Britain most of my live. I now live with my Cuban wife in Mexico where we have residency status. We have lived here for 4 years. We have never lived togeher in an EU copuntry, although my wife has twice visited me in Britian. On both occasions she needed a visitor's Visa. We married in Cuba 6 years ago. We now want to go and live in Spain.
1. First we want to pay a visit to Spain. My wife has never been to Spain, so she wants to see what it is like first. Does she need a Schengen visa to visit Spain for 3 weeks if we are travelling together? Any help with this question would be much appreciated, since we have received contradictory information from the Spanish aiuthorities.

2. If we go to Spain in order to settle there, what kind of visa, if any, does my wife in order to enter Spain with me.? I am retired and of independent means. I support my wife financially.

Petrus

Post by **EUsmileWEallsmile** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 4:49 pm

You are Danish and an EU citizen. Your wife requires a visa to visit Spain. As you are married, you are entitled to a free facilitated visa that will allow you to visit Spain. If you want to live there, you would apply for a residence card for your wife and a residence certificate for yourself.

Post by **EUsmileWEallsmile** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:18 pm

Here is a link to the Spanish Real Decreto. It explains what one needs to do once in Spain. This is the original version, there have been some updates to this since.

http://sid.usal.es/idocs/F3/LYN10709/3-10709.pdf

Post by **EUsmileWEallsmile** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:21 pm

Also, you may find this useful. It is the EU Directive 2004/38.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Notice.do?mode ... words=null

Post by **Directive/2004/38/EC** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:36 pm

Dealing with Spanish embassies is never easy, and they may tend to be rude. But They should issue the visa at no cost upon you presenting the two passports and your marriage certificate.

Post by **ca.funke** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:05 pm

EUsmileWEallsmile wrote:...Your wife requires a visa to visit Spain...

Strictly speaking, your wife does not need a visa.

However I would highly recommend getting one anyway, as the provision excepting her from the visa-requirement is widely unknown/ignored.

You can read all about it >>here<< (scroll to heading "EEA family member without Residence Card (Part 2)").

Overall it should be sort-of easy to complete the visa-process, and also it will be free, so nothing much to worry about. Rgds and good luck, Christian

Post by **EUsmileWEallsmile** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:07 pm

ca.funke wrote:
EUsmileWEallsmile wrote:...Your wife requires a visa to visit Spain...
Strictly speaking, your wife does not need a visa.

However I would highly recommend getting one anyway, as the provision excepting her from the visa-requirement is widely unknown/ignored.

You can read all about it >>here<< (scroll to heading "EEA family member without Residence Card (Part 2)").

Overall it should be sort-of easy to complete the visa-process, and also it will be free, so nothing much to worry about. Rgds and good luck, Christian

The problem might be boarding the plane.

Post by **EUsmileWEallsmile** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:09 pm

I wonder what the OP decided to do - move to Spain or stay in Mexico?

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Cuban wife of EU citizen wants to move to Spain

Cuban wife of EU citizen wants to move to Spain