Longer-term Schengen Visas for non-EEA family member

[chaoclive]

Hi there

I'm an Irish citizen exercising treaty rights in the UK. My civil partner has applied for his residence card as the family member of an EEA national.

I'm just thinking about the future and would like me partner to get a Schengen visit visa for as long as possible. Does anyone have any ideas to get him a visa, for example, for a year (as opposed to the short duration of one trip)? He will sometimes travel by himself and that is why I would like him to have a visa if possible. If we travel together, I know that some of the Schengen countries will not require him to have a visa.

He has had 3 Schengen visas before. The last one was a 1-year visa from the Netherlands.

Thanks
CC

[ban.s]

The French are known to be most liberal with Schengen visas. My friend's wife - as spouse of a british citizen - received a 5 year visa from them.

[chaoclive]

The French are known to be most liberal with Schengen visas. My friend's wife - as spouse of a british citizen - received a 5 year visa from them.

Thanks a lot ban.s! I'll consider France then.

[willyhoops]

i got three months with 30 day maxium stay. france known to be liberal- sounds like rubbish to me

[ban.s]

so the score is even:

french are liberal with schengen visa - 1
france known to be liberal: rubbish - 1

chaoclive post your experience

[acme4242]

The closest I found to some sort of rules about multi-entry visas and their validity
is in the Schengen Visa code.
Basically they are suppose to issue multi-entry visas to family members of EU citizens (including civil partners)
for between 6 months and 5 years.

http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/polici ... 620_en.pdf
page 72

9.1.1.3. Number of entries
:
:
– multiple entries
When a multiple entry visa is issued with a period of validity between 6 months and 5 years,
:
:
Under the following circumstances a multiple-entry visa (including for the purpose of transit)
shall be issued:
:
:
• family members of citizens of the Union, and family members of third-country nationals
legally residing in Member States.