Travelling to Germany with EU-Settlement Scheme Residence Card only (with out Schengen Visa)

[orase88]

Hi All,

I'm a non-EU (Thai) holding a EU-Settlement Scheme Residence Card (Pre-settled).

I want to fly to Germany with my husband who is a German Citizen. I found this link from German Embassy London.

https://uk.diplo.de/uk-en/02/visa/do-you-need-a-visa

Under this clause: a spouse (married/civil partnership) or child of an EU/EEA/EFTA national must hold one of the following British visas that say explicitly: “Residence Card of a Family Member of an EU Citizen” OR “Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National” OR “Permanent Residence Card” - and must travel with the EU/EEA/EFTA national. Please compare displayed samples (view here) carefully; If you intend to travel on your own you must apply for a regular visitor, business or tourist visa. Regular visa fees will apply. Click here for more information on visa fees.

Does the EU-Settlement Scheme Residence Card count as one of these criteria?

Has anyone tried to travel with EU-Settlement Scheme Residence Card to Europe without Schengen Visa?

We have prepared the marriage certificate (in English, translated by my husband but has been seen by Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and bring it with us during the journey.

P.S. The reason why I don't have German Residence Card is that we have met each other in Thailand and lived there, but then my husband has a job opportunity here and we decided to move here together.

Appreciate all comments.

[kamoe]

Does the EU-Settlement Scheme Residence Card count as one of these criteria?

Does your Settlement Scheme card explicitly say: “Residence Card of a Family Member of an EU Citizen” OR “Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National” OR “Permanent Residence Card” ?

Also important, does it even look like the samples provided (which I believe are all EEA residence cards)?

If answer is no, then... No.

[orase88]

Does the EU-Settlement Scheme Residence Card count as one of these criteria?

Does your Settlement Scheme card explicitly say: “Residence Card of a Family Member of an EU Citizen” OR “Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National” OR “Permanent Residence Card” ?

Also important, does it even look like the samples provided (which I believe are all EEA residence cards)?

If answer is no, then... No.

Thanks for your answer.

And no, it doesn't say so, but I was expected that with the sentence EU SCHEME PRE-SETTLEMENT on the card would count as Family Member of an EU Citizen.

But that's okay. I guess we need to apply for a Schengen Visa.

[kamoe]

I was expected that with the sentence EU SCHEME PRE-SETTLEMENT on the card would count as Family Member of an EU Citizen.

Nope. See this post.

I guess we need to apply for a Schengen Visa.

Or apply to the good old EEA Residence Card (valid until Dec 2020, might be preferable to several Schengen visas if you count on traveling often).

[jaigirds]

Quick question, can a non-EU national apply for an EEA residence card after receiving settled status? I.E. apply for settled status, receive confirmation and return of documents then apply for EEA residence card?

Thanks!

[orase88]

I was expected that with the sentence EU SCHEME PRE-SETTLEMENT on the card would count as Family Member of an EU Citizen.

Nope. See this post.

I guess we need to apply for a Schengen Visa.

Or apply to the good old EEA Residence Card (valid until Dec 2020, might be preferable to several Schengen visas if you count on traveling often).

I have sent an email to German Embassy and they said that

''Dear Mr. Xxxxx,

Thank you for your request.

Provided that you also already have pre-settlement or settlement status, they can continue to travel together without a visa as before. Unfortunately, we can not guarantee this and recommend you to check in advance with the airline.

Otherwise your spouse can apply for a Schengen visa at any time.

Yours sincerely

Visa service

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany,

vielen Dank für Ihre Anfrage.

Vorausgesetzt, dass auch Sie bereits pre-settlement oder settlement status nachweislich haben, können sie weiterhin gemeinsam visumfrei reisen wie bisher. Leider können wir hier keine Garantie übernehmen und empfehlen Ihnen vorab auch mit der Airline zu checken.

Ansonsten kann Ihr Ehepartner jederzeit gerne ein Schengenvisum bei uns beantragen.


Mit freundlichen Grüßen


Visa Service

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany''

I guess we will try it and we will let you know.

[Blacksea28]

I was expected that with the sentence EU SCHEME PRE-SETTLEMENT on the card would count as Family Member of an EU Citizen.

Nope. See this post.

I guess we need to apply for a Schengen Visa.

Or apply to the good old EEA Residence Card (valid until Dec 2020, might be preferable to several Schengen visas if you count on traveling often).

I have sent an email to German Embassy and they said that

''Dear Mr. Xxxxx,

Thank you for your request.

Provided that you also already have pre-settlement or settlement status, they can continue to travel together without a visa as before. Unfortunately, we can not guarantee this and recommend you to check in advance with the airline.

Otherwise your spouse can apply for a Schengen visa at any time.

Yours sincerely

Visa service

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany,

vielen Dank für Ihre Anfrage.

Vorausgesetzt, dass auch Sie bereits pre-settlement oder settlement status nachweislich haben, können sie weiterhin gemeinsam visumfrei reisen wie bisher. Leider können wir hier keine Garantie übernehmen und empfehlen Ihnen vorab auch mit der Airline zu checken.

Ansonsten kann Ihr Ehepartner jederzeit gerne ein Schengenvisum bei uns beantragen.


Mit freundlichen Grüßen


Visa Service

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany''

I guess we will try it and we will let you know.

Germoney likes to be lead of EU and for sure they won't make any issue as it is EU rights.

[jmedina]

Problem will be convincing the airline staff to board the airplane...

[kamoe]

Problem will be convincing the airline staff to board the airplane...

Ditto.

[kamoe]

I have sent an email to German Embassy

Noble intention, but completely useless. It's important to know who has power when, and when it comes to let people board a plane, unfortunately embassies have no say in what airlines decide to do.

[orase88]

I have sent an email to German Embassy

Noble intention, but completely useless. It's important to know who has power when, and when it comes to let people board a plane, unfortunately embassies have no say in what airlines decide to do.

I have just flied back from Germany with my wife, and everything is okay. You will need to show your Marriage Certificates.

[Zerubbabel]

I traveled a lot with my wife across Europe. I am the EEA national and she has a residence with the famous "Family member of EEA national".

The only country where we had zero issues, was Italy. Otherwise, it was a nightmare to travel. The issue starts usually at Heathrow when BA or whatever company we were flying with ask my wife for a Schengen visa. Then escalation, we are put a side until a manager comes in, makes calls... and 45 minutes later we get a boarding pass. Not a fun way to start holidays really

Then, traveling to Germany, Ireland, Netherlands... in and out, always stopped at the immigration and questioned. In Germany, an official from the immigration told me he doesn't know what EU means and he doesn't believe that Germany is part of European Union or if the EU laws apply in Germany. Germany was the worst. Nearly an hour at the immigration with 3 officers googling to see if my wife has the right to travel with me. Abuse at Amsterdam...

Well, long story short, we decided to stop traveling together until my wife gets a British passport.