Scheghen area with EU spouse
Discussion
If I'm in the Schenghen area with my EU passport spouse (I'm UK only), these days should not count towards my 90/180 allowance.
But how do I ensure this is recorded correctly?
I've only once gone through the EU immigration lanes with them, in Malaga, & my passport was stamped in & out as normal - meaning those days counted against my allowance.
ETIAS will solve this when it eventually comes in, but what are people doing at present?
But how do I ensure this is recorded correctly?
I've only once gone through the EU immigration lanes with them, in Malaga, & my passport was stamped in & out as normal - meaning those days counted against my allowance.
ETIAS will solve this when it eventually comes in, but what are people doing at present?
If you are with your spouse there should be no need to stamp:
https://www.thetimes.com/travel/is-my-british-wife...
I have an Irish passport and my wife a British one. Since Brexit, I have been accompanying her through the British passport channels. Recently we both waited some time in the “Brit” queue at Zurich airport and when I got to border control I explained I was in that queue to keep my wife company. The border control officer said that as an EU national I had the right to take my wife though the EU channel regardless of the fact that she didn’t have an EU passport. Clearly we’d need to go to the counter rather than through automatic barriers, but I hadn’t heard that before and have never seen advice to that effect. Could you confirm if that is the case?
It’s true that you can go through the EU channel with your wife and that her travel with you doesn’t count towards her “90 in 180 days” limit for stays in Schengen countries in Europe. I’ve found it impossible to get granular detail on this from an official EU source but page 20 of the Practical Handbook for Border Guards is useful (search on ec.europa.eu) and if you need further reassurance, email the EU Contact Centre (european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu); you should get a response confirming the rules within three working days
More info at: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Not sure if this answers your question? I have never had a problem with EU officials refusing to stamp. I guess it might be difficult if your spouse has a different last name
https://www.thetimes.com/travel/is-my-british-wife...
I have an Irish passport and my wife a British one. Since Brexit, I have been accompanying her through the British passport channels. Recently we both waited some time in the “Brit” queue at Zurich airport and when I got to border control I explained I was in that queue to keep my wife company. The border control officer said that as an EU national I had the right to take my wife though the EU channel regardless of the fact that she didn’t have an EU passport. Clearly we’d need to go to the counter rather than through automatic barriers, but I hadn’t heard that before and have never seen advice to that effect. Could you confirm if that is the case?
It’s true that you can go through the EU channel with your wife and that her travel with you doesn’t count towards her “90 in 180 days” limit for stays in Schengen countries in Europe. I’ve found it impossible to get granular detail on this from an official EU source but page 20 of the Practical Handbook for Border Guards is useful (search on ec.europa.eu) and if you need further reassurance, email the EU Contact Centre (european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu); you should get a response confirming the rules within three working days
More info at: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Not sure if this answers your question? I have never had a problem with EU officials refusing to stamp. I guess it might be difficult if your spouse has a different last name
Edited by nyt on Saturday 15th March 16:16
Thanks, but not really!
The problem (was) that they stamped my passport as per usual entry. This then counted as part of my 90 days. They should not have counted as I was with my wife, but how is this then acknowledged & the days not counted against my 90?
I'm asking how have other people avoided the same situation?
There is no mention on the EU website that I can find about the practical application of the rule.
If it relies on the border agent with a queue of a few hundred people not blindly stamping a UK passport then it can't really be relied upon.
The problem (was) that they stamped my passport as per usual entry. This then counted as part of my 90 days. They should not have counted as I was with my wife, but how is this then acknowledged & the days not counted against my 90?
I'm asking how have other people avoided the same situation?
There is no mention on the EU website that I can find about the practical application of the rule.
If it relies on the border agent with a queue of a few hundred people not blindly stamping a UK passport then it can't really be relied upon.
I guess it will differ from country to country if not airport to airport but last time I entered the EU, UK passports could line up at the same autogates as EU passports.
This was Alicante in Nov last year.
I didn't have my UK passport at the time, so ended up in the dirty foreigners line, which due to it being a flight from London has a grand total of 2 in the line.
This was Alicante in Nov last year.
I didn't have my UK passport at the time, so ended up in the dirty foreigners line, which due to it being a flight from London has a grand total of 2 in the line.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff