Are you travelling to the Schengen Area as the spouse or core family member of an EU citizen?
In that case, you might have lots of questions concerning the Schengen Visa requirements for spouses or family members. You might even ask yourself, “Do I actually need a Visa to travel to Europe if I’m married to an EU citizen?” or “Do I really need a Visa if I’m a relative of an EU citizen?”
The short answer is, “it depends”. So bear with us for a few minutes and read this post all the way to the end. You’ll find out everything you need to know about the Schengen Visa requirements for spouses and relatives of EU nationals.
Under EU law, as the spouse or relative of an EU national, you may need or not a Schengen Visa to travel to Europe depending on your citizenship. For example, if you hold the passport of a state that has established a visa-free agreement with the Schengen countries, you do not need a Visa to Europe – although you may need to apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver. ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. The ETIAS Visa Waiver is a travel permit that enables you to enter the Schengen Area. However, there’s no need to worry about the ETIAS Visa Waiver – this travel authorisation is relatively easy to get, and the application process is automated.
On the other hand, if you hold the passport of a state that has not established a visa-free agreement with the Schengen countries, you need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe. You might be thinking, “There’s too much confusion surrounding bureaucracy. How in the world can I know what countries need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe with all the misleading information spread online?”
Easy! Just spare a few minutes to read this post and find out whether or not your country of citizenship has established a visa-free agreement with the Schengen States. If your country of citizenship isn’t on the list of countries that need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe, then all you need to do is check whether or not you are eligible for an ETIAS Visa Waiver. If your country of citizenship is on the list of countries that need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe, then you must apply for a Schengen Visa, even if you are married to an EU citizen (or you’re a close relative of an EU citizen). Now, let’s clear up what we mean by “relative of an EU citizen”.