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Lay over in Amsterdam without Schengen Visa

Discussion in 'Travel Tips and Advice' started by Rita0802, Dec 15, 2016.

  1. Rita0802
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    Rita0802 New Member

    Hi!
    Although it's been 6 months now since I got my spouse visa I still want to thank those people who helped us while doing the application. Thanks very much!

    But I've got another worries now.
    My husband and I are planning to visit my family in Philippines this Christmas season. We will have 12 hours lay over in Amsterdam from Glasgow Airport. Is it possible that I can go out and have a wee trip in Amsterdam without Schengen visa? Or they won't allow me to go out since I'm non-European citizen and don't have schengen visa to enter the country?


    Thanks in advance!

    Rita xxx
  2. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    The short answer to that is no, I can tell you however that Schiphol airport is a very good airport and at least you will not be uncomfortable there.
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  3. Brom27
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    Brom27 Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I'm afraid you have to stay inside the airport and avoid going out. Might get you in trouble :D But enjoy your holiday back here. :)
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  4. Maharg
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    Maharg Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Worth a try though. If they say no then you can stay in the airport.

    Take your marriage certificate and say you are the wife of an EU citizen. You might get away with it if your husband is with you.

    I know a couple who say they travelled Europe without a Schengen visa.

    Let us know if you get through!
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  5. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    I'm afraid it's not that simple. It matters not that her British husband will be with her, unless she has a Schengen Visa she will not be permitted to enter the country, even for those few hours.

    You could (I believe) check-in to the Sheraton Hotel where day rooms are available and provides free access to the hotel spa and fitness centre; the Sheraton is the only hotel with direct access to the airport terminal. Alternatively, you can fly out of Glasgow (or Edinburgh) at a more convenient time - Easyjet and KLM have 5 or 6 daily flights between them from Glasgow.
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  6. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    That's a good idea about the hotel which is actually in the terminal itself, that's what I would be doing under the same circumstances.
  7. Rita0802
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    Rita0802 New Member

    Thanks very much for the replies.
  8. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Enjoy your holiday young lady.
  9. CampelloChris
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    CampelloChris Well-Known Member

    If you are legally resident in Britain, you will not need a Schengen visa. As a de facto European citizen by way of marriage to a British citizen, you enjoy the same rights of freedom of movement. Just as your husband would not need a visa, nor would you.

    From 2004/38/EC
    With a view to facilitating the free movement of family members who are not nationals of a Member State, those who have already obtained a residence card should be exempted from the requirement to obtain an entry visa within the meaning of Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement 1 or, where appropriate, of the applicable national legislation.

    If however you are still waiting for your FLR/ILR (I'm not sure which as I'm not knowledgable in UK residence matters) then you would need a Schengen visa.

    Have you considered writing to the Dutch Embassy?
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  10. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    I think (not 100% sure) that we may have discussed this before on the forum and found that it is down to the wording on the British BRP our loved ones obtain not being the same as the EU Schengen countries. The passage below is from the Dutch Embassy London, worth a call/email as you say;

    Family members of EU/EEA nationals
    Under Directive 2004/38/EC, a family member of an EU/EEA national does not require a visa for the Netherlands if he/she qualifies as a family member of a Union citizen to whom the provisions of this directive apply. The type of residence permit, the country of residence of the EU/EEA national and the actual details of the trip will determine if a visa is required for the specific trip.

    Holder of a 'Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National' or of a 'Permanent residence card' issued after the expiration of the 5-year EEA family member residence card:
    • travelling to the Netherlands accompanied by his/her EU/EEA family member or joining the EU/EEA national (not a Dutch national*) who is moving to or residing in the Netherlands: no visa required.
    Please note that the residence permit must be endorsed in a valid passport or travel document and that you may be requested by the immigration authorities to provide documentary proof of the relationship (e.g. original birth, marriage or civil partnership certificate) and of the use of the right of free movement of the EU/EEA national (e.g. a registration certificate). Furthermore, this only applies when travelling directly to the Netherlands. When travelling to the Netherlands through another country, please check with the appropriate Embassy.

    • not accompanied by the EU/EEA national or not travelling to the Netherlands to join the EU/EEA national (not a Dutch national*): visa required. Regular Schengen visa procedures apply.
    http://unitedkingdom.nlembassy.org/...Doc=family-members-of-eu-eea-nationals-london
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  11. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Going back to the wording on a British issued BRP it does not have the words “Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen” (these are the key words) so you cannot use it to travel to other EU countries, or it appears so. It appears that EU Schengen countries issue a residence permit "Article 10 Residence Permit" to non EU nationals who for example have married Brits like Chris and reside in EU Schengen countries, see the information below relating to EU Residence Permit holders travelling to the UK.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...as-the-holder-of-an-article-10-residence-card
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2016
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  12. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. Brom27
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    Brom27 Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    On the brighter side, as spouse of a British citizen it will be more easy to get a Schengen Visa, you can get it for free and with not so much hassle. :) If you are in London @Rita0802 you can get a visa if you have time or you can leave it for now if you really don't mind staying in the aiport for 12 hours ;)
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  14. Dave_E
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    Dave_E Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    The weather in Amsterdam might be rather inclement at that time of year, a good excuse to stay inside the airport.
  15. Rita0802
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    Rita0802 New Member

    Hi everyone!

    We just got back from Philippines. I just want to share that I did able to go out and have a wee trip in the central of Amsterdam during our lay over.
    It's easy to say no but they were really helpful and kind to give their time to check our documents and ask informations from their immigration. They asked for my husband's passport and mine together with my BRP card, and our marriage certificate. We waited for almost 30 minutes and told us that they updated my passport to their system and I'm allowed to go inside the country without worrying as long as I'm with my husband all the time.

    So that's me had a few hours in Amsterdam.❤

    Even they allowed me to go out from the airport I think I won't try it again lol. I will get Schengen Visa next time for longer stays without feeling anxious in dealing with immigration control.

    Attached Files:

    • Winner Winner x 1
  16. Timmers
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    Timmers Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Well that's good news young lady, I'm a little surprised, the fact they left you waiting for 30minutes before you got the nod tells me this isn't a regular process for them.

    I like Amsterdam, good place for a Filipina to have a photo shoot :)
  17. DJB
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    DJB Active Member

    Awww that's nice

    Good to see that some goverments have a common sense approach to these things
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