Schengen Visa: Traveling Europe with my Thai girlfriend
Dear editors,
I have a question for Rob V. regarding Schengen visa C. I am a Dutch citizen, I emigrated to Australia 8 years ago, so I no longer have a place of residence in the Netherlands. I would like to travel through Europe with my Thai girlfriend (with a brand new Thai passport) for 6 weeks to show her the art and culture. Perhaps a few days in the Netherlands, but especially Paris, Italy, Spain and an 11-day pop concert in Portugal.
I myself have a good job in OZ, sufficient liquid assets, travel insurance, etc. is taken care of, etc. She has no job, but a house and minor children in Thailand.
I don't know yet where we're flying to, AMS, Rome, Paris, etc. My questions:
- Question 1: What about the rules regarding the sponsor, since I want to be the sponsor, but I do not live in a Schengen country. We will also not stay with anyone in particular, but (on spec) travel around.
- Question 2: Which country am I going to apply for a visa from? I read country of entry when we are not staying anywhere with emphasis, as in our case. So, for example, can I choose Italy?
- Question 3: Can the visa be processed locally in Pattaya or must she report to an embassy in Bangkok?
Thanks in advance.
Peter
Dear Peter,
- Question 1: There does not necessarily have to be a sponsor, so your girlfriend can also demonstrate sufficient financial means for herself if she can show that she has 34 euros per day of stay (if the country to be visited is the Netherlands, other countries use different amounts) . If the Netherlands is the main goal, you could also guarantee if you have a sufficient and sustainable income. Or, of course, a third person. The place of residence is separate from this: you can of course stay in hotels (discuss a hotel reservation for the first few nights), or sleep with someone. Explain in a short letter your travel schedule and that you do not yet know exactly where you will spend the night.
- Question 2: Your girlfriend has to apply for the visa from the country where you will spend most of your time. If that is not clear, then you must be at the first country of entry. Reading your story, Portugal may be your main destination and you should be with them. If you may stay in other countries for the same length of time, you must therefore be in the first country of arrival.
- Question 3: Your partner will need to be at the embassy (or possibly the option of a VAC Visa Application Center) in Bangkok.
If I were you, I would read the information from the Dutch and Portuguese embassies carefully. If Portugal does not seem too cumbersome in terms of paperwork and you think you will stay there the most, then I would make the application via the Portuguese. It is probably best if your girlfriend can demonstrate sufficient means of support herself (check the standard amount of the Portuguese). The embassy will mainly want to see that it actually has access to sufficient money. Think of a bank account in her name, but also that it does not raise any questions: a large deposit in her account a few days before the application can give the impression that she has only borrowed this money and that it is not actually hers. Of course you can enter via another country, for example via the Netherlands. I do assume that Portugal wants to see some sort of schedule, and they may want to see hotel reservations for all nights anyway. You will also have to ask the Portuguese about that.
Doesn't Portugal seem to be your preference and you don't know yet if you will actually spend the most time there? Then I would choose the Netherlands. Indicate that you want to tour Europe on spec, but have no concrete plans yet (and therefore only have hotel reservations for each night), with the Netherlands as the first destination.
As always, carefully read the information from the official authorities (the embassy in question) and also take a look at the Short Stay Visa file here on ThailandBlog, see the menu on the left.
Have fun on your tour, good luck,
Rob V