Can I travel to Poland to my husband without a Schengen visa or residence card?
I'm a South African living in Britain with my husband who is Polish. My visa has expired already, and I have not applied for my residence card yet.
My husband has travelled to Poland to be with his family for Christmas. Would I be able to travel to Poland to meet him there without me having my residence card? I was told by a friend that I could travel if I have my marriage certificate on hand: is there any truth in that?
Best Answer
In short, no, but you should be able to get a Schengen visa without charge and quickly.
South Africans require a visa to enter the Schengen area. Visa nationals are exempted from this requirement if they have a residence card indicating that they are a family member of an EU/EEA national.
Family members without such a card still enjoy the right of freedom of movement under EU law, when traveling with or joining their EU/EEA family member, except that they still require a visa.
Since you don't yet have that card, you need a visa.
The visa is supposed to be issued free of charge, and through an expedited process. Your best course of action, therefore, is probably to apply for a visa at the Polish consulate.
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Can my non-EU spouse travel with me?
Travelling in the EU with your non-EU family members Under EU rules, you have the right to travel together with your core family members (non-EU spouse, children, dependent parents or dependent grandparents) to an EU country other than the one you are a national of.Does my wife need a Schengen visa?
As the husband or wife of an EU citizen, you cannot legally stay in the Schengen area without applying for a visa, unless you have some form of residency in the zone.Can I travel to Poland with my family?
If you are a foreigner staying in Poland your family may visit you simply by getting a tourist visa. If however they want to stay here for longer, you may have a right to family reunification.Can I travel in Europe without residence permit?
Other travellers Nor do you have a valid residence permit or valid provisional residence permit (MVV). In that case you sometimes need a visa to travel in the Schengen Area. This can be a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa.THE SCHENGEN ZONE TRAVEL EXPLAINED - DIGITAL NOMAD TV
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