Traveling with Irish and British Passports - Done

[Pirahna]

I'm currently waiting to board a Eurotunnel in France. We arrived in Bilbao on January 5th, so that's 4 months in Schengen. Turned up at the terminal this morning, handed over both passports, Irish and British, not a word was said.

 

[Billylou]

Thanks for starting this thread, there’s a few of us on the forum in the same position as you and there will be several more once their Irish passports arrive. Great to read that you had no problems. All we need to know is how you get on when you return next week.

 

[acropolis22]

I'm currently waiting to board a Eurotunnel in France. We arrived in Bilbao on January 5th, so that's 4 months in Schengen. Turned up at the terminal this morning, handed over both passports, Irish and British, not a word was said.

Do you mean the British passport wasn't stamped? I'm just waiting for someone who had a British passport wrongly stamped on entry leaving after 4 months.....

 

[EuroTrotters]

My British passport was questioned when we last entered Santander .

I have a lot of Spanish stamps in from flying and driving to Spain.

It was suggested to me I should apply for residency or be careful with my Schengen days.

 

[Pirahna]

The British passport was stamped on entry to Spain.

We will be returning in a few weeks but wifey needs a new passport so not a proper test.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[acropolis22]

The British passport was stamped on entry to Spain.

We will be returning in a few weeks but wifey needs a new passport so not a proper test.

Just shows what inconsistency there is. So, the British passport was wrongly stamped on entry. After 4 months, the wrong stamp was ignored, correctly, but you'd think they might have made some comment about it.

 

[Billylou]

When I’ve traveled with my wife, who has an Irish passport my passport has always been stamped which is fine as I don’t believe it makes any difference. If the stamps show I’ve stayed longer than 90 days whilst travelling with my wife it’s up to me to have the appropriate documentation/audit trail should I then decide to travel to Europe on my own. I’m of the opinion, right or wrong, that my wife’s Irish passport trumps the entry / exit stamps in my passport.

 

[TM59]

I'm currently waiting to board a Eurotunnel in France. We arrived in Bilbao on January 5th, so that's 4 months in Schengen. Turned up at the terminal this morning, handed over both passports, Irish and British, not a word was said.

Can I ask why you handed over both passports?

 

[acropolis22]

When I’ve traveled with my wife, who has an Irish passport my passport has always been stamped which is fine as I don’t believe it makes any difference. If the stamps show I’ve stayed longer than 90 days whilst travelling with my wife it’s up to me to have the appropriate documentation/audit trail should I then decide to travel to Europe on my own. I’m of the opinion, right or wrong, that my wife’s Irish passport trumps the entry / exit stamps in my passport.

Surely it's easier just to make sure your passport isn't stamped when travelling with your wife. Why give yourself the hassle of a paper trail?

 

[Billylou]

Agree it would be easier but thats the process. I guess there will be different scenarios when travelling, for example travelling out alone to meet up with a wife/husband, leaving early to head home where you would be stamped. I think keeping hold of some travel documentation is a small price to pay and will happily do it if it means being able to stay longer than 90/180. To be honest theres not that much you can bundle together.

I've added an email response I got back from the EU and they have advised to have documentation to show when you were travelling with my wife and when not. Hope it is of interest.

Thank you for contacting the Europe Direct Contact Centre.

A citizen of the UK does not, in principle, require a visa to travel for a short stay of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

The fact that you reside with your Irish wife the UK is, on its own, not sufficient to waive the limits of the 90/180-days rule if you intend to travel on your own to a Schengen Member State.

However, if you are travelling with your wife to a Schengen country, or joining her in a Schengen country, the 90/180 days limitation does not apply. Accordingly, any stays in the Schengen area together with her will not be taken into account when you travel again on your own. Please be aware, however, that in this case you might need to have documentation to show when you were travelling with her and when you were not.

For further information, we recommend that you contact the authorities of the country you would like to travel to: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/embassies/index_en.htm

You can also find additional information here: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/brexit-travel-documents/index_en.htm

If you wish to remain in a given country for more than 3 months, both you and your wife may need to register your residence: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/index_en.htm

Please note that as Ireland is not part of the Schengen area and because your wife is an Irish citizen, this may not apply if you wish to travel together to Ireland.

For information on the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK, please see: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/...n_travel_area_between_ireland_and_the_uk.html

We hope you find this information useful. Please contact us again if you have other questions about the European Union, its activities or institutions.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[acropolis22]

Agree it would be easier but thats the process. I guess there will be different scenarios when travelling, for example travelling out alone to meet up with a wife/husband, leaving early to head home where you would be stamped. I think keeping hold of some travel documentation is a small price to pay and will happily do it if it means being able to stay longer than 90/180. To be honest theres not that much you can bundle together.

I've added an email response I got back from the EU and they have advised to have documentation to show when you were travelling with my wife and when not. Hope it is of interest.

Thank you for contacting the Europe Direct Contact Centre.

A citizen of the UK does not, in principle, require a visa to travel for a short stay of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

The fact that you reside with your Irish wife the UK is, on its own, not sufficient to waive the limits of the 90/180-days rule if you intend to travel on your own to a Schengen Member State.

However, if you are travelling with your wife to a Schengen country, or joining her in a Schengen country, the 90/180 days limitation does not apply. Accordingly, any stays in the Schengen area together with her will not be taken into account when you travel again on your own. Please be aware, however, that in this case you might need to have documentation to show when you were travelling with her and when you were not.

For further information, we recommend that you contact the authorities of the country you would like to travel to: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/embassies/index_en.htm

You can also find additional information here: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/brexit-travel-documents/index_en.htm

If you wish to remain in a given country for more than 3 months, both you and your wife may need to register your residence: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/residence/index_en.htm

Please note that as Ireland is not part of the Schengen area and because your wife is an Irish citizen, this may not apply if you wish to travel together to Ireland.

For information on the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK, please see: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/...n_travel_area_between_ireland_and_the_uk.html

We hope you find this information useful. Please contact us again if you have other questions about the European Union, its activities or institutions.

Agreed, you may as well preserve whatever documentation you have. It's all jumping through hoops though isn't it. Especially when you get a stamp you shouldn't have. In our situation, we'd be very unlikely to have one travelling without the other, but it's just a pain to have to keep thinking "What if?".............