Expert: MRZ - 2/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, in March I'm going to Bogota to spend 2 weeks with my colombian girlfriend, and we want her to come back to Spain with me permanently at the end of March.  I'm a BRitish national working and living in Spain as a permanent resident.  What kind of visa does she need and how long would it take?  We plan to get married in Spain or UK as soon as we can, would marrying me give her the right to live in Spain as spouse of E.C. resident?  Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Paul,
There are no longer any frontier controls at the borders between 22 EU countries. This is thanks to the Schengen agreement which is part of EU law. The Schengen rules remove all internal border controls but put in place effective controls at the external borders of the EU and introduce a common visa policy.
There are 28 countries whose nationals do not need a visa to visit the EU for three months or less. Colombia of course is not one of them. She will need to get a Visa to enter Spain, and she has the right to do so after you marry her. This visa applies to the Schengen rules, and it will automatically allow her to travel to the other Schengen countries as well. As an E.C. resident you of course do not require a Visa to travel.
Our agency provides Visa application services, if you are interested please contact us at info@colombianpossibilities.com
Thanks
Marta

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for that, Marta.  Can you tell me which would be the best and fastest visa to get? We've been looking at this visado no lucrativa?  And how long would it take for you to obtain this for us?  Thanks again, Paul.

Answer
Hi Paul,
Visado de residencia no lucrativa, is an application for a residence visa for those who have sufficient means of support from their own assets or regular income without any gainful work activity in Spain. She will qualify if she meets the minimum requirement of $75000 USD as income, this needs to be her own income, it can't be yours.
The person must prove that she receives a fixed monthly amount by some permanent means, such as from a trust fund or retirement pension. (A salary is not considered permanent, nor is interest received from a bank or mutual fund.)
The non lucrative visa is a one entry visa and is only good for 90 days.  Once in Spain (within in the 1st 30 days) the visa holder must go down to the local police station and apply for a residence permit which is good for one year and can be renewed up to 5yrs.
I know that this type of visa is extremely difficult to obtain. We can of course help you in this process. Please email us directly, info@colombianpossibilities.com
Thanks
Marta