Tampere Travel Forum

Hi all

I am flying from Dublin to Tampere with Ryanair, landing at terminal 2. Can anyone of you who recently used this terminal advise if there is a passport control booth which is actively manned?

I have a Schengen visa, but my husband can't make the trip with me (which is a condition for my visa...not sure if the Finns would read that German line on the passport or whether they'll just let me through anyway, seeing I have a Schengen visa). Only going for a weekend, and to get a new Schengen would cost €60!!!! (more than my flight!)

Thanks

Hi there

Okay, I know this might sound extra complicated, but that's just the life of a nonEU passport holder!

I got an 8 month Schengen visa, received it many times before, but in my home cuntry without trouble. This time it was issued in Ireland, where we currently live and work, and at that German embassy they issued the visa, with an extra 'line' on the visa stating that I must be accompanied by an EU member - which is a joke really, as it doesn't mention a name of a member, just A member. I got it for free as I am normally travelling with my German hubbie, but to get it free - he/or any EU member, must be accompanying me.
So, he can't make it and I'm just wondering about the whole sitaution. Should I get a new visa and pay because of that one line, or shall I ask someone on the airplane to be my 'friend' ;);) Also, the line is in German, under the normal 'for holidays only - no employment permitted' line. Oh, I never had this before for the other/previous Schengen visas.

I suppose if asking the Finnish embassy in Dublin, they will see the opportunity to make €60 and tell me I need another visa, I don't know.

Sometimes at some airports they don't ask/don't have such severe measures. Also, when I look at the Tempere Terminal 2 map, I don't see a passport control area. I would indeed be quite angry to pay €60, take a half day of work to organise the visa and nobody even bothers to look at it...get my point?

Long story :)

For sure there will be immigration (passport control) for a flight arriving from non-Schengen.
You got your visa from the German embassy (consulate), with the condition that you will be accompanied by a German (or EU or Schengen) citizen. This implies that the authorities expect that your first entrance or at least the main purpose of your visit to the Schengen countries will be Germany, with that citizen.

Any consulate can enforce there own conditions to issue visa up to a certain level. If in doubt they will send the application to their Ministry in their home-country which will delay the application.
It seems that they (German consulate) decided to avoid that route to speed-up the issue of your visa but with that extra condition. You probably went there with your German husband who also most probably had to sign some papers as well.

Hi Pupulainen

I hear you, thanks for your insight. I will give it a thought or two.

BTW. I have a South African passport.

Completely correct. I agree, that's how it works. And naturally so because someone with a S-visa let's say a Peruvian can go to let's say Belgium (with a Belgian S-visa) and enter Schengen at Madrid airport (connecting) or Amsterdam and then continue by train.
In this case it's the extra condition on the visa about the husband to accompany the visa-holder.....
Mind that at check-in the employee may notice that and refuse to board the flight.

To expand on my last remark: airlines get fines if they allow people on board/(dis)embark with incomplete/incorrect documentation. And Ryanair being a (very much so) LCC....and sitting very close on its money.....

Hi all

Thanks for the speculations. Just to say, WE (him and me) DID enter Germany first on a trip in June...and we will be traveling again to the Netherlands in Jan together. It's just this one trip where he won't join.

I suppose I'd better not take the chance, as I normally follow rules when they make good sense. This is just a little awkward. The exact condition reads: to be accompanied by a union member/citizen.

I think you may have taken the right decision. Look at this on this page:

http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/freetravel/thirdcountry/fsj_freetravel_thirdcountry_en.htm

If the family members are not EU nationals, the EU Member State(s) to or through which travel is intended may require an entry visa, depending on their nationality. This visa should be granted free of charge and without undue formalities by the competent consulate authorities. These freedoms apply to non-EU national family members only when they accompany or join an EU citizen.

When travelling alone, family members who are not nationals of an EU Member State are not entitled to the visa arrangements mentioned above. Non-EU nationals who wish to travel alone within the EU have to comply with the normal visa requirements for their nationality