Posted only to assist those in a similar situation who might like to know what happened in our case.
Last week we arrived at Malaga airport to take a flight to London. Passport control checked my wife’s Philippines passport and her Residencia Card, then checked my Passport (the Irish one, I have dual nationality) and my out of date Residencia (expired 2007).
The rules mean one must prove the non EU national is the spouse of an EU national.
That is not all that straightforward. In my case the expired Residencia bore my NIE, finger print and photo. My wife’s resdencia showed she was the wife of John xxx, with NIE xxxxx. Producing almost any other document cannot strictly prove the relationship. Example: A marriage cert only shows one person, Sheila Brown, is married to a John Smith, but it does not prove that either person is in fact that particular individual, only that they have the same name as that person.
At the board desk the EasyJet staff member checked the documents previously produced, plus the marriage certificate. I also produced a copy of the info on the UK Gov web page. The staff member said she was satisfied but had to call another person. That person never came to the desk, however, after waiting around 20 minutes, the person spoken to on the phone presumably approved our eligibly and we were allowed to board.
At Gatwick the immigration checked our passports and my wife’s Residencia. My wife’s passport was stamped permitting a 6 month stay. It took a minute or two and was very friendly.
Returning. At Gatwick the only time we produced our passports was at the boarding desk. We were asked if my wife had a visa, When we showed her Residencia we were immediately allowed to board.
Arriving in Malaga both mine and my wife’s passports were inspected and photocopied, hers was stamped.
This message was last edited by johnzx on 04/12/2016.