Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Valid Schengen visa in a cancelled passport

Country forums / Western Europe

Hello everyone,

I keep getting conflicting advice about this topic. I'm planning a trip to France next month. I do have a valid Schengen visa (until 2010) in my old passport. I had to replace that old passport before its original expiry date because its pages were full. Is it O.K to travel with the old passport carrying the visa along with the new empty one? I am aware that this is possible for the USA, but is it O.K for Schengen countries? Any similar experience? Thank you.

In many countries taking both passports should get you in without any trouble. That said, the only sure way to find out is to call the French embassy.

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Actually, I doubt you'll be able to enter on that visa, at least you wo'n't be able to enter the Netherlands. The Dutch law states quite clearly that you can be refused entry if you do not hold a valid passport, which should itself contain a valid visa. If this is not possible in the Netherlands, I sincerely doubt it's possible for other countries (otherwise it would defy the whole Schengen-concept). Try to get the valid Schengen visa transferred to your valid passport at the French embassy in your country. I don't think this should be too much of a problem.

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