Many people ask us what happens if their old passports expire or on the verge of expiration while they still have a valid visa on it.
While there is no way to physically transfer the visa
from one passport to the other, we are happy to tell you that most
likely, you can still use the valid visa in your old passport.
As
long as the biographical information on your visa (full name, date of
birth, place of birth and nationality) is the same as the biographical
data on your new passport, then this is possible.
All
you need to do is bring your old and new passports together any time
you plan to travel to that country . That way, when you reach the
border, the customs agent will be able see that you have both a valid
passport and a valid visa.
On
the other hand, if you had a name change, nationality change or your
date of birth or place of birth has been corrected on your passport, you
might need to apply for a new visa.
If
you do choose to reapply, and qualify for your new visa, then your old
visa will be cancelled without prejudice at the time of the interview or
visa processing.
Of
course, you will need a valid passport to apply for a visa. But if your
current passport has not expired, you may use it to apply for a new
visa.
Keep
in mind, however that your passport must be valid for at least the
entire period you plan to stay or for a minimum of six months beyond the
planned period of stay depending on the country you are visiting and
the passport you are holding.
Use the comment box below for further questions.
