International students and travelers often wonder: "Should I carry both my old and new passports when traveling?" If you’ve recently renewed your passport, it’s important to understand when carrying both is not just helpful—but necessary.
This guide will walk you through real-world scenarios, visa-specific requirements, and practical tips to ensure stress-free international travel in 2025.
✈️ Why You Might Need to Carry Both Passports
If you've recently received a new passport, you should carry your old passport as well, especially if:
- Your old passport contains valid visas (e.g. US, Schengen, UK).
- Your new passport is blank and doesn’t show travel history.
- Immigration officials may need to verify identity or previous entries/exits.
- You’re re-entering a country where you're a resident, student, or employee.
Even if your old passport is expired, the visas and stamps inside it might still be valid and necessary.
🛂 When Your Old Passport Contains a Valid Visa
Many countries issue long-term visas that remain valid even if your passport expires. In such cases, always carry:
- New Passport – Your active travel document.
- Old Passport – Proof of a valid visa.
Examples:
- United States: If you hold a 10-year B1/B2 tourist visa or F1 student visa in your old passport, you must present both when entering the US.
- Schengen Area (France, Germany, etc.): A valid long-stay visa (VLS-TS) or a multiple-entry tourist visa from France remains valid even if your passport has been renewed. Bring both passports.
- UK/Canada: If your study or work visa is in your old passport, immigration officers will ask to see it—even if your personal details haven’t changed.
📝 Pro Tip: Ensure your name, date of birth, and other personal details match across both passports.
🆕 New Passport Without Travel History
A fresh passport with no stamps might cause delays at immigration checkpoints. Officers might be unable to verify:
- Your travel intent
- Consistency with previous entries/exits
- Your residency history in a foreign country
Carrying your old passport can resolve this instantly and shows transparency in your travel profile.
❌ What If You Forgot or Lost Your Old Passport?
If your old passport is unavailable but had a valid visa, here are your options:
- Apply for a visa transfer or a new visa: Depending on the country, you may need to reapply for the visa or request a new visa linked to your new passport.
- Visa de retour (for France): If you're an Indian student or worker returning to France and your old passport is lost, you can apply for a "Visa de retour" to re-enter France. This is a single-use re-entry visa and is issued at discretion.
Note: Photocopies or scans of your old visa are not accepted as valid documents for travel.
Always keep scanned copies of your old passport and visas for record-keeping—even if they cannot be used for actual travel.
🧳 Extra Tips for Students and Travelers
- Always carry supporting documents like your residence permit, enrollment certificate, or work contract.
- Use a passport holder to carry both passports safely.
- Keep a digital backup of your visa letters, passport pages, and ID cards.
- If you're traveling often, consider applying for a multiple-entry visa to reduce the risk of documentation issues.
📌 Key Takeaways
✅ Carry both old and new passports if your old one contains a valid visa or important travel history.
✅ Confirm entry requirements with the Embassy/Consulate of the destination country.
✅ Be honest and transparent at immigration checkpoints.
❌ Don’t rely on photocopies alone—they are not valid for international travel.
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