With the increase in the gold content of Chinese passports, more and more countries have relaxed the visa threshold for Chinese tourists, and policies such as multiple round-trip visas for many years have been issued more and more intensively.
The validity period of visas in many countries of destination is not consistent with the validity period of their passports. Even some Schengen countries have given the validity period of visas according to the validity period of their passports, so many people are faced with the expiration of their passports. And in the period of validity of the multiple round-trip visa how to do and so on?
Today, the editor is talking about passport and visa issues with you, first of all, about passport change, reissue, invalidation and re-opening.
About passports
In short, the passport is about to expire or the visa page is running out. If the passport has passed its validity period, it is invalid to apply for it again. If the passport is lost, damaged or stolen, it is necessary to apply for the passport to be reissued.
From Sept. 1, 2018, mainland residents can apply for replacement (replacement) of entry documents across the country.
The applicant may apply for the exchange (replacement) of ordinary passport, pass to and from Hong Kong and Macao, Taiwan pass and other exit and entry documents within the whole country, and the application formalities shall be in accordance with the residence registration place.
About visas
Generally speaking, there are three situations:
At the same time, the production of new and old passports and valid visas will allow for smooth clearance and entry;
One is that visas must be transferred;
Reapply for a visa.
Let's take a look at the different rules in several popular countries.
Japan （全称“日本国”， 亚洲东部岛国）
Present new and old passports as well as valid visas at the same time.
Individual travel visas for Chinese residents to Japan can be divided into three types: a single travel visa, a three-year multiple-trip visa and a five-year multiple-trip visa.
One valid period is 3 months, the longest stay is 15 days; the three-year round-trip visa can be used many times within the 3-year validity period, the longest stay is 15 days; the five-year multiple-signature validity period is 5 years, and the maximum stay is 90 days.
Solution: after the passport expires, Japan's long-term multiple-return visa does not need to be transferred, as long as the new and old passports and valid Japanese visa can be presented.
America
Present new and old passports as well as valid visas at the same time.
The United States has imposed new visa measures on Chinese passport holders. Student visas will be extended to a maximum of five years, and business or travel to the United States (B1/B2) can apply for 10-year, multiple valid visas.
Solution: although the validity of the visa is so long, it may exceed the validity of the passport held by everyone, but there is no need for the United States to apply for multiple round-trip visas to and from the United States. The new and old passports as well as the United States visa on the old passports can be produced at the same time.
Note: you need to apply for EVUS renewal registration for the first time in the United States, and update it every two years!
Canada （北美洲北部国家）
A visa usually expires before the passport expires.
Since March 2015, Canada has opened multiple round-trip visas to Chinese travellers, valid for up to 10 years.
It is important to note that visas issued in practice are not necessarily valid for 10 years, but only one day or a few months before the passport expires.
Solution: in theory, Canada's multiple round trip visas will expire before the passport expiration date, and there is no question of whether a transfer is necessary.
In case of accident, new and old passport visas can be used together in principle, but since some airlines will not allow passengers to check in because the new passport does not have a visa, travellers are advised to go to the embassy or consulate for visa transfer.
But you can also pay for visa transfers. Provide the original of the old passport and the original of the new passport, as well as a letter of explanation signed by myself. The visa can be transferred to the visa center. The visa issued on the new passport is consistent with the validity period of the old passport.
Singapore
A transfer visa or a new application are required.
Starting from June 1, 2015, travellers who have visited Singapore and are supported by relevant Singapore agencies are likely to receive multiple Singapore round-trip visas for 10 years and to enjoy self-service customs clearance at Singapore's ports of entry.
The policy focuses on business travelers, whose spouses and children under the age of 21 will be treated equally if successful applications are made.
But Singapore currently issues more than one-month to two-year multiple-trip visas to Chinese holders of private ordinary passports.
Approach: if a passport fails and a visa (including an e-visa) is not invalidated, a visa transfer or re-application is required.
However, currently the Singapore Embassy and consulates-general do not accept visa applications submitted directly, so they need to submit visa transfer applications through Singapore's officially designated visa agents.
Apply for visa transfer or re-application.
At present, New Zealand multiple round-trip visas are valid for up to 5 years.
Solution: if the passport is invalid, the traveler who holds the valid e-visa can go through the transfer free of charge, need to pay 235 yuan service charge and 65 yuan courier fee;
The visa transfer fee is 550 yuan plus 235 yuan service charge and 65 yuan courier fee for travelers holding valid sticker visas.
Australia
E-mail or update passport information online.
From March 1, 2018, the Australian Home Affairs Department provides email update passport information services to applicants.
Solution: if you need to change passport information, you can fill out form 929 (https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/forms/Documents/929.pdf))
And related documents by e-mail to 929 / homeaffairs.gov.au.
After sending form 929, you will receive confirmation that the relevant information has been updated. At the same time, you can also pass the
ImmiAccount (ImmiAccount) submitted form 929 online.
Korea
Present new and old passports as well as valid visas at the same time.
From January 1, 2016, Chinese citizens under the age of 17 and over 55 who have graduated from college or are studying can apply for multiple visas.
The maximum validity of multiple visas will be extended from the existing 5-year period to 10-year period, and each time the allowed stay period will be extended from 30 days to 90 days.
Approach: under the new policy, there will be more travellers facing visa validity and passport invalidity. According to the South Korean Embassy, South Korea's multiple round-trip visas do not need to be transferred, as long as new and old passports and valid Korean visas are presented.
Argentina
Present new and old passports as well as valid visas at the same time.
From June 15, 2017, China and Argentina will issue each other a tourist visa valid for 10 years for each other's individual tourists, with a maximum stay period of 90 days each time, and may enter and leave the country many times.
Solution: if a new passport is replaced for reasons such as the expiration of the passport, the new passport and the old passport affixed with a valid Argentine visa can still be used to Argentina.
However, if the new passport type and passport name, gender, date of birth and other information changes, the licensee must apply for a new visa.
Israel
The visa is valid until the passport expires.
Since November 11, 2016, Israel has issued a 10-year multiple entry visa for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports for business or personal travel. The visa type is B2. This visa is not applicable to visa applications for work, study, family visits and group tours.
A ten-year visa is valid for a maximum of 10 years from the date of issuance to six months before the expiration of the passport.
If the visa is signed at sunrise on November 11, 2016, the passport is valid until November 11, 2025, and the visa is valid until May 11, 2025.
When a new passport is replaced, the visa on the old passport will also expire and will need to be re-applied.
Britain
Present new and old passports as well as valid visas at the same time.
Solution: from January 11, 2016, the validity period of multiple visit visas in the United Kingdom has been extended from the original six months to two years. In the event of the expiration of the passport, you can choose to use the new and old passports at the same time. If there are special circumstances, you can choose to use the new and old passports at the same time. You can also pay for visa transfer.
Schengen country
The rules vary from country to country.
The characteristics of a single-trip Schengen visa are:
- The traveler must apply for a Schengen visa issued by the main country of stay (the country with the largest number of days on the trip), regardless of the country of entry;
- Multiple trips to and from Schengen are no longer subject to these requirements from the second time, except that they must be issued abroad in the main country of first entry. Countries in the Schengen area may issue multiple round trip visas in accordance with their respective standards, but there are also different rules as to where the original visa should go after the passport has lapsed.
The countries that currently issue multiple-trip visas to Chinese travelers are France and Italy, where travelers generally need to provide sufficient credible reasons or good enough track records to apply successfully.
The usual validity period ranges from 1 month, 3 months to 1 year, and 5-year multiple-trip visas can also be obtained.
France and Italy's Schengen Visa Center (China) did not respond to the question of whether the visa could continue to be used if the passport was invalid and the visa was valid.
However, according to the official website of the visa center in India between the two countries and the personal experience of netizens holding it, France can present its new and old passports for multiple round-trip visas to France, but if it is necessary to enter Italy or other countries with a multiple-round-trip visa from Italy, Then the visa transfer must be processed.
Although the use of new and old passports for France's multiple round-trip visas to France has been verified, this method is recognized by other countries (for example, by entering Italy using this method). Friends are required to personally call the embassies and consulates for confirmation.
How do you calculate the blank pages of your passport?
When applying for visas to other countries, you may encounter the requirement that your passport must have x blank pages.
In general, for embassies and consulates, "a blank page" means that a single visa page cannot have any trace of entry and exit stamps, stickers and staples;
"two consecutive blank pages" means that the two blank visa pages on the passport that meet the above requirements must be consecutive.
Counting the blank visa pages on your passport is a technical job, which affects not only visa applications, but also the best time to change your passport. You must pay more attention to it.
Each country has restrictions on the validity of its passports, which must be known before departing and decide whether a visa transfer is necessary depending on the actual situation.
The passport is about to expire or there are not enough empty pages, when you re-apply for a new passport. Must choose "license change", do not choose "reissue", or some multiple round-trip visa will be invalidated.
In addition, no matter whether the above countries need to apply for visa transfer, do not process the visa paper pasted on the old passport.
If the destination country requires a new and old passport visa to enter the country, it must be ensured that the old passport will not be tainted (except for the corner cut), otherwise the visa will be wasted in vain!
