Can I have two Schengen visas at the same time?

Sep 01, 2020

Can I have 2 Schengen visas at the same time?

First of all, what is a Schengen visa? A Schengen visa is a short stay visa allowing its holder to circulate in the Schengen area (up to 90 days in 180 days). The Schengen area covers 26 countries (Schengen States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) without border controls between them.

Visa application from a person already holding a valid Schengen short stay visa

The Schengen Handbook for the processing of visa applications and the modification of issued visas rules how visa applications from a person already holding a valid short stay visa should be treated.

Can a person hold 2 valid short stay Schengen visas covering the same period?

In theory, it is not possible for a person to hold two valid short stay visas covering the same period.

I have a valid Schengen visa but it does not cover my next intended stay, what can I do?

In this case, it is possible to file a visa application for another Schengen visa to cover the next intended stay entirely. The current valid visa should not be revoked:  the period of validity of the next visa should start on the day following the expiry of the current visa. This applies also if the first visa was issued by another Member State or for another travel purpose.

Exceptions : The Schengen visa handbook provides examples of possible exceptions to the principles when a current valid visa should not be revoked and that it is not possible for someone to hold 2 valid Schengen visas covering the same period at the same time

Cases when the current visa is revoked

Example 1: An applicant has a visa with a validity from 1 April to 30 April with an authorised length of stay of 15 days. The holder has done a trip at the beginning of April and needs to travel again on 25 April for 10 days.

• Scenario 1: The applicant has ‘used’ all 15 days during the first trip or the first visa was a single-entry visa: in this case, the first visa is no longer valid after the first trip and the consulate should issue a new visa with a validity starting on 25 April.
• Scenario 2: The applicant has only ‘used’ 12 days during the first trip and 3 days of stay still remain on his multiple-entry visa. To allow the person concerned to travel on the 25 April it would not be sufficient to issue a visa with a validity starting on the day following the expiry of the current visa (May 1). In this case, the current visa should be revoked and a new visa should be issued (it is to be noted that a Member State can revoke a visa issued by another Member State)

Case when a person can be granted two valid short stay visas covering the same period

Example 2: A person holding an ordinary passport where a valid multiple entry visa is affixed needs to travel for professional reasons with his diplomatic or service passport.

A visa may be issued and affixed in the official passport with the validity period based on the intended professional stay(s).

The Handbook recommends that persons holding several travel documents and two (or more) valid visas in two (or more) different travel documents should be informed that the 90-day rule applies per person and not per travel document.

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Giuditta Petreni

Giuditta Petreni has over 10 years of experience in assisting companies and business investors with relocation of managers and staff to Italy. Giuditta has extensive experience advising corporate and private clients on a full range of Italian immigration categories. She is fluent in Italian and English.

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Grounds for extension of short term Schengen visas Schengen Area: Limited territorial validity visas Can I re-enter Schengen if I am listed in SIS (Schengen Information System)? How long is your Schengen visa valid for?