You renew your passport, but the old passport still contains a visa that has not expired. Do you need a new visa?
Sometimes the answer is no. Some countries allow travelers to carry the old passport containing the valid visa together with a new valid passport. Other countries require the visa to be transferred, reissued, updated electronically or replaced.
There is no universal rule.
A visa and a passport have separate validity
The passport proves identity and nationality and acts as the travel document.
The visa is permission connected to travel under the destination's immigration system.
A passport can expire before the visa printed inside it. Whether the visa survives that passport expiry depends on the issuing country.
United States: valid visa in an expired passport
The United States provides a clear example.
The U.S. Department of State states that a traveler may generally use a still-valid U.S. visa in an expired passport together with a new valid passport, provided the visa is valid, undamaged and appropriate for the purpose of travel.
Official guidance also says the old and new passports should be from the same country and appropriate passport type.
Travelers should not attempt to remove the visa from the old passport and place it into the new one.
Does this rule apply to every country?
No.
The U.S. policy should not be treated as a worldwide rule.
Another country may require:
- visa transfer
- new visa application
- electronic update
- notification of new passport number
- replacement visa label
- travel using a specific combination of documents
Always check the authority that issued the visa.
What if your passport was renewed because it was full?
The reason for renewal can matter.
A normal expired or full passport containing an intact visa may be treated differently from a passport that was:
- lost
- stolen
- damaged
- canceled because of identity changes
- replaced after a legal name change
If the old passport was reported lost or stolen, do not assume any visa inside it remains valid.
What if the visa itself is damaged?
A damaged visa can cause boarding or border problems even if its printed expiration date has not passed.
Do not attempt to repair, laminate, detach or alter a visa sticker yourself.
Contact the issuing embassy or immigration authority for instructions.
Can you carry two passports when traveling?
Where the destination permits use of a valid visa in an old passport, travelers commonly carry:
- old passport containing the visa
- new valid passport used as the current travel document
Keep both together during:
- airline check-in
- boarding
- transit
- immigration inspection
Explain the situation clearly if asked.
What if your name changed in the new passport?
A name change can complicate travel with an old visa.
Possible reasons include:
- marriage
- divorce
- legal name change
- corrected spelling
Some authorities may accept supporting evidence. Others may require a new visa or updated record.
Do not assume that carrying a marriage certificate automatically solves the issue.
Check the visa issuer's rule before travel.
What if your nationality changed?
If the old and new passports are from different countries, the old visa may not remain usable under rules that require the passports to match.
This can occur after naturalization or acquisition of another citizenship.
For U.S. travel, official guidance specifically refers to using the old and new passports from the same country in the standard two-passport situation.
What if your passport number changed?
Passport renewal normally produces a new passport number.
For a physical visa, the destination may permit the old visa to remain valid in the old passport. For an eVisa or digital permission, however, you may need to update the passport number in an online immigration account before traveling.
This is increasingly important as more countries use digital travel permissions.
Digital visas and old passports
An electronic visa is often linked to the passport number used in the application.
If you renew the passport, check whether you must:
- update passport details online
- apply for a new eVisa
- carry both passports
- contact immigration support
Do this before airline check-in.
What airlines may check
Airlines can be required to confirm that passengers have acceptable travel documents before boarding.
If your visa is in an old passport, the airline may need to verify that the destination accepts the two-passport arrangement.
Arrive with enough time for document checks and keep official guidance available if the situation is unusual.
Transit can create a second problem
Even if the final destination accepts your visa in an old passport, a transit country may have its own visa and passport rules.
Check every transit point for:
- transit visa requirement
- airside vs landside transit
- passport validity
- whether the old visa creates any exemption
Do not check only the final destination.
A pre-travel checklist
Before using a visa in an old passport, confirm:
- the visa has not expired
- the visa has not been canceled or revoked
- the visa is not damaged
- the new passport is valid
- both passports meet the issuer's conditions
- your name and identity details are acceptable
- any digital record is updated
- transit rules are satisfied
When should you apply for a new visa instead?
A new visa may be necessary if:
- the issuer requires replacement after passport renewal
- the visa is damaged
- the old passport was lost or stolen
- the visa category is no longer appropriate
- personal details changed in a way that requires reissuance
- the digital visa is tied to an old passport and cannot be updated
Only the issuing authority can confirm whether replacement is required.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to common questions, with important conditions kept in context.
Can I travel with an expired passport if the visa inside is valid?
You generally still need a current valid passport. Some countries permit you to carry the expired passport only as the holder of the valid visa, together with the new passport.
Is a U.S. visa still valid in an expired passport?
U.S. Department of State guidance says it can generally remain usable if the visa is valid and undamaged and the traveler also carries a suitable new passport meeting the stated conditions.
Can I cut the visa out and move it to my new passport?
No. Do not remove or alter a visa. U.S. guidance specifically warns against removing the visa from the old passport.
Do I need to update an eVisa after getting a new passport?
Possibly. Digital immigration systems often link permission to passport details. Check the issuer's official update procedure.
What if my old passport was lost?
Report the loss and contact the visa issuer. Do not assume the visa remains usable merely because it had not expired.
Final advice
A valid visa in an expired passport can sometimes still be useful, but the rule belongs to the country that issued the visa.
Check official guidance before booking or boarding. If the destination permits two-passport travel, keep the old passport with the intact visa and the new valid passport together throughout the journey.