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Q: What happens to the visa when I change passports?
I'm fully aware this question has been asked several times but I know laws are changing every day regarding this, so I wondered if anybody had any insight.
I have damaged my passport, which obviously means I need to get a replacement. That is all fine but does anybody know what happens with the visa? Do I need to apply for a new visa, or can I carry the damaged passport for visa purposes and use the new passport for all other purposes? Or is there something completely different that I have to do?
Any intel would be appreciated.
10 years 29 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
The people checking your passport at the borders care about ONE thing. Is the passport fake or not. Therefore, trying to use a damaged passport will not work. E.g. if the photo page is slightly bent they might think it's been tampered with.
You can keep your current visa in your old passport, should not be a problem. If your passport number changes when you get a new passport. Do yourself the favour of having the embassy/consulate issue a document saying the two passport numbers belong to the same person. You've most likely registered several things with your passport, like phone and such.
(Chinese passports numbers and ID cards do not change which is handy for all those who wants to do fraud, so the concept of changing passport numbers does not compute for a Chinese passport checking person)
mArtiAn:
What about a passport that's been put in the microwave? Call me paranoid but I don't like the fact that mine has a microchip in it.
Scandinavian:
I suspect you cannot fry the chip without the plastic coating being damaged. At least you need to be very gentle with the microwaves and then you might not kill the chip.
This past spring I had to get a new passport because my old one was going to expire in September. After I got the new passport I went with a Chinese colleague to the exit/entry bureau of the PSB to see if I needed to get a new visa/residence permit, and was told to just carry both passports until it was time to renew the visa/residence permit. Now that has been done, but I still have to carry both passports when I travel because the old one has the last entry stamp in it.
expatlife26:
Right...as soon as you leave and come back though you don't have to carry both around anymore. So if you take a trip to singapore or HK or something you can rid yourself of the old one.
Nothing happens the visa is still good . The visa is good until it expires regardless if the passport is no longer good. I got my passport renewed in June. The took my old passport punched three paper holes in it. They said every time you leave mainland you need to show them both passports. The new one, and the old one because the old one still has the valid visa in it. I have been to HK three times now, since I got my new passport no problems. Just show them both my passports and wolla!
