All passport answersRenewal
What happens to the visas in my old passport when I renew?
By Tom Jones
Editor-in-Chief, PassportOfficesLast reviewed Editorial policy
Short answer
What happens to visas in my old passport?
When you renew, the State Department cancels your old passport and usually returns it to you. A valid foreign visa inside it often stays usable if you travel with both the old and new passports, but only the country that issued the visa can confirm that.
Next step
Open the Passport renewal guide
Actionable steps, requirements, and tools to move forward.
Key takeaways
- Your old passport is mailed back separately, so keep it.
- Carry both passports when using a visa from the old one.
- Check with the embassy of the country that issued the visa.
- Some countries require the visa to be transferred or reissued.
Full answer
The canceled passport has holes punched or corners clipped, but the visa page itself is not voided by the U.S. government.
Rules differ by country. Contact that country's embassy or consulate before you travel.