Is the UK tourist visa on a damaged Indian passport valid if I get a duplicate passport reissued?
I have applied for the UK tourist visa from Bangalore, India where VFS Global (company that provides several visa processing services like collecting documents and sending them to the UK Consulate) gave me a 'Damage' form because the passport was 'loose' (You can basically see the line of stitching, stitching per se is intact. The situation is similar to the pic here).
Based on me looking around the internet, I have come to know that there shouldn't be a problem with getting the visa. However, there can be an issue with immigration (based on the mood of the immigration officer, (s)he may declare it 'damaged'). So to be 100% sure, I am thinking about getting the passport reissued.
I have two questions,
If I don't get a passport reissued, based on your experience, will the existing passport be considered 'damaged' (do refer to the pic here, note that everything else on the passport is absolutely fine)?
If I do get a fresh passport reissued, will the UK tourist visa on my old 'damaged' passport still be valid? (I do know if a passport 'expires' your valid visa is still valid but how about the visa on a 'damaged' passport?)
PS - I also need a schengen tourist visa which I will be applying for after receiving the UK visa. I am travelling in the first week of November so time is also a constraint.
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Can you get a visa with a damaged passport?
A visa is only valid with the same passport used for its application and approval. If you have to replace that document you will get a new passport number and will need to reapply with the country that previously issued your travel authorization.What happens to visa when passport is damaged?
If your passport is damaged to the extent that it is no longer valid for travel then you have to apply for a new visa in a new passport, and will need to submit both the damaged and new passport when you apply.Can I travel with damaged Indian passport?
As long as your passport is not damaged beyond recognition, that is, if you can read the passport number, the name, and the photo are all legible, you can apply for a reissue under the Tatkaal scheme. The Tatkaal scheme cannot be applied to a passport that has been severely damaged.Can I travel if my passport is damaged?
In fact the Home Office warns: "You must replace your passport if it has more than reasonable wear and tear because you may not be allowed to travel with it." That's because a damaged passport may not be accepted as a valid form of identity for you to use when travelling.What To Do If Passport lost or damaged?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Nataliya Vaitkevich, Porapak Apichodilok, Gustavo Fring, Gustavo Fring