Schengen Visa delivered by France and Proof of Accommodation, but difficulties traveling within Schengen area

Schengen Visa delivered by France and Proof of Accommodation, but difficulties traveling within Schengen area - Facade of contemporary hotel and residential house in Paris

My Thai girlfriend has a Schengen Visa with multiple entries delivered by France, with a Proof of Accommodation (Attestation d'Accueil) with my family in France. We made a side trip to Portugal and flew back from Lisbon to Basel-Mulhouse airport. There was control at Basel-Mulhouse by the French immigration police control (although France, Portugal, and even Switzerland are all Schengen countries).

The police stated that the Proof of Accommodation was not valid anymore as my girlfriend had traveled outside of France, and held us up for 1/2 an hour. Fortunately, maybe, my girlfriend had entered Schengen initially via Vienna and the Austrian police had not stamped the Proof of Accommodation (ignored by them because it was a French document?). So the French police at Basel-Mulhouse put a stamp on the document and eventually allowed my girlfriend into France.

This raises questions. Although we had made similar trips around Schengen countries several times before with no issue whatsoever, there is clearly a risk.

Imagine the hypothetical situation as follows:

  • A foreigner has a Schengen Visa issued by France, and is accommodated by a family in France:
  • that family says "let's go for a weekend to Amsterdam (or Berlin, or Rome or wherever else within Schengen);
  • there is a police control at the border coming back from that weekend to Amsterdam (or etc etc);
  • the police declares that the Proof of Accommodation document has already been stamped when entering France at the start of the visit, and therefore is not valid anymore;
  • the foreigner is not allowed to return to France.

Would that not be totally ridiculous and completely against the well-known principle that with a Schengen visa, one is allowed to travel freely within all Schengen countries?






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Schengen Visa delivered by France and Proof of Accommodation, but difficulties traveling within Schengen area - Green trees growing near old house in city residential district
Schengen Visa delivered by France and Proof of Accommodation, but difficulties traveling within Schengen area - Narrow pedestrian street between old residential buildings at twilight
Schengen Visa delivered by France and Proof of Accommodation, but difficulties traveling within Schengen area - Narrow cobblestone pedestrian passage between old apartment buildings with burning electric lights in windows at twilight



Can I change my hotel after getting Schengen Visa?

The Schengen visa means the visa is for the Schengen area; otherwise it will be called a country-specific visa. There is no requirement to enter first to the country who issued you visa and hence no hotel change issue.

How do I prove my accommodation in France?

Proof of accommodation This can take the form of a hotel booking or an accommodation certificate supplied by a person hosting the foreign national in their home. The host must apply in person to the town hall in their place of residence, signing Cerfa form no. 10798*03.

How do I prove my visa accommodation?

This proof/certificate/letter can either be a:
  • Hotel booking,
  • Host invitation \u2013 if you are planning to stay over at friends or family members/relatives,
  • Confirmation by an organized tour operator or holiday tours, or.
  • Rental agreement / contract.


  • What are the reasons for rejection of Schengen Visa?

    Your Schengen visa will be denied if the authorities believe you cannot afford your travel and living expenses in the Schengen area. In order for you visa application to be successful, you must successfully demonstrate that you can afford food, housing, travel, and all other costs associated with their trip.



    France Denied/refused/deport to give entry on valid Schengen visa




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Maria Orlova, Julia Volk, Maria Orlova, Maria Orlova