Visiting Greece with back-to-back Schengen visas (One from Germany, other from Italy)
I have a Schengen Visa issued by Germany, which expire on 11th Jan 2014, and I can remain in the zone till 11th Jan 23.59 PM. I have already visited Germany in the past with this visa, so I can travel whenever in Schengen zone directly from my country (Turkey).
I have a second Schengen Visa issued by Italy, which START on 12th Jan 2014, such that I can remain in Schengen zone from 12th Jan 00.00 AM onwards (I'm putting times to clarify which dates are inclusive).
I would like to travel to Greece with this visa: Entering the country on 6th January, and leaving the country on 19th January.
Is this allowed? Or do I have to leave the country first, and then re-enter through Italy?
Best Answer
Staying in the area on two back-to-back visas is completely legit and is in fact discussed in the Handbook for the processing of visa applications and the modification of issued visas:
Example: A Moroccan lawyer representing a gender equality NGO who frequently participates in meetings in various Member States holds a multiple-entry-visa which expires on 31.5. She applies for a new visa on 15.4.
If a new visa is issued, it should be valid from 1.6. and in such a case the visa holder would be entitled to enter the territory of the Member States on the basis of the first visa that will expire during the stay and leave on the basis of the new visa.
Entering through Italy is not needed either but it's a little odd to have applied there if your next trip was to Greece (are you expecting to visit Italy regularly in the future perhaps?). It's not relevant in this case since you had the visa already but the Italian consulate could (should?) have refused to issue it.
That said, as Karlson wrote in his comment, it's a bit of a corner case so border guards might be unaware of the rules.
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