What is a multiple-entry visa and how does it work?
A multiple-entry visa lets you enter and exit a country multiple times during the visa's validity. Learn how it differs from single-entry visas and how to get one.
Updated
Quick answer: A multiple-entry visa lets you enter and exit a country multiple times during the visa's validity period. You do not need to apply for a new visa each time you visit, as long as each individual stay falls within the permitted duration.
What is a multiple-entry visa?
A multiple-entry visa (MEV) authorizes you to enter a country as many times as you want during the visa's validity period. Each individual visit must not exceed a maximum allowed duration - commonly 30, 60, or 90 days.
For example, a 1-year multiple-entry visa with a 90-day stay limit lets you enter the country several times over 12 months, with each visit lasting up to 90 days. Leaving and re-entering does not always reset the clock: in the Schengen area, all your days are counted together, up to 90 in any 180-day period, however many times you enter.
Single-entry vs double-entry vs multiple-entry
| Type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Single-entry | One entry only. The visa expires when you leave. |
| Double-entry | Two entries allowed. After the second exit, the visa is used up. |
| Multiple-entry | Unlimited entries during the validity period, subject to max stay per visit. |
How to request a multiple-entry visa
You must specifically request a multiple-entry visa when you apply. Many consulates issue them to travelers with a strong travel history or a clear reason for multiple visits - such as frequent business travel, family ties in the destination, or proof of ongoing studies or work.
A Schengen visa can be issued for one, two, or multiple entries, always within 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries. Travelers who have used earlier Schengen visas lawfully can be given longer multiple-entry visas step by step.
Common validity periods
Multiple-entry visas typically come in 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, or 5-year validity windows. The Schengen visa is often granted for 1-5 years based on your travel history. Some countries like the US issue 10-year multiple-entry visas.
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Multiple-Entry Visa - FAQ
It means you can enter and leave the country as many times as you like while the visa is valid. Each visit must still respect the maximum stay the country sets, commonly 30, 60 or 90 days. In the Schengen area every day counts towards one total of 90 days in any 180-day period, however often you come and go.
A single-entry visa is used up when you leave, even if dates remain on it. A double-entry visa allows two entries. A multiple-entry visa allows unlimited entries during its validity, as long as each stay keeps within the permitted length. If you plan a side trip to a neighbouring country and back, a single-entry visa will not let you return.
It depends on the country, and you usually have to ask for one when you apply. Consulates mostly grant them to travellers who have used earlier visas properly or have a clear reason to visit often, such as regular business trips, family in the country or ongoing study. A few countries issue them as standard, so check the destination's official visa page.
Usually by building a record of using Schengen visas correctly. Under the EU cascade, three visas lawfully used within two years can lead to a 1-year visa, then a 2-year visa, then a 5-year one, and some nationalities have their own ladder. Consulates still decide each case, and every stay remains limited to 90 days in any 180.
Some travellers can. How long a US visitor visa is valid, and how many entries it allows, depends on your nationality under US reciprocity rules, and for some passports it is 10 years. The officer at the border still decides how long each visit lasts. Check the State Department's reciprocity table for your country before you apply.