Consecutive Schengen visas in passport for overlapping trip

Schengen Visas
1

Hi everyone, I currently have a valid French multi-entry Schengen visa that expires on June 20th. I have a trip planned that runs from June 15th to July 5th, primarily in Italy. Because the French visa doesn’t cover the full duration, I applied for a new visa at the Italian consulate. They granted it, and it is valid starting June 21st.

So now, I physically have two valid visa stickers in my passport. Can I hold two valid Schengen visas at the same time like this? I am worried about whether I need to leave the Schengen area and re-enter on June 21st to “activate” the new one, or if I can just stay through the transition. Has anyone navigated this specific overlap before?

2

Realizing this is not about holding two conflicting visas for the same dates, but rather consecutive validity coverage…

3

@indra_travel No need to worry — this is allowed.

You can have two Schengen visas in your passport as long as their validity dates don’t overlap. Your French visa is valid until 20 June, and your Italian visa starts on 21 June, so there is no issue.
Just carry your passport with both visas and enjoy your trip.