Help! European visa entry/validity question
 

My friend and I are planning a trip to Spain and France this year. We are thinking of flying into Madrid, join a group tour that takes us from Madrid to Barcelona to south of France and ending in Paris, and then fly home from Paris.

We originally planned the trip for mid-Apr to mid-May, and that's the date my friend put down on her application for a Spanish visa (she holds a Chinese passport). But something came up and we had to delay the trip by a month (May 13 to Jun 1). Now she just got her Spanish visa which is issued from April 15 to May 15 for 30 days. Will she be able to use this visa for the May 13 - Jun 1 trip? Would she have any problems crossing the border over to France (enter France from Spain on May 20)? Or does she need to apply for a new visa?

THANKS A BUNCH IN ADVANCE!!!

It won't even come to that, since your friend will probably be denied entry to Spain on 13 May (as it will be clear that she won't be departing the Shengen zone before 15 May).

So she does need to obtain a new visa.

Moving this thread to the Europe forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

Welcome to FT !!!
I assume that by saying a European visa you mean a Schengen zone visa (which does not cover all of Europe).
unless you have proof that you are leaving the next day, I don't think they will allow her in. In fact, the airlines check that during check-in and will not let her board. My mother's visa was one day short of the departure date and she had to change the return flight, costing her $200.
As far as moving from Spain to France, there is no border check but you may be stopped at anytime.
I would definitely get a new visa.