Schengen area travel and transit rules

When possessing temporary residence documents (e.g., a paper proving ongoing residence permit application) and an expired visa, it is strongly recommended to enter the Schengen area directly through France. Border officials in non-Schengen transit countries like Turkey or Armenia may be less familiar with such documents, potentially leading to delays or complications. French border control is generally familiar with their own temporary residence paperwork, facilitating smoother entry. The general rule of 'first country of entry' for Schengen remains applicable.

Traveling from France to Bulgaria with a single-entry French visa and transiting through a non-Schengen country like Istanbul is problematic. Upon departure from Schengen (France), the single-entry visa is considered used. Authorities in transit hubs like Istanbul may deny boarding. It is advised to book flights with connections within the Schengen area (e.g., via Munich) to avoid issues with a single-entry visa.