travel on two passports

How to Travel with Two Passports: The Stress-Free Flying Guide

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by Michela

You’ve gotten dual citizenship – yay! There’s something so satisfying about finally having your second passport in hand. But how do you actually travel with two passports ? When do you show what and what are the rules to follow?

While traveling with two passports should not be difficult, it can be intimidating the first few times you do it. You don’t want to make a mistake and get into any trouble!

To provide the clearest explanations possible, I’m going to use examples, many of them being from my own situation as a US and EU citizen. If you have any questions about your specific situation, please leave them in the comments so I can help!

You can read more about how I got my Italian dual citizenship .

Traveling With Two Passports: FAQs, Answered

How can you get two passports.

A person can apply for a passport in any country in which they have citizenship. If you were born a dual citizen, you likely can apply at any time. But you can also obtain dual citizenship in other ways, most commonly through ancestry, naturalization, and marriage. Once you’ve obtained dual citizenship, you should be able to apply for your passport right away, but you’ll have to check your country’s specific rules.

It’s important to note that every country has different policies on this (and it’s important to note that all the information in this article may vary depending on the country in question.) Always check official rules, which can usually be found on government websites, regarding if dual citizenship is allowed and their rules on traveling with two passports.

Is traveling with two passports allowed?

Yes. And people can even have more than two! It’s usually advantageous to have multiple passports (if your home country allows it). Having a second passport allows you to choose which one makes your entry into a foreign country easier and you’ll likely have shorter lines to wait in.

Do dual citizens need to travel with both passports?

No, you are not required to have both passports on you when you travel – just the one you are using. In my case, if traveling back and forth from the United States and the European Union (EU), I need both because I enter and leave the EU as an EU citizen and enter and leave the USA as a US citizen. Scroll to find detailed definitions of “entering” and “exiting.”

I highly suggest always bringing both passports with you when you travel, even if you don’t plan on using one of them. This assures that if you run into any trouble, you have all your documentation on hand and can explain your situation as a dual citizen. Follow these other international travel tips for a smooth experience.

Can you enter a country on one passport and exit on another?

No. The way that countries track whether or not you have overstayed your visa or the amount of days you’re allowed to stay there is based on what passport you used.

So, for example, if you enter the EU on an American passport, but then exit on an EU passport, then “on file” it will seem as though you never left the EU because they’ve seen you entered on an American passport.

Some countries do not stamp passports, which would then imply it doesn’t matter which you show. But to avoid trouble, the number one rule for traveling with two passports is to keep it consistent.

Defining “Entering” and “Exiting” a Country

The reason why I want to define these terms is that their messaging can get confusing in the context of the full flight journey.

This is because there is not just one stop where you show the passport you’re traveling with and move on. There are multiple passport control stops that can make you doubt which passport you are supposed to use.

Entering a country is when you land and you go through passport control. You will enter your destination country, but you will also re-enter the country that you are returning to. And this may cause you to use two different passports on the same journey.

For example, I am an EU and US citizen. If I travel to the US, I will use my American passport. But when I re-enter the EU, I will present my EU passport because I want to be considered an EU citizen in the EU.

The same goes for leaving a country. I will leave the EU on my EU passport, the same I used to enter it. And when I leave the US, I will present my US passport; the same I used to enter it.

Step-By-Step Flying Guide with Two Passports

Booking Your Flight: How to Choose Which Passport To Use

The first point where you will need to decide on which passport to use when traveling is when you go to book a flight. The main factors you will want to consider when choosing which to use are:

• Destination country’s laws . Your destination country may have certain laws about which passport you can use, usually if it’s the country from which you have citizenship. For example, US citizens must enter and leave the US using their US passport . So even if you are a dual citizen of another country, you don’t have the choice to use that passport to enter the US.
• Ease of visa requirements . The benefit to having two passports is that you can choose which one allows you to enter a country more easily. For example, if I’m traveling to Venezuela, I would choose to use my EU passport. With my EU passport, I don’t need to apply for a visa, whereas with the US passport I would have to apply for a visa, pay for it, and do the entire waiting process for it to be granted. These visa requirements are all based on agreements between the countries regarding the visitor’s nationality, length of stay, reason for visiting, etc.

Part of the booking and online check-in process can also get muddy when they ask for nationality. Dual nationals should always put the nationality that goes with whatever passport they are traveling on.

Airport Check-In

When you check in for your flight, you will present the passport that you used to buy the ticket. The airline wants to see the passport information match up and they want to know you have valid entry to your destination country.

At Security Check

You will present the passport associated with your ticket. Again it makes sense, as the agents all want to see that the information is consistent and that you won’t have problems entering the destination country.

At Passport Control When Departing

When you go through passport control after having checked in and gone through security, you will then present whichever passport you used to enter the country you are currently in. So, if I am in Italy, I would present my Italian passport.

Now, for example, if I have a connecting flight from Italy somewhere in the EU on my way to the US, I will not go through passport control in Italy. I will go through passport control at the last EU country I am traveling from.

Arriving At The Destination

When you go through the immigration check at your destination, you’ll present the passport you used on your ticket to fly there. This makes sense, as its the passport that is allowing you entry into the country.

Departing From The Destination

Same as when you arrive, you’ll show the passport you used to enter the country.

Returning Home/Re-entering Departing Country

So, now when you go through border control after your return journey, you will present which passport is most advantageous for you to enter that country with. Remember, this is the passport you will then use to leave this country the next time you take an international flight.

If I’m an EU citizen returning to the EU, then I will use my EU passport.

Final Thoughts

Traveling with two passports is not difficult, but it can be intimidating. It’s hard enough trying to travel stress-free and now it’s a whole new world with two passports in hand!

Now when you travel with two passports you will be a pro!

Michela is a travel writer and photographer living in northern Italy. She is passionate about helping people make the most of their travels by sharing advice gained from her personal experiences, off-the-beaten-path destinations and time-saving quick itineraries. Browse her top articles or have her help you plan your itinerary to your dream destination!

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Hi Michela. My name is Hans i have both Nicaraguan and German Citizenships.

I was born in Nicaragua and in the beginning of the year i booked a flight from Nicaragua to Amsterdam with my Nicaraguan passport, nevertheless, a month ago i obtained my first German passport.

My concern lies in that as a nicaraguan citizen i obtain both my father and mother last names while under the german legislation my second last name (my mother’s) is eliminated.

The Nicaraguan government obligates me to book my flight with my Nicaraguan passport that has the two last names (which i did back in the beginning of the year) and the info has to correlate with an exit authorization form that i have to fill about 48 hours prior to leaving. If it is not identical i can have issues.

So where i see the problem is that when i enter Paris which is my connecting flight to Amsterdam and go through inmigration my ticket will have my two last names and my German passport only one last name. Do you think that inmigration will understand if i explain them my situation? I strongly feel that the correct thing would be to enter the EU with my EU passport but i am afraid of running into trouble. I would appreciate you insight. Thank you!

I totally understand your fear because there is no way to contact anyone you’ll encounter at immigration before you arrive. I do believe you are correct that you should enter the EU with your EU passport.

Airlines are most concerned with seeing that you are allowed to enter the country that you are traveling to. For example, I was returning to Italy from the US and had flights booked with my US passport. The airline in the US asked me if I had proof I could travel to Italy and that’s when I showed my Italian passport and everything was fine.

And when I do arrive back in Italy, I just use my Italian passport and go through the e-gates. I don’t think you will be asked to show your ticket and passport if you enter through the e-gates since you are an EU citizen.

My best advice would be to try to email the Paris customs and get a response back in writing of what they advise you to do because then you can print that email and have it as a backup document (depending on what they write to you) that justifies your actions! You may even want to do the same and contact Amsterdam customs.

I hope this helps and that you have a smooth trip!

How do you answer visa questions about where you were born when traveling with second passport? I have a US passport and a Costa Rica by investment passport. I am unsure on some of the questions on the visa applications. Thanks for any help you can give me.

I believe the way you answer visa application questions is all based on which passport allows you to most easily enter/obtain that visa. I would keep all the information the same so once you choose one passport to fill out the application with, only input information related to that passport. Of course I know that filling out paperwork can be really confusing because they don’t allow you to explain your whole story, but I believe you should be okay if you fill out the paperwork in this way!

I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!

Hi Michaela,

I have both a US passport and Thai passport. I was in Thailand on my US passport and went to Europe. I left Thailand and entered Europe on my American passport. However, when I came back to Thailand I left Europe on my American passport and entered Thailand on my Thai passport. Now I want to travel to Australia but I am in Thailand (entered using my Thai passport). For visas, it is much easier to enter Australia on my US passport. Is it this correct, I purchase my ticket using my US passport even though they have no record of me in the country with US passport? And when I get to border control in Thailand I show them my Thai passport and when I arrive in Australia I show them my US passport?

When I leave Australi should I book on my US passport, correct?

Kind regards,

First I just want to say that since I don’t have these two kinds of passports and have not personally experienced this travel route, I always recommend trying to get in contact with the border police in order to confirm your situation and receive an answer directly from them.

Now, from my experience, you are exactly right. The airline is concerned about whether you will be allowed into your destination country, whereas the border police are looking to make sure you are entering and exiting a country on the same passport.

So, you should book everything related to your Australia visit on your US passport. Show your Thai passport to the border police in Thailand upon exiting and re-entering, but give your US passport to the airline agents so they can check you are eligible to enter Australia and that all info matches and also to the border police in Australia when you enter and depart that country.

If on your way back to Thailand the airline agents are questioning whether you can return (since they are looking at your US passport), you should be able to also show them your Thai passport so that they know you are allowed to enter that country. It once happened that I booked my flights to and from the US on my US passport (since that is the law, even though I’m in the EU on my EU passport) and while checking in for my return flight to Italy, the agent asked me if I had proof that I could go back there. I then just told her I am a dual citizen and showed my Italian passport as well and all was fine.

Like I said, if you can get confirmation from border police agents that this works for your situation, all the better. It’s my go-to strategy, as written confirmation by email is hard to refute. I hope this information was helpful and that you have a safe and smooth trip!

Hi , thanks for this. I have two passports and both are visa free to enter EU for 90days /180z I wanted to enter EU after the first 90 days with the first passport. Can I use the second passport to reenter with this 180 days limits? they check stamps only? Do they have electronic system to know it’s me the same person?

I’m nearly 100% certain that border police do cross-reference your passports if you are a dual citizen and that you can risk a fines/other penalties trying to enter with another passport to avoid the 180 day limit!

My daughter has UK and Spanish passports. My question is over what you say above: “When you check in for your flight, you will present the passport that you used to buy the ticket. The airline wants to see the passport information match up and they want to know you have valid entry to your destination country.” but then when arriving in the UK “When you go through the immigration check at your destination, you’ll present the passport you used on your ticket to fly there. This makes sense, as its the passport that is allowing you entry into the country.”. If she uses her SPANISH passport to BUY the ticket and CHECK IN in in Spain, why should she not use the UK passport once she arrives in London and when she leaves?

So, if your daughter is flying to the UK from Spain, I would assume she should buy her ticket with her UK passport, which would be the passport she shows to airline agents and immigration officers in the UK!

Meanwhile if she is flying to Spain from the UK she would do the opposite – buy the ticket to Spain with the Spanish passport and show that to the airline agents and the immigration officers once she lands in Spain.

Does that make more sense? I hope it helps!

Very helpful, thanks.

I’m happy you have found it useful!

I have both Taiwan and New Zealand passport. I’m going to China end of the year. I book my flight ticket with my Taiwan passport because i don’t required visa to go in. But the last time I enter nz I’m using my nz passport, so is that ok if I show the border police my New Zealand passport even tho my ticket is under my Taiwan passport ?

And when I’m leaving China n going back to New Zealand , which passport I should use to book my flight ?

You could almost think of the airline agents and the border police agents as separate parts of your journey. The main priority of the airline agents is to see that you are allowed in the country to which you are traveling, which is why you are correct in that you should book your ticket with and show the airline agents your Taiwan passport.

The border agents want to make sure you are entering and exiting the country on the same passport, which is why you would show them your New Zealand passport when leaving New Zealand. If you showed your Taiwan passport, they would see you entered New Zealand with one passport and left on another, which means they don’t know where you are/can’t track you and this could cause problems in your future international travels.

I also have never traveled to China or New Zealand, so I always encourage people to try to get in contact with the country’s border police before traveling if something seems unclear. I have done this before with other countries’ border police and I will usually print their email response to me about what I should do and bring that to the airport with me so that I feel confident while traveling.

When booking your return flight, as I mentioned, it is best to book with the passport that allows you access to the country you are traveling to. Now, I, for example, have booked a roundtrip flight US-Italy all on my US passport after I had spent about a year in Italy. When I went to check in for my return flight to Italy, I gave the airline agent my US passport since that is what I used for the roundtrip ticket and the airline agent asked me if I had proof that I was allowed to return to Italy (since you can only stay there for 3 months as a US citizen every 180 days) and I simply showed her my Italian passport. Everything went fine!

I hope I was able to explain myself clearly and that this has been helpful!

Hello. Say I am an Indian citizen with an Indian passport in the US and have a green card. Over time I obtain US Citizenship and Passport. Now India does not allow dual citizenship.

Now say just have obtaining my US Passport, I have to travel to India for an emergency, can I present my Indian Passport to enter and then exit India. Does anybody in India check in any system that I am a US Citizen now?

Since I have no personal experience with these types of passports and visas, I would highly recommend you reach out to your local consulate to get clarity on the situation. Safe travels!

Hi Micheala, My son has an Irish passport and a US passport. He was born in the US. I was born in Ireland. He will be studying abroad in Spain from 9/22 to 12/17. Under 90 days so no visa required. He will fly to london beforehand on Sept 3 to visit my sister, and also fly to Ireland to visit my brother. A total of 18 days before flying to Spain. It’s his first time abroad alone so I’m kind of worried about passport use and visas. I know he was told he didn’t need the visa to study in Spain because it’s under 90 days, and he has an Irish passport, but he has those added days in london and Ireland. Would you be able to take us through passport use for his trip? He will leave The US on the US passport. Should he use that same one to enter london? I think that is the correct one. He will flys to Ireland for a short visit, and then back to london. For this he will use his Irish passport. When he leaves london on 9/22 for his stay until 12/17 which passport is best? Ireland and England are not belong to Schengen Area so you are only allowed the same 90 days with no visa as a US citizen. (But you can leave and come back again on the Irish passport) 12/17 he flys Seville to Portugal to connect with his US flight home Im concerned, as he enters and leaves Seville that it will all go correctly. I’m anxious that some one will not let him in somewhere. I believe has to make sure he gets stamped everywhere along the way. When he returned to the US, does he need to primarily show the border patrol stamps in his US passport showing; that he arrived in london, departed london, arrived Seville, departed Seville, arrived Portugal, departed Portugal, arrive chicago? I know any flights to Ireland or EU countries, while studying abroad, he will use his Irish passport. But the trip listed above is his round trip in and out of the US. I hope this makes sense. Thank you.

Hi Vivienne!

I completely understand why you are nervous, as traveling with two passports can definitely be confusing.

I believe he could use the Irish or the US passport to enter London, as long as he uses that same one when he leaves London to go to Spain.

When entering and leaving Spain, since both passports have the same stipulations of 90 days no visa required, he should be fine to use either one, again as long as the one he chooses is the same one that he leaves Spain with.

I remember in London, and now in many places in Europe, there are e-gates where you scan your passport and you don’t receive a stamp, but this has never given me issues when returning to the US. I believe he can choose to see a border control agent for a stamp but it could also depend on the airport.

As long as he enters and exits each country using the same passport (enters and exits Ireland on the Irish passport, enters and exits US on the US passport, etc.) then he should be fine!

When he goes from Seville to Portugal, he should only have to cross border authorities in Portugal since the flight from Seville to Portugal is an EU flight. It’s when he is leaving the EU that he would have to cross border control.

I always encourage reaching out to a country’s border control authorities, as most will respond to emails, and traveling with that response to lessen the anxiety!

I hope this has been helpful – since I don’t have personal experience with both these types of passports, I can only say what I believe are the best practices, so like I said, if you can reach out to border authorities to ask your question, this is best!

I hope your son has a nice, smooth trip!

Hi, thanks for the guide. I am a US citizen who recently obtained an EU passport. I am traveling soon to Turkey from the US, and want to use my EU passport so I won’t need a visa (unlike with the US passport). The part that confuses me is the airline check-in. You linked to the State Dept. site which effectively says, “US citizens must enter and leave the US using their US passport.”

But if I am entering Turkey with my EU passport, shouldn’t I use the EU passport to book the ticket and check-in? If I use my US passport to book the flight, would I encounter problems when I try to go through Turkish customs with my EU passport? I assume the airline shares its passenger list, and I would show up as a US citizen. Or does that not matter? Also, the US has no passport exit control, so it seems like it shouldn’t matter on the US end either way.

I understand that when coming back to the US, I will show my EU passport to go through Turkish exit control (same as I entered), and my US passport for my return flight. But normally when you book a round-trip flight, you enter your passport information once when purchasing. What do I do if I want to use my EU passport to book/board the flight to Turkey and then fly back to the US with my US passport?

Thank you for the help!

You should book your flight with your EU passport since that’s the passport that is allowing you visa-free entry to Turkey. You will show the EU passport to the airline agent to check in and at border control entering and leaving Turkey.

When they say to enter and exit the US on your US passport, this refers to the passport you will show at border control when coming into and leaving the US. I don’t know exactly what gets shared, but basically you can think of the airline agents and border control as two separate entities. Airlines want to know you’ll be allowed into your destination country (hence booking with the EU passport) and border control want to make sure you are entering and leaving on the same passport (US passport shown entering and exiting the US; EU passport shown entering and exiting Turkey.)

As far as how to handle the passport booking information for the return flight, this was my experience: when I was traveling back to Italy from the US, I had already booked my roundtrip flight with the US passport details. The airline agent noticed that I wouldn’t be allowed back in Italy on my US passport since I had technically overstayed as a US citizen and all I had to do was explain I was a dual citizen, show the Italian passport and everything was fine as soon as she saw that I would be allowed into Italy. So, even if you have the EU passport details on the ticket, if you show them you are a US citizen and will therefore be allowed into the US, there shouldn’t be a problem.

I always recommend reaching out to border control/the airline agents with your personal situation as they will best be able to shed light on the correct procedure! I know sometimes it can be difficult to get a response, but it’s always worth a try.

I hope that I explained this well enough but don’t hesitate to ask any more questions for clarity!

I am a US and EU citizen, residing in NY. Never traveled on both before, but I am going to travel from JFK to LHR and will. From what I understand: Book tickets in the US provide US passport info to the airline and present your US passport at the gate at JFK. Upon arriving in London present EU passport at Border Control. On the return (as with the US there is no exit check) present the US passport to the airline and again at entry at Passport Control (Global Entry) in JFK. My question is doesn’t the airline tell Border Control in the UK that John Doe, US citizen is coming? and when John Doe, EU citizen shows up, won’t that cause an issue?

I don’t know exactly what happens on the other end – but I can tell you that from what I do know, airline agents care that you will be allowed in your destination country and border control cares that you are entering and exiting their country on the same passport.

You’re completely correct to show the US passport at the border control exit and entry at JFK. From what it sounds like, it may make more sense for you to just use the US passport also during your visit to England if it gives you the same entry requirements. If you prefer to use the EU passport entering England, you’ll show this to the border control exit and entry at LHR (which I am pretty sure are just E-gates now).

What will cause problems is if you enter the UK on an EU passport and then leave the UK on a US passport (by this I mean showing your EU passport to LHR border patrol when entering and then showing your US passport to LHR border control when leaving). Then border control sees that there is something inconsistent. So, while I don’t know what information is shared, this is how I have traveled between the US and Italy with two passports without yet encountering a problem having contacted the authorities to understand how to use my two passports correctly. I also recommend you do the same if you have any doubts! Border control authorities in the destination country usually have an email you can contact and that is the best resource for asking specific questions related to that country’s entry regulations.

I hope I explained myself well and that you have a smooth trip!

I went on my trip, skipped the online check-in and such, and asked at the airline desk. The agent had no clue, and called someone over who knew precisely what to do:

At JFK I checked in with my EU passport (next time, I’ll do this at one of the kiosks, you slide your passport in and it gets read). My boarding pass included Pre TSA (with KTN info Delta already has). At the TSA security, I presented my US passport. When boarding the flight I gave my EU passport and utilized my EU passport at LHR, and when I headed to France on the train. Returning, I again skipped the online check (because Delta had no way to update the passport info on the web to add my US passport, I had assumed it was populated with my EU passport info from the trip over) and I check in at a kiosk with the US passport and presented it again at the gate and at JFK Global Entry point.

Worked seamlessly and painlessly and next year I’ll be able to avoid the EU ETIAS.

I’m so glad someone was able to give you such specific instructions! You did everything right and thank you for sharing your experience so others can also learn from it!

Hi Bob can you please elaborate which passport did you book your flights with? Sounds like you checked in with the airline using your EU passport on the first leg but then you used your US passport to check in on your return leg. If your flights are on one itinerary, how is it possible to present two different passports to the airline? Thank you.

Thank you so much for this incredibly helpful information Michela! I read several other articles prior to this one and was still confused but you cleared everything up for me.

I’m in a very similar situation as you, an American who has obtained his Italian citizenship through ancestry. I’m currently in Italy at the moment and we are about to depart for the US in three days. I started to get concerned as I used my US passport to check into my flight when departing the US but then used my Italian passport to go through control after landing in Italy. I wasn’t sure which passport to use when departing Italy (actually, as we fly first to Paris then I’ll be using it there) and then again when arriving in the US but you perfectly made things clear to me.

I feel much more confident now so again a big thank you!

Hi Lance, I’m so glad you found it helpful! It can be so confusing and once you figure out the steps, they’re still a bit confusing to explain and understand. I’m happy I was able to explain it clearly! Have a wonderful trip!

Hi! I’m a Canadien citizen and I have my Belgian citizenship. I’m going to study abroad in Germany for 4 months but I currently live in Canada. This is what I understand : 1) Book my flight to Europe with my Canadien passport. 2) Show my EU passport when I’m at the borders in Europe (so I don’t have to show a visa to study). 3) Book my flight back with my Canadien passport. So, if I understand correctly, I book all my flights leaving and returning to Canada with my Canadien passport but when I arrive in Europe, I only show my European passport. Is that right?

At the border, if I only show my EU passport, will they ask to see my bording pass to be sure everything is matching or they won’t care because I’m a EU citizen?

Thank you! 🙂

Hi Claudia! First I just want to say since I don’t personally hold these two kinds of citizenship, I always recommend reaching out to local border authorities to get any important questions answered and cleared up. From what I know from my own personal experience and research, this is what I think: 1) You can book your flight to Europe with whatever passport allows you to remain in your destination country. So, you could book your flight with the EU passport, the important thing would be to show your Canadian passport to Canadian passport control as you “exit” Canada and make your way to Europe. 2) Yes I believe this works. 3) Yes exactly since this is the passport that allows you into Canada.

And then when you “exit” Europe, you show your European passport to the border control in Europe. When you re-enter in Canada, you show your Canadian passport to “enter” Canada.

I’ve never been asked for the boarding pass while entering the EU on my EU passport. You will likely go through the electronic gate where you scan your passport and they do a biometric check!

I hope this helps!

Thanks a lot for the travel tips!

I have a question regarding my situation, i have a Dominican Republic passport with an American Visa and a Spanish passport.

Im going to Dubai but I have to Stop in the USA and I’m a little bit stressed about what to do, why?

Scenario 1: Booking with Dominican passport and USA Visa.

1) I book the ticket with the Dominican Passport because i have my USA Visa there. And I do a check-in in the Dominican Republic. 2) In the Dominican customs I will present my Dominican passport. 2)In USA Customs I will enter with my USA visa and Dominican passport 3) I Spent a (1) day in the USA 4) By the time I have to do a check-in again to travel to Dubai I have to present my Dominican Passport but they will request a VISA and I dont need a visa with the Spanish Passport to enter Dubai, can I show in the counter my Spanish passport to the airline? 5) Customs USA will present My Dominican passport. 6) Then I have to enter Dubai with my Spanish Passport (Dont need a visa) 7) When returning i have to leave Dubai with the Spanish and then enter USA with the Dominican passport.

Scenario 2: Booking with Spanish passport

1) I book the ticket with the Spanish Passport 2) At the check-in with the airline in the Dominican Republic they will request to me an ESTA (A permit to enter the USA) but I won’t have it because I have my Visa in the Dominican, can i show my Dominican to the airline? 3) In the USA customs I have to present my Dominican passport because of the Visa, but can I do that? Booking and traveling with the Spanish but using the Dominican to enter is a problem? 4) I Spent a (1) day in the USA 5) By the time I have to do a check-in for the Dubai travel i won’t have a problem since i dont need a Visa 6) At USA customs I have to present my Dominican passport to leave the USA 7) In Dubai i have to enter with my Spanish one 8) When returning at the airline check-in they will request to me the ESTA but again i dont have it because I have a Dominican passport. Can i show them my other passport? 9) I have to leave Dubai with the Spanish one 10) I have to enter the again USA with the Dominican one.

I believe which scenario you do will depend on if you are booking the trip with Dubai as your final destination or if you are booking the trips as two separate legs – one leg is the US, then the other separate trip is from US to Dubai.

If it is all booked with Dubai as your final destination, then you should follow the second scenario, proving that you are allowed to enter your final destination visa-free, which is what interests the airlines the most. Then follow the steps that you laid out, using the passport that allows you to enter and exit each country visa-free.

If they are booked as two separate legs, I would recommend the first scenario, proving you are able to stay in the US and then showing your Spanish passport for the second leg, while exiting the US on the Dominican passport.

Honestly, I believe you will be ok in either scenario by explaining to the airline or border agent that you have all the permissions to enter and exit each country that is part of your itinerary, if they even ask you any questions! It happened to me that I was returning to Italy from the US and the ticket was booked under my US passport. The agent asked to see proof that I could travel to Italy (since she could see I had been there previously for more days than the US passport would allow me without a visa) and I was able to show her my Italian passport and explain and it was all settled by that!

I hope this helps and safe travels!

Hi Michela,

How do I retain you as a consultant?

I currently don’t offer any professional passport consultancy services but I can do my best to answer your question based off of my personal experience. You can email me at [email protected] . I however still highly suggest consulting a legal professional for anything regarding passport services!

Hi Michela, Thank you so much for you website info. However, I think I might be in a bad situation. I am looking for some advice. I am a naturalized US Citizen, (however I am originally from Colombia) This week I traveled to help out my father in Colombia. I was planning to only use my US Passport. However, when I arrived the Colombian agent asked be to show both my passports. HE then Stamped my Colombia Passport… (WHICH is Expired)… I never planned to use it. NOW I fear they will not be able to leave with my US Passport. Truly I do not know what to do… I have a family and job waiting for me to return at the end of the week. Any Advice?

Hi Mislady,

Having never been in a similar situation and not having these same two nationalities, I cannot confirm that my advice is completely correct. I can only tell you from personal experience what I think you can do and what I think the situation calls for. The most difficult part is that the Columbian passport is expired, which is where I think you could encounter the most issues.

If it weren’t expired I would tell you to show the US passport to airline agents for your return flight, the Columbian passport to border control to get your exit stamp, and then your US passport upon arrival into the US, so that you enter and exit each country using the same passports. I truly have no idea if the expiry of the passport will affect this situation and unfortunately this is the best I can think of to do having not gone through this myself and not being a legal professional.

If you can, I highly recommend you reach out directly to the border police to explain the situation to get a clear answer! Safe travels and wishing you the best.

Hi there! I have US and Bulgarian passports…and I live in the UK. I am planning a trip to the US soon and I’m very confused as to how to go about it – Do I book the flight with my American passport, which I will also show at the check in desk? But then after going through security I show my EU passport before boarding the flight?

Hi Natalia,

The general rule is to book your flight with the passport that allows you to enter the destination country in the easiest way possible, which is usually considered visa-free. In this case, you should book your trip with the US passport to show the airline you will be allowed in the country. The US passport is what you will show at the check in desk.

When you go to exit the UK aka, go through the border control in the UK, you will show whatever passport you used to enter the UK, which I am assuming in this case is your EU passport. To the airline before boarding the flight, show your US passport since that is what your ticket is booked with.

Once you arrive in the US, since you are a US citizen, you must enter and exit the US with your US passport, meaning the US passport is what you will show to customs/border control in the US.

If you buy your flight roundtrip, it will all be associated with the US passport. If you are asked by the airline on your return trip verification that you are allowed to enter the UK, you can show them your EU passport or UK residency (because of the whole Brexit thing I suggest you to confirm the rules on the official websites.) Once you get back to the UK, you will go through border control showing your EU passport!

It can be confusing and a lot of information at once, but I hope this helps!

Thanks so much for publishing; this is so helpful!

My 17 year old niece has dual US / UK citizenship. She is traveling over the holidays from the US (where she lives) to visit family in the UK.

I understand she needs to show her US passport upon exit from the US and upon entry to the US.

Is there any reason for her to use her UK passport at all? Since US citizens don’t need a visa to visit the UK for < 6 months, it seems easiest to just use her US passport through the whole trip and avoid the confusion.

Is there anything I am missing?

Hi Michelle, The only situation in which she would have to use her UK passport to enter and exit the UK (as far as I am aware) is if the UK requires it by law. For example, if you are a US citizen, you MUST enter and exit the US on your US passport, even if you have another passport that would allow you entry.

I did a quick search and it doesn’t seem like there is this rule but I highly recommend you do your own research/even reach out to a border official in the UK (a lot of times there is an email address for border police that you can contact) in order to get a direct, confirmed answer.

Otherwise if they truly don’t have this rule, then I think you would be ok to just use the US passport throughout. I hope this helps!

Hi! I’ve been reading through your entire blog post, and it is very informative. However, I’m still a bit confused. I have an EU (Polish) and US citizenship. I’m flying to Italy via Paris. From other questions I understand that when checking-in to the US-Italy flight, I should use my EU (Polish) passport, since this gives me hassle-free entrance to the EU. As I leave the US there’s only check of documents to the security belt, and at the boarding gate. So at the security belt I should show my EU passport, and same at the gate, because then they’ll know I can enter EU. Then when I land in Paris I go through the EU citizens gates and then there’s no more control. However, when I fly back, at the check-in for the return flight do I also use the EU passport? Then there will be passport control when leaving EU and at the gate (probably to ensure I can enter the US). Is it only at the gate when leaving the EU that I should show the US passport? Then when I land in the US I would also show the US passport. But then it seems I have not used the US passport at all when leaving the US. So I’m a bit confused – could you help what are your thoughts since you’ve travelled US-Italy? Which passport in the US do you show when you go through the security? Thanks a lot!

When you check in for the return flight, and this is based off of my personal experience, you will show the passport that you used to book the flight under, so the EU passport.

Here’s exactly what happened to me when I was traveling back to Italy from the US after a week stay:

I showed my US passport to the airline agent for my return flight to Italy. She could see that technically I had overstayed in Europe the 90 day visa-free period, but all I had to do was show her the EU passport and she let me through no problem. If something like this happens, as soon as you show them you are a citizen of the US, even if your whole flight is booked under the EU passport, there should be no problem.

So, when leaving the EU, you can still show your EU passport to all airline-related checkpoints and for sure at the exit passport control. If anyone asks, you can show the the US passport so that they know you are able to travel to the US.

When you leave the US, show your EU passport to airline agents since that is what the flight is booked under. If you have an exit passport control in the US, show the US passport. Then when you return and land in the US, you will show the US passport at the control.

I hope this helps makes things a bit clearer and if you have other questions, please let me know!

This is very helpful and thanks so much for posting. I have a slightly more complex situation that I hope you can help with. I have three passports (US, EU and UK) and will soon make a 12 day trip that involves stops in all three regions.

Is the following correct or should I just travel on my US passport for the whole trip?

US to EU – Use US passport EU to UK – Use UK passport UK to EU – Use EU passport EU to US – Use US passport.

Thanks, Jeremy

I always recommend traveling to each destination using the passport that will allow you into the country or zone in the easiest way. Based on your itinerary, I would think you should travel like this:

US to EU – Use EU passport because you will be entering the EU EU to UK – Use UK passport to enter the UK, EU passport when leaving the EU UK to EU – Use EU passport to enter the EU, UK passport to leave the UK EU to US – Use US passport to enter the US, EU passport to leave the EU

Let me know if I can give any more advice on the situation!

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A Guide To Travelling With Two Passports

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I acquired dual citizenship a couple of years ago which meant that recently I started travelling with two passports.

And while I’ve been clear for a very long time about the benefits of obtaining dual citizenship and the flexibility that it allows me, it was only until about a day before my long trip through the Balkans that I realised I actually had no idea about the practicalities of having a second citizenship. I had no idea which passport I should use when booking a flight, checking in or passing through immigration.

So after doing some frantic last-minute research, I went to the airport and showed my foreign passport. What ensued was fifteen minutes of confusion when I showed the airline check-in in Australia my foreign passport. The concierge was left whispering to other staff before finally asking me how I had entered Australia and whether I had a visa to stay in the country.

When I meekly showed him my Australian passport, he shook his head at me like I was an idiot and proceeded to tell me, “In Australia, ALWAYS show your Australian passport.”

I’m sure that I’m not the only one that has experienced confusion or uncertainty as to how to travel with two passports from different countries so I’ve created this step by step guide to ensure that you know exactly which passport to use at each stage of travelling!

Disclaimer: I am not an immigration lawyer and this article is only meant to be used as a guide to travelling with 2 passports based on my own experience. I recommend speaking to the relevant embassy if you want more information on your specific situation. 

Table of Contents

A Guide For Travelling With Two Passports

The below outline which of your two passports to use at each stage of travelling.

1. Booking your flight

When booking your flight, airlines will request you enter your passport information as part of the booking process. For countries where you are required to pass through immigration before departing, you should typically enter the details of the passport which you are using in the country of departure.

For example, as an Australian, I will always use my Australian passport when booking a flight out of Australia.

Apart from travelling from Australia, I have generally found that it doesn’t matter which passport you use to book your flight, particularly if you don’t pass through immigration when exiting the country. For example, in the United Kingdom or the USA, there is no immigration when exiting the country and airlines don’t seem to be concerned with your visa status in the departure country.

In countries that don’t recognise dual citizenship, it would be advisable to book your flight on the passport which you are legally using in the country.

2. Checking in at the airport

Whichever passport you have used to book your flight is the same one that you should show when you check in at the airport. It is, however, worth making sure that you add both passports to your packing list as an airline might request to see proof of onward travel.

For example, if I book a one-way flight to Europe, the airline might request to see a return flight as if you’re not a dual citizen they want to make sure you’re not planning on illegally overstaying your visa.

By showing my European passport it gives the airline evidence that I can stay in Europe without any additional visas.

3. Immigration at your departure airport

The passport that you have used to enter the country is the same one you should be showing immigration when leaving the country.

4. Immigration at your arrival airport

Whichever passport allows you the most hassle-free stay is the one you should show when arriving at your destination. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using one passport to exit a country and then entering on another passport.

Also, it’s worth remembering that most countries require you to use the passport of that country if you are a citizen. So if I’m entering Australia, I should enter on my Australian passport rather than obtaining a visa on my European passport.

Whenever planning a trip, a great website I use is the Compare feature on PassportIndex.Org  for deciding which passport to enter with at my destination.

It allows you to line up different passports next to each other and see how the visa requirements vary for every country around the world. This is a fantastic way to save money and time and ensure that you don’t pay any unnecessary visa fees!

Example Scenarios when Travelling with Multiple Passports

Example 1 – australian and uk dual citizen travelling from sydney to london..

1. Booking your flight – Australian passport

2. Checking in at the airport – Australian passport

3. Immigration at your departure airport – Australian passport

4. Immigration at your arrival airport – British passport

Example 2 – US and EU citizen travelling from Paris to Istanbul.

1. Booking your flight – EU passport

2. Checking in at the airport – EU passport

3. Immigration at your departure airport – EU passport

4. Immigration at your arrival airport – as Americans require an eVisa to enter Turkey but EU citizens can enter visa-free, you should use your EU passport.

Can you have Two Passports?

Citizenship law varies from country to country so your ability to acquire two different passports will depend on the specific laws of the two countries of which you wish to have passports.

For example, certain countries like the US, UK, France, Australia, Canada and Switzerland put no restrictions on dual citizenship and you are able to acquire multiple passports as long as it’s allowed by your second country of citizenship.

Some countries put restrictions on your ability to acquire dual citizenship and have quite complex laws to do with how they recognise dual citizenship.

For example, there are no restrictions for Spanish citizens if acquiring dual citizenship with certain Latin American countries but there are restrictions with other countries. In Germany, there are certain situations where citizens will have to choose between nationalities by a certain age. In Pakistan, dual citizenship is only recognised with certain countries.

Other countries such as China and India don’t recognise dual citizenship at all.

Dual citizenship laws are constantly changing and it’s important to keep up to date if you are a dual citizen or wish to acquire citizenship of a particular country. It’s also important to remember that, when travelling, if a country doesn’t recognise dual citizenship then you might not be able to receive embassy assistance if you have entered that particular country on your other passport.

I, therefore, recommend that travellers consider carefully which passport to use, particularly when travelling in more volatile countries.

Travelling with Two Passports with Different Names

In some situations, different countries might issue you passports with different names due to how the name has been translated or a country wanting to use their native language version of your name.

The first thing to do is to see whether the country that is issuing you your passport can add your regular name as a translated version on the page opposite where your main details are located. This will help prove that the passports have the same identity if you ever need to.

When booking your flight, you should ensure you enter the name as it appears in the passport for which you are purchasing and checking into your flight. This will ensure that when you check in and show your passport, the records match up to when you bought the ticket.

In my experience, it’s not a problem to then enter your destination country with your other passport (even if it has a different name) as immigration isn’t checking details against the airline’s manifest.

As always, try to make sure you travel with both passports in case there are any misunderstandings!

Is Travelling with Two Passports Illegal?

For many people there is nothing illegal about having two passports, however, some countries don’t allow or recognise dual citizenship so you need to look into each country’s specific laws.

For citizens of countries such as the USA, Canada, UK & Australia it is common for many citizens to get a second passport from another country.

Other Things to Consider For Dual Citizens

As previously mentioned, I would also recommend taking both passports with you if you are a dual citizen even if you think you’ll only have the need for one of them. It could be helpful for proving onward travel or in the worst-case scenario having two embassies you could contact should there be an emergency when travelling.

Make sure to also  buy a passport holder that allows you to carry two passports! Many passport holders are unfortunately only designed for people with a single passport which can increase the likelihood of you misplacing your other passport!

Before setting off on any trip, are you considering travel insurance? World Nomads offers flexible and simple travel insurance policies with coverage for more than 150 activities that you can buy or extend while on the road.

Another option if you’re looking to save money is SafetyWing which offers travel medical insurance and is one of the most affordable providers on the market. Click here to get a quote from SafetyWing and also check out our detailed review of their service.

Travelling with two passports is a privilege for people fortunate enough to be able to do so. Hopefully, this guide clears up any confusion as to which passport you should use at different stages of travelling! 

Do you have two passports from different countries? What issues have you encountered on the road with a second citizenship? Let us know in the comments below! 

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About Michael Rozenblit

Michael is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Both solo and with his partner, Maggie, he has travelled to over 50 countries across the globe and has a particular affinity for the Balkans and Eastern Europe. He’s lived in numerous countries worldwide but currently resides in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Read more about Michael

Its a pity you didnt leave the reverse scenarios ? Say you leave UK on US passport and enter Turkey on EU passport what do you do in the reverse senario Do check in with your passport you booked with from the UK ? or the one you arrived on ? Do you switch them around quickly at passport control ?

That would be really helpful to know to people as thats the crucial bit missing.

Hi, I and my kids have dual Serbian and Hungarian (EU) passports.We live in China and our Chinese visas are in our Serbian passports. We plan on traveling to Thailand and am wondering how to go about it as Thailand doesn’t require tourist visas for Hungarian passport holders, however I’ve never traveled with two passports and as I’ll be traveling with kids, I’m a bit concerned.One of my child’s first names is also spelled differently in his passports so that’s another thing.Also, if I book us return tickets, which passport do I use at which point?What I understand is that I should use the passport that let’s me travel with no hassle, however if I buy I return ticket, it will be with our Serbian passports that we used to enter China. But then the same passport will be the one on the return ticket so wouldn’t it be a problem if I enter Thailand with my EU passport, but exit with the Serbian one(as that’s the one I bought the ticket with)?

I’m both citizen from France/Canada I’m planning to go to Paris, France from Canada so if i understand clearly for my round trip , i should follow this:

Canada to France 1/ departing from Canadian airport : always show my Canadian passport 2/ arriving in France, always show my french passport

france to canada 3/ departing from french airport, always show my french passport 4/ arriving in Canada, always show my Canadian passport

i understand i should always be ready to show either my french or canadian passport upon request by the airline staff.

Am i right ?

I have two passports: one is Pakistani, and the second one is from Dominica. If I plan to visit Italy, I will book a ticket from Pakistan to Italy using my Dominica passport, as Italy offers free entry for Dominica passport holders. Now, the question arises: which passport should I present during the boarding and immigration process in Pakistan, and which one should I use when returning from Italy? And while returning back which Passport I do show at Italy at boarding and Immigration. If I show Dominica Passport at Italy boarding then they must ask for Pakistan visa since Pakistan is not visa free for Dominica Passport. So advise what to do? and how to book return ticket?

Hi, I am in mid-process of applying for my three kids’ British Passports. I am British their mum is Japanese and we currently live in Japan. They currently hold New unused 5 year Japanese passports 2028. I have already received one of my twin girls’ British passport already. Am I to understand when they choose to visit family members in the UK 1. they book flights using Jp passport 2. checking-in with Jp passport 3. boarding using B passport 4. entering UK immigration using B passport 5. leaving UK use B passport. 6. Boarding use Jp passport. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Hi I was living in canada as permanent resident and having Indian passport but this month I moved to uk on work permit. Soon I will be going back to canada for my citizenship oath .my question is how I can transfer my work permit from Indian passport to Canadian and where I should get it done in canada or in uk , if in uk on which passport should I travel to uk from canada

my 18 yr old grandson arrived from Australia in June on his Aus passport. His British passport arrived recently. He plans to stay here for about 9 months. We know he has to leave the country by 21st December on his Aus passport to ‘validate’ the 6 months he’s allowed to stay, so we are planning a weekend in Spain. does he have to book 2 single flights because easyjet want the passport numbers. If he shows Spanish immigration his British passport ,the numbers won’t match. We’re a bit confused and would like clarification about leaving and re-entering UK

Thanks for the great info and blog! Also many other readers comments are very helpful.

As a recent dual citizen of the US with a UK passport, what led me here was seeking clarity on DEPARTING other countries for a return trip to the US. No longer having a Green Card or Visa makes returning to the US impossible….as the airline is screening on behalf of US immigration. So, if I flew into a ‘third” country on a UK Passport, I would have no choice but to present my US passport for a return flight to the US. Reading comments here, it seems to me that the only time that this becomes an issue is where I am arriving into a third country with a specific entry / exit visa requirement.

If I was traveling between the US and the UK and used my UK passport to enter the UK and present my US passport for a return to the US, that should not create any issue with my UK passport…..is that accurate?

Thanks again for all your great advice

I have a question if I may.

My mum has a British and Thai Passport but the surname in her Thai Passport is still in her maiden name and the British is in her married name.

So working this out right, it should be British passport leaving UK to Thailand. Enter to Thailand in Thai Passport Leave Thailand on British Passport and enter on UK on British Passport.

Am I correct in this?

My husband and I have dual citizenship (Canada/UK) but our two children have Canadian citizenship (but not a Canadian passport yet) so both currently travel only on their UK Passport. We are entering the USA. In the past, I was told to enter and leave the USA on my UK passport because I was flying with my UK passport dependents. So I have an ESTA for all of us. However, should I not be able to enter on my Canadian passport and leave on my UK passport to return home (we live in the UK)? I have read conflicting answers as to whether or not I would need to enter my Canadian passport for both the inbound (to USA) and outbound (to UK) flights, even though when I get to Britain I have to enter on my British passport. Basically, we are trying to confirm whether my husband and I actually do need an Esta of if we can enter as Canadians and leave as Brits!

Am citizen of Ghana and dual citizenship of Bahamas but I enter Qatar with my Ghana passport but now wanted to leave Qatar to Czech republic with Bahamas passport, is it possible to exit on that since the entry stamped was on Ghana passport?

Very informative article. I have UK and Canada passport. Since Brexit, UK citizens are in the 90/180 day restriction. Which is same restriction for Canada passport in some EU countries., So I want to try to use Canada passport for some trips. For example going to Spain. Can I book airfare and exit UK on Canada passport. Enter Spain on Canada passport. Exit Spain in Canada passport. Enter UK on British passport. So all the days for that trip are in my Canada passport.

My husband and I are on holiday in Australia, we have dual nationality and possess both UK and Australian passports; We live in France with permanent residence cards (carte de sejour).

We’ve used our Australian passports to come here, are we right in thinking that on our return trip to France we use our Australian passports on exiting the country in transit at Singapore we can use our Australian passports and at immigration in France show our English passports with our residence cards (carte de sejour).

Travelling with Malaysian and American passport to Malaysia from America

Summary I have a Malaysian and American passport with the below situation and appreciate thoughts on below especially on return to America because of visa requirement.

Situation Passports – I have both Malaysian and American passports Visas – Malaysia requires visa to visit America but America does not require visa to visit Malaysia or second country Hong Kong Policy – I understand America doesn’t care that I have a not allowed Malaysian passport but Malaysia does not allow me to have an American passport and will make me choose passport if discovered

Travel Book ticket in America – use Malaysian passport Check in at starting airport in America – use Malaysian passport Departing immigration in America – Not applicable Arriving immigration in Malaysia – use Malaysian passport

Book ticket – do I have to book 2 one way tickets instead of round trip because I have to use Malaysian passport to depart Malaysia because I don’t have visa for Malaysian passport to visit America and switch passports in intermediary country Hong Kong on the way? Check in at returning airport in Malaysia – use Malaysian passport Departing immigration in Malaysia – use Malaysian passport

Intermediary country Hong Kong arriving immigration – switch from Malaysian to American passport despite flight data? Intermediary country Hong Kong departing immigration – use American passport to match arrival and departure passport? Intermediary country Hong Kong check in – use American passport

Arriving immigration in America – use American passport

Scenario above doesn’t even get into the complications of having to renew Malaysian passport in Malaysia because I don’t have a green card to renew Malaysian passport while living in America. I appreciate anyone’s advice. Thank you.

Trying to figure this out for a trip coming up. I have dual citizenship USA/Portugal. I am traveling to Barcelona in March, but my first stop in Paris is where I will go through passport control. Is this the process: 1. Show US passport at San Francisco airport 2. When I arrive in Paris go to the EU line with my Portuguese passport 3. When returning I show again my US passport at airport 4. Use US passport at SFO.

I only use my EU passport when I arrive in Paris correct?

Also my name doesn’t match on them. EU one is my maiden name.

Hi, I hold dual citizenship, British and Italian. I had always understood that in Britian I should use the British one and in Italy the Italian one. I was told by the Italian authorities that I could book the ticket and check in with either passport but had to show my Italian passport at Italian passport control and my British passport at British passport control. I had always booked the tickets with my British passport and showed the necessary passport at the passport controls and had never had any problems (including several visits this year between the two countries) until this week, when I left Britain to come back to Italy, where I am resident. I had checked in online with my British passport but at the bag drop in Heathrow a message came up saying my documents had to be checked. The airport member of staff then told me that because I was resident in Italy and travelling to Italy I had to travel on my Italian passport even though I was leaving Britain. This had never happened before. Has something changed? Does this mean that every time I leave Italy I have to check in with my British passport as I’m travelling to Britain but use my Italian passport at passport control in Italy and the British one on arrival and then when I leave Britian check in with my Italian passport? This is what I understood from the member of staff but it is different from what the Italian authorities told me.

Hi, I have 2 passports Swedish and Vietnamese with 2 different names. In order to be exempted from visa when entering Vietnam, the round-trip air ticket should be shown as the name on the Vietnamese passport. However, I do not know how should I show right document to the police at Arlanda airport when I leave and back Sweden? Thanks

Very helpful site Michael. I hold dual US and NZ citizenship,and live in USA.I am thinking of moving to Australia,(elderly parent) and as a NZ citizen can enter Australia on my NZ Passport and be automatically granted a Special Category Visa.(SCV 444)),which permits me to stay indefinately. However as I have to leave the US on my US Passport,would I need to obtain an entry visa from Australia in my US Passport to prove to US immigration(or airline officials) I have authority to enter Australia?

Hi, the thing that is confusing is the following. I booked an international ticket online (turkish airways). I think (but can’t recall) if it asked me to enter my passport number (I think if it did, I filled out my USA passport number) to buy the ticket. When I leave NY they will want my ‘i.d./passport’ so I was going to show them my USA passport (I do not want them knowing I have another foreign passport).

Now the issue is this – when I transit in Istanbul (I think that’s where immigration might be, or is it the final destination? Not sure but I think its the first foreign country you land in?), I was planning only then to pull out my Bulgarian passport to show (Turkey), not even mentioning I have the USA passport. Then when the flight continues from Istanbul to Bulgaria, I was going to use my Bulgarian passport to enter Bulgaria (not mentioning the USA one). Would that all work out fine?

The main issue and conflicting part from several articles I have read is in the booking of the ticket – that whatever passport number you used when buying the ticket – that is what Immigration in the destination country will see (your US passport #) – which would be a problem (since I booked with my USA one). I want to know is it true that Istanbul or Bulgaria receive some type of ‘manifest’ that shows I left the USA with a US passport, but now am trying to enter these countries with a non-US passport?

Its confusing – because I read ‘as a US citizen, to always enter and exit on the USA passport’ YET if the ticket you are booking is to a foreign country (that you are also a passport holder of) will that cause problems when entering that other place without your US passport (since you bought the ticket with a US passport number and are showing only that US passport that at the US ticket counter)? Not sure if this is making any sense.

If you can explain this I would appreciate it.

To those of you who will be asked ‘where is your onward ticket’ – and you don’t want to pull out your other passport – since I feel its a violation of my privacy, and I don’t want to advertise that fact – you can always go to onwardticket and print out a ticket (or on your phone) for $15.00 to shut up the rep at the ticket counter at check in.

UK and USA passport. If I go USA to UK, I understand I should leave the US and return to the US on my American passport, and enter and leave the UK on my UK passport. On the understanding that you should leave and enter on that countries passport. My question, if I book my USA-UK flight and check-in with UK passport, should I then switch to my US one when going through the US security to leave the US. Or should I book, check in and security with my US passport only and then swap over to the UK passport upon landing in the UK.

Hi Michael I have a British and an Australian passport. Can I use my British Passport in order to stay 90 days in Spain and then return on my Australian passport to Spain for another 90 days without the restriction of the 90/180 day rule?

Can you book a return ticket with 2 different passports? Country of departure for your outward trip and country of departure for your return trip. Someone told me that you can’t do that. Is that true?

Hi I have a NZ Australian passport and would like to travel home to NZ for a few weeks. Can I leave Australia on my Australian passport, enter NZ on NZ passport then when I leave NZ again use my Australian passport?

I’m dual British/Australian and due to travel back to the uk to see my family for a short visit. My British Passport expired last year and currently being renewed. If I don’t get the new one in time am I ok to travel from Oz to England and back again only with my Aussie passport??

I have British & German citizenship. When I travel to the European Union I want to stay there for more than 90 days so I will need to use my German passport. Is it OK to leave Britain using my British passport & land in the EU using my German one? Which passport should I use when filling in the advance passenger information? Thanks

Hi Michael, thanks for your article and sharing your experience! I hold an Argentinian and Spanish citizenships. I’m currently in Australia with a visa (issued with my Argentinian passport) and I’m planning on going back to Argentina for a few weeks and then return to Australia. The thing is, as there are limited flights, I can only reach Argentina if I transit through the US (ie, Australia – US – Argentina) and I understand I need to hold a US transit visa, which I do have with my Spanish passport. So, I’m not sure if I need to depart Australia with my Argentinian passport (since I entered Australia with it), even though the visa to transit the US is linked to my Spanish passport, or if I need to depart Australia with the Spanish passport (since my US visa is linked to it), but maybe that generates an issue when trying to leave Australia. I appreciate any piece of advice. Thanks!

My case is bit complicated and would love some insight from you guys. I’m a dual US-Algerian citizen with a planned flight from Washington to Algiers. I’m also doing an overnight landside transit in heathrow. I will be sleeping at a hotel nearby, which means I would have to go through border control et? Can someone tell me which passports to use at which point but especially in heathrow during entry and exit. Also APIS from which passport should I use in the different steps of the trip? Thanks in advance.

Hello Michael, thank you for a very informative article.

I’m citizen of United States and Ukraine. My dilemma is that I have two different last names. Due to marriage to US citizen. Ukraine doesn’t recognise dual citizenship. Is there a way of travelling as it is and just showing a marriage certificate? Thank you

RE: Traveling between two countries I don’t have passports for?

Hi Michael – thanks so much for this blog! I’m wondering – I have dual citizenship – Taiwan and USA. Both countries allow visa free stay for 90 days within the Schengen states in a 180 days period.

Traveling from USA, I will be in Switzerland for 90 days, and ideally would like to head to Germany right afterwards instead of having to wait for the extra 90 days out of the Schengen state area to go back into Germany.

Is it possible for me to enter Switzerland as a Taiwanese citizen, and after my 90 days stay in Switzerland, to immediate enter Germany as a USA citizen?

Where can I find more information on this type of situation?

Thanks so much!

Hi Venetia, I don’t believe this is allowed. You can contact the relevant embassy for confirmation.

Hello! Let me start off by saying this is a great article and I think it’s great you have kept up with it after so many year. My question is, I am Japanese but i have recently obtained Canadian citizenship. I want to move back to Japan but i dont want to have any issues seeing as Japan doesn’t allow dual citizenship. So when i leave canada, should i only use my Japanese passport (buy my ticket in Canada, board the plane from canada, and land in japan all with my japanese passport)

Thank you for your time!

Thanks Joe! That sounds like a reasonable plan!

Hi Michael. Thanks for this post. I just came across it. However it has also got me really worried.

Some background on my situation. I am an Australian Citizen by birth and have lived here all my life. I have an Australian Passport. I also acquired Greek citizenship by decent and recently obtained a Greek passport. I mainly did this so that my children could in the future claim Greek citizenship through decent.

The name on my Greek passport and Australian Passport differ (as my name in Greek is spelt differently, and they also do not have a middle name). Surname is the same on both.

Australian Passport first name (plus middle name): George Steven SURNAME
 Greek Passport first name (no middle name): Georgios SURNAME

To date the difference in names has not concerned me as I always planned to travel to Greece using only my Australian Passport.

However I recently came across the proposed new ETIAS Visa Waiver authorisation (due by start of 2023). This will complicate the situation for dual citizens (who hold an EU passport and say an Australian Passport as I do). Technically I may not be able to apply for a Visa Waiver as I am an EU citizen with a valid passport (even though I would be happy to apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver so that I could just travel on my Australian Passport)

My understanding to date on how to use both passports- until reading your post- has been the following:

FLYING FROM AUSTRALIA to GREECE – Buy a one way ticket using Greek passport details A. I purchase the airline ticket in the name of the passport that will allow me to enter the destination country. So in my case if I fly from Australia to Greece , the name should be booked under GEORGIOS SURNAME as I will not have an ETIAS Visa Waiver (as I am a citizen of an EU nation). B. At Australian immigration I would present my AUSTRALIAN Passport (as Australia wants you to exit and enter on the Australian Passport) C. At Greek immigration I would present my GREEK PASSPORT

However ,based on what you have written in your post I should purchase my airline ticket to Greece and check in at the airline desk with my Australian Passport details . The concern if I do this I that will not be able to enter the EU using my Australian Passport as I will not have an ETIAS Visa Waiver (even though I do not need one as I am a Greek Citizen with a Greek passport). Theoretically the airline could stop me from boarding.

RETURN FLIGHT GREECE TO AUSTRALIA A. The flight ticket would be the same as my Australian Passport (GEORGE STEVEN SURNAME) B. At Greek immigration I would present my GREEK PASSPORT 
C. At Australian immigration I would present my Australian Passport

I am really at a loss as what to do based on your post. I feel like I may never be able to travel back to Greece for a holiday (or at least until my Greek passport expires).

Changing names is not option . I have been advised by the Greek consulate that a change of name is virtually impossible for Greeks without going to court. Changing my name in Australia would be crazy because this is where I live , work , study and everything I have is in my Australian name.

I cannot understand why I am not able to purchase my flight to Greece using my Greek passport details and then exit Australian immigration my Australian Passport ?

Any advice would really be helpful. This has really upset me

Hi George, If you show your Greek passport to the airline in Australia that should be sufficient evidence for them to prove that you can enter Europe legally, regardless of the passport you book your ticket with.

Hi Michael. Thank you for responding so quickly. Still trying to get a handle of this.

Just to clarify your approach:

A. Purchase airline ticket from Australia to Greece in Australian Passport Name : George Steven Surname B. At Airline check in show them Australian Passport (as it will match ticket name) – however no valid ETIAS Visa Waiver would be linked C. At Australian Immigration departure go through with Australian Passport D. In Greece use EU passport on arrival

A and B above still concern me because my Australian Passport will flag on the system that I do not have an ETIAS Visa Waiver. I will then show them my EU passport, but the names GIORGOS and GEORGE STEVEN are different (but the surname, face, DOB and other details will be the same). If they accept this then I assume there must be some system override which they would have to notify Australian Immigration via the Advance Passenger Processing system (APS) and BOC and somehow link the passports ?

I have been reading on adf.gov.au about airline obligations. It states that airlines must: a. Provide advance passenger reports on all passengers and crew B. Not carry undocumented or inadequately documented passengers

My logic is still telling me that I should book the flight from Australia to Greece using my Greek Passport name as the airline will want to make sure I can go through immigration in Greece ……….but there must be something I am missing from your post. When you originally stated that the airline said to you “Always show your Australian Passport”, did that mean “show” or to “book your ticket with that passport” ?

Hi George, As the ETIAS waiver isn’t in force yet, I do not know how or if the advice in this article will change.

Hi, i am a dual national and was wondering how the iata travel pass would work given that it stores passport details but when i depart my first home country i use passport A which is registered with iata travel pass but my arrival country, passport B is not tied to the iata travel pass…

Hi, Michael Thank you for all your information. I have US passport and Thai passport. Before I became US citizens, I had Green card. I traveled to Thailand with my Thai passport. After years later, I became US citizens and I applied US passport. I traveled to Thailand many times by useing only US passport because at that time, I don’t know I still can use Thai passport to enter to Thailand Until my Thai passport expired, so I went to renew Thai passport at Royal Thai Embassy and it was expired 4 years ago. If I renew Thai passport and I will be going to use Thai passport to enter Thailand. Do you think Thai immigration will giving me hard time by asking me such as where have you been? Etc I don’t use my Thai passport over 20 years. Any advice woud be much appreciated. Thank you

Hi Saowanee, I don’t know specifics about Thai immigration rules for dual citizens.

Hi Michael,

I’m a US citizen with a Turkish passport with a different first and last name than my US passport. I would like to Travel to Mexico using my Turkish passport. Can I book the tickets with my Turkish name and depart to Mexico with my Turkish passport without showing my US passport? Upon my return I would need to show my US citizenship in order to enter back in the country but would I run into any sort of trouble? I would like all my flight info and immigration to be from my Turkish and not US.

I would also like to do the same thing with future travels. Book/travel with my Turkish passport/name but enter back into the States as smoothly as possible given my situation.

HI Michael I will be entering Spain on my Australian passport therefore I know I can stay a maximum of 90 days before exiting to UK (able to enter there with UK passport) for 90 days. I have applied for an Irish passport but this is delayed by the lockdown in Ireland. I understand that no matter what I will need to depart Spain on my Australian passport to show I have exited the Schengen zone. My question is that if my Irish passport arrives can I re-enter mainland Europe and/or Spain before my 90 days out of the zone in UK is up? Obviously I will still be the same person who could only stay in the zone for 90 days out of 180 days, but with an Irish passport I will have the right to live and work in Europe. I do not want to break the law but also am not hugely keen to stay for 90 days in UK if it is not necessary. Any advice woud be much appreciated.

Hi Anie, I think once you have an Irish passport as an EU citizen there shouldn’t be any restrictions on your ability to enter Spain or any EU country outside of any current restrictions imposed. If you would like confirmation, I would suggest contacting the Irish Embassy.

Hello – I reside in Canada and hold Canadian and Taiwanese passports. Flying from Canada to Taiwan, should I be filling out my departure flight passport info with Canadian or Taiwanese? Am I able to check into the flight with Taiwan passport and show Canadian passport at departure security? Otherwise not seeing at what point will it register on my Canadian passport I have departed Canada. I know I’m to use Canadian upon return but will there be an issue if it never showed that I left on Canadian?

Hi Bron, you should show your Canadian passport when going through immigration at your departure airport – this doesn’t have to be the same passport as the one you check in with.

Hi, I’m a dual citizen of Australia and Uk, living in the UK. My UK passport was recently stolen… but is it possible for me to travel out of, and back into, the UK, using my Australian passport?

Hi Spencer, you should get a new UK passport before leaving the UK. Typically countries which you’re a citizen of won’t allow you to enter on a different passport.

Hi, I am sooo happy to find someone to ask this to. Thanks for your help. I am a dual citizen Spanish-Mexican, I recently visited the US and entered with my Spanish passport with the ESTA, but when leaving, I decided to do check-in on line, my Spanish passport was there, but it did not let me do the check in, I was told by the airline I needed my Mexican passport to go back, so I simply entered the Mexican’s passport info and it went through fine, went to the airport, printed the boarding pass on a kiosk and went through security handing my Spanish passport only to realize that what they did scan was the boarding pass on which the Mexican info was in. They let me through as they only check the name, boarded the plane and left. Will I have any problem when going back to the US?

Hi Karen, I can’t say for certain but I doubt this will be an issue. When applying for an ESTA you enter your dual citizenship information so I imagine the US system has your information linked.

Thanks for the helpful post. Any idea what procedure dual US-EU citizens should follow when traveling from the US to Europe starting in 2021? European authorities will soon require American citizens to apply for a visa waiver travel authorization (ETIAS) before departing on flights to the Schengen zone.

Until now, I’ve always presented my US passport at check-in when leaving the United States (which, according to the State Department, is the law for US citizens). However, the ETIAS authorization will complicate things for dual citizens, who are supposed to exit the US with an American passport, but won’t need the visa waiver authorization because they are also EU citizens. Which passport should dual nationals share with the airline on flights to Europe? Do we add the US passport details upon booking but check in with the EU passport? Or enter the EU passport details into APIS when booking?

It looks like dual nationals may need to register their EU passport with the airline for flights from the US to Europe, and their US passport at check-in for flights from Europe back to the US. I’m a bit reticent about departing the US on my EU passport, as the US would have no record of my leaving the country. Yet if I fly out on my US passport, I can see a messy situation where the airline might deny boarding on a flight to Europe because they don’t see an EU travel authorization (even though I wouldn’t need one as an EU citizen). Thanks for any advice.

Hi Justin, I doubt it’ll be much of an issue as long as you travel with both passports. Showing the airline your EU passport should be sufficient even if booking on your US passport to prove that you can enter the EU without an ETIA.

Hello Michale, I am a dual CZ / VN citizen. I will fly with my friends to Vietnam and we would like to stop in China and visit Beijing. Should I fly with Cz passport and then when entering and leaving Vietnam prove the Vietnamese passport? I bought a ticket for a Czech passport. Thanks for your advice.

Hi Nga, Most countries require you to use that country’s passport when entering if you are a citizen.

My scenario is different. I have dual citizenships of two countries (eg. Kenya and Cameroon) which you certainly need to apply for a visa for entry into most parts of the world. I would like to know if it is possible to apply and obtain a Schengen visa on both passports. I currently have a multiple entry Schengen visa on one passport, but I would like to use the second passport/nationality at times visit Europe. Can I apply for another Schengen visa on the other passport at the same time? Thanks for your advice.

Hi Kongi – you should ask this to whoever is processing your Schengen Visa.

Hi Michael I am a dual UK/US citizen. I live in the UK and always have done but my mother is from the States. My children are not dual nationality so just have UK passports.

My UK passport has expired so I am using my U.S passport to travel with my children on a family holiday. I am doing this because a few years ago I was reprimanded by a TSA agent for travelling on my UK passport and thus having had to apply for an ESTA. He told me that under no circumstances was I to travel on a UK passport into or out of the USA if I was a US citizen.

Last year I travelled to Italy from the UK with my son, and because I was using my US passport and he was using his UK passport he and I had to endure standing in a 2.5hour queue for non-EU citizens on our return to the UK. We were then reprimanded by UK passport control officers and not allowed re-entry to the UK because they said I had no documentation to say I had leave to stay in the UK. I live in the UK and had my UK bank cards and drivers license etc but that wasn’t acceptable proof. THEY told me I need to show my UK expired passport alongside my US passport on re-entry to the UK. (However, only one month earlier I had returned from Spain and travelled both ways on my US passport without any problems!)

What do you suggest I do this time? I am travelling to the US in 2 weeks, and my UK passport is still expired. Should I try to rush a renewal through???

Most countries have rules that if you are citizen you have to enter that country on its own passport.

I’m a US/NZ dual citizen. Just want to clarify. I booked a flight from NZ to US using my NZ passport. I show my NZ passport to check-in and NZ immigration whilst keeping my US passport available just in case they wish to see it. Then once arriving in the US, I use my US passport at customs there for entry. Again, keeping my NZ passport available just in case. Upon exiting the US, I show my US passport, then upon entry into NZ, I show my NZ passport. Correct? Do I need to obtain an ESTA visa since I used my NZ passport to book my return flight from NZ?

That sounds right to me. You shouldn’t need an ESTA as you are a US citizen.

Hi Michael, I will be renewing my US passport in HK, however I live in China and I have another country’s passport with my visa to China in it. Do you think I would be allowed to travel back to China and stay there while waiting for my American passport to finish the renewal process?

If you enter HK on your US passport then you’ll need it to leave HK and go back to China. If you enter HK on your other passport then I don’t think it should be an issue.

Nice article Michael.

Very well written and very helpful article, thank you!! I soon will become an Australian citizen and will be a dual passport holder. Unfortunately my first citizenship is from a country that does not allow two citizenships and I don’t want to give up my original passport. After reading your article then I should follow example 1 on your article however I have some questions that I hope you might be able to help given my circumstances.

1. If I booked my flight, checked-in and go through Australian immigration using my Australian passport, would my Australian passport details be pass on to my original country and raise a flag when I arrive there?

2. If I booked my flight, checked in using my original passport and then use my Australian passport at the Australian immigration, would this be a problem at the Australian immigration as they may only the details of my original passport from the airline? If yes is this something that can easily resolve by showing both my original passport as well as my Australian passport?

Also would Australian immigration providing my Australian passport details to the arrival country or this only be done by the airlines and not the Australian immigration department?

I hope my questions aren’t too confusing and a million thanks in advance.

Hi, I imagine the amount of information that is shared between immigration offices will be based on the relationship between the two countries. I’m not sure exactly what Australian immigration will pass on but I do know that you will get questioned at check-in if you try to check in with a passport that you haven’t used to enter Australia. I suggest reaching out to some other people in your situation and see what their experience is.

Hi, Thanks for this article. I have two passports (AUS/UK) and was wondering, if I enter France for example on my Australian passport (and also leave on it) and then the next time I enter on my UK passport, can the system recognize that I am the same person travelling on a different passport or am I technically ‘two different people’? Thanks, Jess

Hi Jess, AUS & UK share information so they’ll likely be able to connect the dots, particularly if you have the same name on both passports.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us all!

I have a question and I’d like to know if anyone could help.

I have Japanese and Brazilian passports, and I live in Tokyo. I’m going to Italy in 2 days but I just realized now that you need to have passport that is valid for over 90 days to enter Europe. My Japanese passport will expire next month.

I think the main issue would be with the airline during check-in. If I show them my Japanese passport (to prove I’m a citizen of japan) but explain that I plan on arriving in Italy with my Brazilian one (that is valid for 5years), would they be okay with that? Even I bought the ticket with my Japanese passport?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I think it should be fine however you could call the airline to confirm.

Hi Michael, My wife and I have valid US and Armenian passports. We’ll be travelling to Prague for four days, then to St. Petersburg, RU. I’d like to enter without visa, as my Armenian passport should be visa-free. What do you think?

Hi Leo, I don’t think it should be a problem – just show your Armenian passport when entering Russia.

Hello, I’m Chinese but now have the Italian citizenship. I have the Italian passport but also the Chinese one, renovated recently. I also still have the residency permit for Italy. Do you know/think if they will let me enter without a visa in China? I think I will stay like for a month.

If you have a Chinese passport, wouldn’t you need to use that to enter China?

Thank you for responding and yeah but you know that China don’t allow have two citizenship or passports. And I’m afraid that they won’t let me pass or something like this.

I suggest trying to contact some people that might be in a similar situation to you as I’m not sure about the practicalities of the Chinese dual citizenship laws.

My son has German and South Korean passports. We live in China, and we plan to travel to Russia, which means we have a round trip flight tickets. He has his Chinese residency visa on his German passport, but he can travel to Russia visa-free using his South Korean passport, so we’d like to save money and not apply for his Russian visa on his German passport. Which passport number should he be using for airline ticket booking? I tried calling the airlines, all relevant embassies, and at one point even the immigration office, but no one seems to be able to give a clear answer. Perhaps you can help…?

Hi YL, in terms of immigration, he can use his German passport to exit China and the South Korean passport to enter Russia. Theoretically, it shouldn’t matter which passport you use on the airline booking though some countries have their airline check-in linked to immigration which might cause confusion if you’ve entered a passport that you haven’t used to enter the country (this could occur in both China and/or Russia). I’m not sure if that is the case in China or Russia, however, hopefully as long as he has both passports with him, then it can be used to clear up any confusion.

I have booked a return ticket for my mom departing from (Johannesburg, South Africa) and arriving in New York (United States) in September.

My mom is a South African Citizen that holds dual citizenship by having also having an Italian (EU) passport.

The problem is that my moms South African Identity Document and South African passport are in the name of her married surname, but her italian(EU) passport is in her maiden name. Apparently she was told that in Italy they always use your maiden surname for your passport.

The problem is that i have booked the ticket in her Married surname which matches her South African passport ,but differs from her Italian passport that uses her maiden surname. Of course it is easier to enter the united states on her Italian passport as you get a visa exemption by application for the ESTA online application. It is alot cheaper as it is about 17$ as apposed to 100$ plus for applying for a full visa on your South African passport.

I have considered cancelling the ticket and re-booking it in her Italian maiden surname, but then my issue lies that leaving South Africa legally you need to leave and return on your South African passport. The problem then is that the surname on the ticket and south african passport will differ.

What complicates matters further is that she got divorced years ago but still retained her married name so we can’t even use a marriage certificate to indicate the difference in surnames on her South African and Italian passport.

I sincerely hope you can guide me with which is the best way to handle this. I am worried that the current way of booking the ticket on her Married surname will result in her being detained from entering the united states as the surname will differ to that on her italian passport. But then, if we change the ticket to her maiden Italian passport surname , we might have issues getting her out of South Africa to New York, what to do 🙁

Hi Marco, She could fly out of South Africa on her SA passport, do the ETSA application on the Italian passport and then enter & exit the US on her Italian passport. The airline might ask for proof that she can enter the US and then showing the Italian passport should be sufficient – you can call the airline to clarify this to make sure.

Thankyou Michael. After much effort i was able to get some clarity on the airlines twitter support handle. It seems it will be fine whether we booked on the SA passport name or Italian passport name as long as we bring both passports.

Great to hear Marco!

Hi! I am a Kuwait and Philippines passport holder.

In a few months, I am flying to South Korea, where my Kuwait passport doesn’t need a visa. I will be coming from the Philippines. (The Philippines passport needs a visa to enter Korea. I have done this before and was granted single entry whilst my Kuwait passport was being renewed.)

This time, can I use my Kuwait passport, or should I just apply for a visa to Korea using my Philippines passport again? What details should I use for booking, and which passport should I present/bring at what point in the process?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Hi Fati, You can enter/exit Korea on your Kuwait passport and enter/exit Philippines on your Philippines passports.

I have British and NZ citizenship and passports, but live in the UK. I have a new NZ passport acquired in the UK, but not used. I am awaiting for my British passport to be returned from the Russian embassy with a visa to visit Russia (meant to be fast track and posted back), but am worried that I might not have received it back by the time I leave for a trip planned to Armenia early next month.

In the event of my UK passport not arriving before the Armenia trip could I use my NZ passport to depart the UK, and then for return to the UK? I don’t think there would be any issue using the NZ passport to enter and leave Armenia.

The trip to Russia is not until early July.

Grateful for any advice.

Hi Paul, Many countries don’t allow you to enter a country that you are a citizen of with another passport. I’m not sure about the UK specific rules but I think this might cause an issue when re-entering the UK. Do you have a UK ID Card you could use to enter instead?

You shouldn’t have an issue leaving the UK as they don’t check passports and New Zealand is visa-free for Armenia so you could theoretically enter Armenia on your NZ passport and then use a UK ID Card to return.

Hi, Michael

My 11 year old nephew is a US citizen by birth and Chinese citizen by descent. Since China doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, he holds a Chinese travel document (equivalent to Chinese passport for minors) and a US passport. Next month, he will be traveling from US to Spain to China.

My questions are:

1) Should he enter Spain with US passport (no visa needed) or with a Schengen visa to be obtained on his Chinese travel document?

2) Should he book the airline ticket using US passport (departing country) or Chinese travel document (final destination)?

3) If he enters and leaves Spain with US passport, will Spain exit immigration or airline see this as a problem because his US passport doesn’t have a visa to China? Will showing them Chinese travel document suffice?

4) Can he enter Spain with US passport and leave Spain with Chinese travel document? or this could be a problem because he wasn’t “logged out of” Spain on his US passport?

5) Enter Spain with a Schengen visa on Chinese travel document. Will Spain even grant him a short-stay Schengen visa because he’s US citizen?

Would appreciate your insights on this, thank you!

Hi JG, I suggest you speak to somebody that understands the implications of entering China after visiting a country with another passport as I’m not sure about the checks that China would specifically do.

In terms of entering Spain, if he enters with his US passport then he needs to leave on his US passport. Spanish immigration won’t care about whether he can enter China legally or not however the airline might ask for proof that he can enter China (showing a Chinese travel document should be sufficient). I’m not sure whether Spain would grant a Schengen visa in such a situation.

One option if possible could be to book the USA to Spain leg on the US passport and then Spain to China on the Chinese passport, however, as suggested above, it’s probably best to speak to somebody that is across what checks China specifically does when entering the country to ensure he doesn’t have any issues.

Ok it may have been answered already and I’m sorry if it has. I booked a flight to Portugal from Vancouver but I have two connections one in Montreal and in Amsterdam before arriving to Portugal. My passport details when I booked my flight is Canadian. When I arrive into Amsterdam should I use my Canadian passport or Portugal passport or my Portugal identity card (my Portuguese passport will be new 2 months)

Hi Gina! If you’re staying in the Schengen Area for under 90 in 180 days then it doesn’t matter which passport you use (the line might be shorter for EU passports though!). If you’re staying for longer than that then use your Portuguese passport. I think an ID card is valid in the same way as a passport when entering into the EU.

Hi, my girlfriend wants to come visit me in Holland. Her departure is from Thailand and as far as i know Thailand doesnt support dual citizenship, if im correct. Her new german passport will arrive soon and im wondering what would be best. I thought it would be best to register her Thai passport on the ticket and check-in + immigration from Thailand (departure) with her thai passport. Then at arrival in Holland use her German passport. At departure from Holland use the german passport again and at arrival in thailand use her Thai passport again. Is that correct?

Besides, i wonder if the thai immigration will ask for her visa going to Holland cause as a thai citizen traveling to holland you need a visa. Or is that only the concern of the Dutch immigration? That way it wouldnt be a problem arriving in holland with a German passport.

We have been doing alot of research and it is just hard to tell what is right or wrong.

Hi Kevin, The airline she’s flying with will need to check that she can enter the destination legally. I suggest contacting the airline and confirming with them that showing the German passport will be sufficient proof.

Usually when going through immigration they don’t check or care where you’re going. I don’t know if Thai immigration is any different but that usually means that they just stamp you out and don’t do any further checks. As you’ve said when in Holland, enter and exit on the German passport and then re-enter Thailand on the Thai passport. Hope that helps!

Im trying to figure out in advance the new pre-screening that USA citizens will need to enter Europe beginning in 2021. I have both passports and usually travel in the exact way that you suggest. However I’m unclear now as to whether I will need to pre-screen, I have the EU passport, but if I book and exit the USA with the USA passport it seems I could be required to pre-screen? Any thoughts on this?

I’m not across all the details of pre-screening but if you have an EU passport then I can’t see why you would need to do anything differently. If you get questioned why you don’t have it in the US then showing your EU passport should solve any confusion.

Ok, thank you for your reply. It makes sense)

Hi. I have two passports one British one Canada..I am currently living in India on a one year visitor visa,I have a visa on my Canada passport but I am applying for a retirement visa in thailand and want to do so on my British passport.Can I leave India with my British passport even though i have india visa on my Canada passport..

Hi Graham, When you leave India, you’ll need to show immigration your Canadian passport. When you enter Thailand, you should show immigration your British passport with your visa. Hope that helps.

Hi I’m travelling with NZ and UK passports. I am in Bolivia and both passports allow a stay up to 90 days per year. Last year I stayed for nearly 90 days on my NZ passport then travelled to Peru. I returned by flight and changed to my UK passport. No body asked if I had another passport and I got the entry stamp with no problems and stayed another 90 days. Do you know if I have broken any laws by staying for 90 days twice with separate passports?

Hi James! I’m sorry but I’m not sure of the specific laws in Bolivia. Sorry can’t be of more help!

My wife and have passports from Hong Kong due to our birth and America passports after we immigrated here 30 years ago. We are traveling to Russia from US with stopovers in Europe for both outbound and inbound for non visa related reasons. The names on my wife’s passports are not the same. One with her maiden name and one with only my last name. We plan to enter Russia with our HK passports since no visa required, and we booked our airline tickets with the names on the HK passports. For our return flights back to US with few days in Lisbon, we booked the tickets with particulars on our US passports. My wife now worries whether she will have problem when leaving Russia with air tickets on a different passport than the one for entry. Appreciate your insight and advice.

Hi Sing, in most countries this shouldn’t be an issue as long as you show immigration the passport you entered with when exiting the country. I’m not certain if this would be different in Russia – I suggest calling the airline and see if it’s an issue in Russia specifically.

Hi, currently located in UK with a UK passport and an Australian passport. Usually I will not use my Australia passport to travel unless going to Australia. However, with EU exit with no deal in 10days time, the advice was to make sure UK passport holder have 6mths validity on it. Mine was just under!!! I’m travelling in 3 weeks time to Italy for 2 weeks, and I do not want to pay extra to get a new passport. Do you think I could exit UK with UK passport, using my OZ passport to enter Italy (as will have more than 6mths validity), then depart Italy with Oz passport, and enter via immigration (as got kids with me, cannot use e-gate) with UK passport? And when I enter my info for the airline, I will use my Oz passport info, as there’s no check on departure at UK airport? Many many thanks!!

Hi Carla, What you’ve suggested doing with your Oz passport seems fine to me. If the UK doesn’t leave the EU at the end of the month then using your UK passport shouldn’t be an issue but given the uncertainity, it’s good to have a second option! 🙂

Thanks! still no clear sign of we leaving EU or not in 2 days time!! Anyway, I now need to enter advance passenger info for the airline in order to do online check in. I suppose I should use the Oz passport details since that’s most likely what I should and will use to enter Italy?

Yes, it shouldn’t a problem to use your Oz passport when travelling to Italy – have a great trip! 🙂

Hai Michael,

I have Malaysian and US passport. If I wanted to go to US, as per my understanding I will leave and come back to Malaysia by Malaysian passport and enter and exit US by US passport. The one that I’m curious is about the exit stamp from Malaysia when I came back from US. They will not asking where did I go? Where did I coming from? Thanks in advance

Hi Raeyzar, I, unfortunately, don’t really know about the Malaysian immigration rules. If both countries recognise dual citizenship it shouldn’t be an issue, however, I suggest trying to contact other people with dual citizenship in Malaysia to see how they get around this.

hi raeyzar, i have malaysia and us citizenship as well and was wondering if you still do and can compare notes about the experience? i’m planning to renew my malaysian and travel to malaysia soon. hope you don’t mind corresponding by anonymous account. thanks

Michael – Thanks for all the help. I’m amazed at how responsive you are! My question goes back to having differing surnames on passports. If I depart/fly using one name/passport (say passport X), can I still use the second other name passport (passport Y) at immigration of the arrival country? If airlines share passenger manifests with immigration, won’t this raise a red flag for them, since the name/citizenship of the second passport (passport Y) will not exist on the flight manifest? Thanks

No problem JP! I have two passports with different names and will often use a different passport on arrival and I have never had an issue with immigration. The only time I think this could be an issue is if you’re travelling to a country where they don’t allow or restrict entry to certain passports. In these situations, it’s probably best to depart on the passport that will be allowed to enter at the destination (however, the airline probably won’t let you board in this case anyway!)

Regarding different spellings in the two passports (“When booking your flight, you should ensure you enter the name as it appears in the passport for which you are purchasing and checking into your flight”):

How does this work with round-trip tickets between the two countries of citizenship, when it is required to use passport A (with spelling A) in one direction and passport B (with spelling B) in the other direction? For a round-trip ticket, the name has to be spelled the same way in both directions, so there will be a mismatch in the name on the ticket versus the passport in one direction or the other. How do you (and how do the airlines) deal with that?

I would suggest checking with the airline that you’re flying with. I don’t think it should be an issue in terms of immigration as you can still show the passport of the country when leaving and hopefully the airline will be satisfied if you show both passports upon checking in.

Hi Michael. A current question! We live in France (UK citizens and passports), I have recently received my Irish (ie European) passport. Are you saying I should enter my Irish passport number to leave France (and re-enter) and my British passport to enter and leave the UK? All such a mess and my husband will still have to queue in the “rest of the world” queue while I (hopefully!) sail through!!

Hi Patsy, Usually you should leave the country on whichever passport you entered on. At the moment while the UK is in the EU, I don’t think it matters which passport you use to leave France as you’re not stamped in when entering the country. Obviously, this could all change in a month’s time and I don’t think anyone really has a correct answer yet for what to do. Hope this helps 🙂

Hi Michael, I have dual citizenship Netherlands/Thai. Right now I’m in thailand I want to go back to Europe but my Netherlands passport cannot be use in thailand. how should I go back and do I need a visa for my thai paspoort to go to Paris ？

Hi Pramot! You should use your Thai passport when leaving Thailand and show your Dutch passport to immigration when you enter Europe – this will mean you don’t need to apply for any visa on your Thai passport!

Hi there, I have dual citizenship (Australian/Russian). My Russian passport on my maiden name, my Australian passport on my married name. If I am flying from Australia to Russia and back, how do i need to book return ticket, i mean what name should i use?

Hi, I’m not sure what Russia’s stance is on dual citizenship and whether their airline systems are linked to immigration which could complicate this situation. I think as you’re leaving from Australia you need to book with the name on your AU passport. However, I suggest contacting the airline (and possibly an immigration expert) to see if they think there would be any issues when you board your return flight from Russia.

Hi Michael, I am a dual citizen of Australia (born and living here) and Greece. I am wanting to live and work in the UK for several months – a year.

Would I leave/enter Australia and book flights on Australian passport and use my Greek passport for entry/exit immigration in UK? (I’m past age limit for a work Visa via Australia/Commonwealth; and I believe EU passport holders in UK don’t have to do anything until late 2020 or 21 re: Brexit.)

Thanks for the info on your blog! Very helpful.

Hi Sebastian, Yes, while the UK is in the EU you can book flights from Australia on your AU passport and enter the UK on your Greek passport and have working rights. However, as Brexit negotiations aren’t finalised yet there is still uncertainty as to what rights EU citizens will have once they leave the EU at the end of March – this should hopefully be clearer in the next couple of months!

Hello, I am a South Korean having British passport. South Korea does not allow a dual nationality. I flew to the UK with my Korean paasport and got 6 months visa on my Korean passport.

As 6 months passed, I flew out to Iceland for a week with a Korean passport. From the immigration entering to the UK, I presented a Korean but for some reason, the immigration officer did not gave me a visa, telling me that I should travel using my British passport.

With a Korean passport, I flew to Iceland, got a stamp, but flying back to the UK, I didn’t get a stamp…

On my Korean passport, I phisically flew to and flew out of Iceland but I have gone nowhere as British immigration did not stamp on my Korean passport.

Now, I have to go back to South Korea as a South Korean.

What should I do? Please help me I got a butterfly in my stomach…

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Hi Sen, I suggest you speak to an immigration expert in Korea who understands the implications of this. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if you’ll have any issues when returning to Korea. Hope it all works out well for you.

Hi Micheal,

I am dual Canadian with UK, I am flying to Thailand from Canada threw Hong Kong and the same route on the way back, I live in Canada full time. Should I bring both passports and which one is best to use Canadian or UK passport? Thank you Derek

Hi Derek, As both UK and Canada passports allow visa-free entry into Thailand & Hong Kong, you can enter those countries on either passport. As you’re flying in an out of Canada, it’s best to use your Canadian passport.

Hi Michael – Great article! My parents are dual citizens of US and Bosnia. They currently reside in the Balkans and will be traveling to US for visit. In terms of immigration, there should be no problems as they will carry both passports, but could you please provide your advice in terms of booking tickets and boarding (especially on the way back from US back to Europe). Thank you. Sasha

Hey Sasha! It shouldn’t matter which passport you book with, however, I would probably suggest booking using the US passport as there are no restrictions for US citizens travelling to Europe. As you’ve said, as long as they have both passports with them when checking in then there shouldn’t be any problems!

I have both UK and New Zealand passports. I wish to enter Australia using my New Zealand passport. When booking a return ticket from U.K. which passport should I register with the airline? On return to the U.K. Do I leave Australia on my UK passport?

Hi David, when arriving in Australia, show immigration your NZ passport. Likewise, when leaving Australia, exit on your NZ passport. It shouldn’t matter which passport you register with the airline in the UK – just make sure to show them your NZ passport if they ask how you’re entering Australia.

I just recently became a dual Australian / Canadian. The problem with this situation is that both countries require electronic travel authorization in order to be able to board a flight. So for example, if I was only Australian and I wanted to fly to Canada I would have had to get an ETA from Canada, which would be checked by the airline. If I was only Canadian I would need to do the same if I was going to Australia.

The problem now is that as a dual citizen I need to enter and exit each respective country on it’s own passport, but neither passport will have an ETA because you can’t get one as a citizen.

My understanding of how it’s supposed to happen, is that you check in and show the airline the passport of the country you are going to travel to, but at the exit immigration you show the passport of the country you’re currently in. So if I were to leave Australia I would check in to my flight on the Canadian passport and then at the exit gates I would show my Australian passport.

To the best of my knowledge, the airline should not be concerned with whether you are in the country legally or not – that’s not their job. Their only responsibility is to ensure that you are the the actual holder of the passport, and that you are authorised to travel to your intended destination.

There’s a lot of confusing information out there though and I could be mistaken – I’ve not had the opportunity to put this theory to the test yet.

This is a great discussion here and it’s all extra pieces to the puzzle!!!

Thanks for your comment Barry! In my experience, airlines in Australia don’t let you check into a flight with a different passport if you’re an Australian citizen (that scenario is actually what promoted me to write this article!). However, there is nothing wrong with booking with an Australian passport and then entering your destination country with a different passport.

I think the reason it was an issue in Australia is that the systems are more advanced and are linked to visa data. This is probably not the case in many countries and might not be an issue elsewhere.

I have dual citizenship, American and Peruvian. I am traveling to Russia from Los Angeles via Spain. My plan is to leave the US with my American passport and checking in Spain with my Peruvian passport. Then, fly to Russia and checking in with my Peruvian passport since visa is not required there for Peruvians. I will fly back to Spain from Russia using my Peruvian passport as well. Before returning to the US, should i leave Spain showing my American passport all the way for check-in and immigration? and, Is my travel plan actually making sense?

Hi Joseph! That plan makes sense to me! When leaving Spain, you should show Spanish immigration your Peruvian passport (as you entered Spain using that passport) and then when you return to the US, show immigration your US passport.

Thanks a lot, Michael!

Hello , it’s still all confusing to me about going home for a visit To NZ. I was born in NZ and immigrated to US and became a citizen in 1995. I let my NZ passport expire . I got a new one when I was there for s visit around 2010 . I’ve always gone home on US and was told once come on NZ passport . This is my concern . I always book a return ticket .fly from LAX. And I have booked with US passport . If I get to the airport and decide to use NZ passport ,and give it to Air NZ .. my ticket will say my name , NZ passport number . So when I go through the lines and it’s checked in the US as they scan it and give my US passport as I see you must leave and enter on US . Won’t that be a problem handing them the US passport with the ticket saying NZ passport number with my name ? And when I return leaving NZ I think you have to apply for the visa a few days before , but I won’t need one as I would have my US one but I’m not sure if NZ will let me change the details in their system as they will have NZ info not the US . I hope I have explained this . I get to the airport and always chicken out from trying to use my NZ passport as I think I won’t be able to get through the tsa or back in the USA. I don’t know now if USA has a passport check as well before I get on plane Thank you. Diane

Hi Diane! I think the best solution for you is to book your return ticket from the USA, using your US passport. Then when you arrive in NZ, show NZ immigration your NZ passport. When you arrive back in the US, simply show immigration your US passport. Hope that helps!

Thank you for replying , I had thought of doing that before. But what made me uncomfortable is I had heard that before the plane arrives the manifest with all the passengers and their countries is sent on to NZ, mine would say USA and on the plane the arrival card I never know what to ask for a visitor or a returning resident card . So Ive always done a visitor . I thought if I filled out a NZ citizen card and handed that in would they be running around looking for a American that boarded in LAX but didnt depart ? I know they have those self scan kiosks for NZ citzens there but I didnt use them . I know its foolish but I dont want to make a mistake . I also thought coming in as a US citizen ( i would bring my NZ passport ) if something happened and I needed to stay longer would they give me a clearance to stay longer than 90 days . I wish dual citzens could use the one passport. Thank you another question, how would I leave NZ ? My ticket would say US but I give immigration the NZ passport to check or the US ?

I don’t think you’ll have a problem with NZ immigration. There is nothing wrong with having US and NZ dual citizenship so when you show NZ immigration your NZ passport, they won’t care what details you put on your flight booking. On the off chance that there is any confusion, you can easily explain that you have dual citizenship. I’ve often booked tickets on one passport and then entered my arrival country using my other passport without any problem.

When you leave NZ, simply show NZ immigration your NZ passport and then when you land in the US, show immigration your US passport. My main advice would be to always travel with both so if there is ever any confusion you can easily explain the situation and show proof of your dual citizenship 🙂

Thanks for your great article Michael!

I’m a dual Australian/British citizen with two passports – the latter currently (!) marked EU. I live in Australia.

I understand about leaving and entering Australia on my Oz passport.

I’m doing a round trip soon: ex Oz, to Germany, Italy, the U.K. (first visit in 15 years) then back to Australia.

I plan to show my EU passport on arrival in Berlin and so on.

Can I enter/depart the U.K. on my British passport back to Australia when the airline (Etihad) has my Oz passport details registered? I’m unsure which passport to show at Etihad check in and immigration at Heathrow?

Hi Lisa – thanks for your comment! You shouldn’t have any problems if you enter the UK with your British passport. When checking into your flight, you should show whichever passport you’ve booked your ticket with. At Heathrow, you don’t actually pass through immigration so you won’t have to worry about that.

I’ve travelled back to Australia before from the UK booking with my Australian passport despite living here on my EU passport and haven’t had any problems! 🙂

I’m dual citizen both Somalia and Uganda, am planning to go to Somalia which passport do I use and which one do I show the airliner

Hi Zakaria! I’m not across the specific rules for Somalia but most countries require you to enter on that country’s passport if you are a citizen. I suggest contacting the embassy to confirm the rules for your specific situation.

Hi, I have two passports US and Indonesian. I’m currently studying in Paris and am wondering which way is best if I want to travel to London (Indonesians need a visa).

If you don’t need a visa for one of your passports then it’ll be a lot less hassle to travel to London on your US passport 🙂

Have you heard of anyone running into problems while doing this because they have two different names on their passports. The two different languages on a Russian and Yemeni passport mean that my name is quite different and one has my fathers surname and one has my mothers surname. Do you think this would cause problems with the systems being linked?

The names in my two passports also differ – I think the only issue is that if you book your plane ticket with one passport and then try to check in with your other passport, the airline won’t recognise your ticket. From an immigration perspective, it doesn’t really matter as you only ever show one passport to the border guard.

Thank you for the great information! I am a dual citizen of US/Canada and always travel with both passports. However, since I live in the US, I used my US passport to enter Europe about 2 months ago. Now that I’m here, I discovered I was eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa to Germany with my Canadian passport, which means I can stay in Germany for a whole year. However, I am now concerned about my eventual flight back to the US, as I used it to check into Europe. If I use my US passport to leave, they will think I have illegally overstayed my 90 days, but if I use my Canadian, I will not have a record of entering (or of exiting on my US). Any advice you can offer, or direction to point me in would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Julia! You should exit the Schengen area before your current tourist visa expires on your US passport. Then re-enter Germany/Schengen Area on your Canadian passport with the working holiday visa. 🙂

Hi Michael, thanks for your response! Does that mean a full on flight back to the US? My concern is if I exit Schengen (London, etc.) then fly back into Europe with my Canadian passport, won’t my US passport still be “in” London?

You don’t need to return to the US – anywhere outside of the Schengen is fine! So if you fly to London, just show UK immigration your Canadian passport and that means you’ll enter as a Canadian rather than US citizen.

Sorry for the double post… ok, just to be clear, I am currently in Slovakia. I can get a cheap flight to London from Vienna, so I fly to London and I show my US passport to enter London. Then when I fly back to Germany from London, I show the exit border in london my US passport, which will officially “log me out” of London. Then when I enter Germany, I show them my Canadian Passport with the new Visa?

Yes that would work! Alternatively you could also enter London on your Canadian passport when you exit the Schengen the first time 🙂

Hi there, I have dual nationality, Israel and Poland. I live in the UK on my Polish passport which I sent to the DVLA to get my driving license sorted. I booked a trip to France and only have my Israeli passport now. I’m trying to figure out if I’m going to have any problems leaving England with a different passport from the one I entered with. Thank you so much for your help.

Hi Elita, You might raise some flags when leaving (many airports in UK you don’t actually go through immigration though!) however the bigger issue will be returning to the UK as you don’t have your Polish passport which is what you’re usually to legally live in the UK. I would suggest trying to get your Polish passport back before leaving 🙂

Hi, Thank you for the wonderful explanation with regards to dual nationality travel. I have some doubts to be cleared, please help me if you can.

I am a holder of Indian Passport and a Portuguese Passport, and I am currently residing in U.A.E on work visa on my Indian passport, and since my Visa is getting over the end of this month, I am planning to travel to UK directly from U.A.E with my Portuguese passport. (For UK – Visa free travel for Portuguese & Visa required for Indian Passport) Can I do the same without any problems?

If yes then under what passport should I book my ticket?

Also, what passport should I show to the respective Immigration and the airline?

Any guidance will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Mufeed, this shouldn’t be a problem! When you leave the UAE, show immigration your Indian passport and when you arrive in the UK, show immigration your Portuguese passport.

In my experience, you can book your ticket under either passport as long as you have both passports with you when travelling and can show proof to the airline that you can enter your destination country legally. Some airlines might have slightly different processes (e.g. their system linked to visas records) though so it might be best to contact the airline and confirm with them.

Hi there Have you heard any issues with using dual citizenship to bypass the 90/180 rule for staying in a country? Example using British passport and visa to arrive and stay 90 days. Leaving country, then returning in a week using USA passport with a different visa and passport # I can’t imagine they could match by name and DOB at the border

Hi Charles! I haven’t done this before – I think theoretically it’s possible but countries with more advanced computer systems might be able to match up your passports based on previous travels (e.g. if you’ve used one passport to exit a country and the next country using your other passport).

The problem is that most developed countries these days scan e-passports into a central database and link them with biometric data (from the passport photo and/or fingerprints) so they would know you were the same person with different passports and so were overstaying.

Unfortunately not. 🙁 Dual citizenship should not be such a contentious issue, should it?! At least not when the travel documents are valid and the individuals have no criminal records.

It really shouldn’t! Hopefully, it doesn’t cause any issues as a lot of the time countries don’t necessarily care about exit stamps from the previous country unless it’s a political issue.

What happens when you have two passports and one of the countries does not allow double citizenship while re-entaring the country which does not allow double citizenship and you do not have a stamp because on the other side you used your other passport…

Good question! Theoretically it shouldn’t matter but who knows how certain border guards would react. Is there anyway you can avoid this situation by using the same passport in both countries?

Good question! Theoretically, it shouldn’t matter but who knows how certain border guards would react. Is there any way you can avoid this situation by using the same passport in both countries?

Hi Michael! I’m a Chinese citizen currently studying in the UK on a student visa. I’m planning a trip to Switzerland soon. I’m wondering whether I could leave England with my New Zealand passport (Otherwise, I would have to get a Schengen visa for my Chinese passport in the UK) and re-enter England with my Chinese passport . There is no departing immigration in airports in England so the only place I can show my passport is at the airline check-in. Do I have to show both passports at the airline check-in?

Or is there any way I could travel with both passports? Thank you so much!

Hi Julia! I don’t see any problem with this – even if there is UK immigration, you can show your UK visa when leaving and then enter Switzerland on your NZ passport. I would keep both passports with you when travelling so you can prove entry and exit.

Just a short note about dual passports. I have a Chilean passport…and my name in that is the Hispanicised version of the name in my UK passport. The UK has recently – 2017 – decreed that anyone with multiple ID’s or passports, is obliged to ensure the next time they renew their UK passport, that the names in ALL these documents are the same. So, in my case, I will be obliged to change the names in one of my passports….by deed poll its easy enough in the UK, but in Chile it would present a bureaucratic nightmare. Maybe other countries don’t have this policy.

Thanks for sharing! I also have different versions of my name in both passports however my second passport has a translation that matches my Australian name on the page opposite the photo ID. Maybe see if that’s possible to do for one of your passports?

Ha, that’s interesting. In my case, the UK will in ‘ exceptional circumstances ‘ allow the use of the phrase ‘ also known as ‘ , followed by the alias. But my circumstance is apparently unexceptional!

I have a conundrum: I have a Chilean and a British passport. I plan an overland trip to Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and Romania. I will fly to Georgia, ( which does not require a visa from Brits ) and then travel overland to Russia. Russian charges Brits £140 for a Visa, but does not charge Chilean passport holders any visa charge ( only an admin fee ). Ukraine does not require a visa from a Brit. Nor does Romania….my next stop. The I will fly back to UK from Romania. Can anyone out there tell me in simple steps, the easiest and hassle free way of doing the trip!

Hi Tim, I would just show whichever passport you want to use in each country when you enter it. Overland border crossings will have two checkpoints so I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t use your UK passport in Georgia, Ukraine & Romania and then enter Russia on your Chilean passport.

Michael – I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Its as I thought. As you say, in theory, each crossing has an EXIT and an ENTRY – with a little ‘no-mans land ‘ in between! I show the UK passport as I leave Georgia, and show the Chilean one as I enter Russia. And yet…..! When I entered Montenegro from Croatia last year, at a tiny little border crossing near the sea, there was only one person….I guess what his left hand did was unknown to what his right hand did!! He was managing both exits from Croatia and entries to Montenegro! Fingers crossed it works…. PS – I enjoy your site and blog.

No problem Tim and thanks for reading! Funnily enough, the same thing has happened to me in the Balkans as well 🙂

Hopefully it all goes smoothly – I’d be surprised if Russia doesn’t have its own border guards given they have very different visa requirements to its neighbours!

I have a French passport and a Philippine Passport. Now, my Philippine passport is about to expire and I should renew it as soon as possible. I noticed that in the renewal there’s an option to declare I have another passport, But my father said I should not declare it because I’ll only be paying taxes and it doesn’t change anything. What are the advantages/disadvantages of declaring it? Also, is it illegal to not declare it?

P.S. The french embassy don’t mind that I have another passport and they did not ask me when getting french passport.

Hi Ger, Unfortunately I don’t know the details about Philippines tax system or their rules about dual citizenship. Maybe consider contacting a taxation lawyer?

Thanks for the interesting article. I will be returning to live in South Africa from the UK as I hold dual citizenship by birth and parents. My question is – do I need to apply for a SA passport or is it fine to stick with one I.e. my British Passport…? Thanks in advance.

Hi Amy, I think you will need your SA passport to re-enter South Africa. Otherwise, when you try to enter on your British passport you will only be able to stay for a limited amount of time.

I’m currently traveling and arrived in Spain yesterday. I have dual citizenship (US and Spain). I entered the frequent flyer number which saved the details of my Spanish passport on my reservation for my US departure. Will I need a visa and/or return flight when leaving Spain back to US?

Hi Bianca, you need to enter the US on your US passport (which you should show to immigration) In terms of boarding your flight the airline should let you board if you show your US passport as proof that you can enter the US. If you’re worried, I suggest calling the airline to confirm that this will be fine for them. 🙂

Hi Michael! Im planning on traveling to Russia from the US through Italy and spend 1-2 days there. I am a bit confused about which passport I should use to purchase tickets and to show at the customs. I have dual citizenship – Russian/American. I know that with the US passport you don’t need a visa to Italy but with Russian you do. Should I use my American passport to purchase tickets? Will I have any issues entering and leaving Russia if my tickets were purchased using the American passport? Thank you.

Hi Nadya, I suggest contacting the airline to confirm that it will be okay. My gut says that you should be able to book on your US passport and then just show your Russian passport to the airline if they require proof of you being able to enter Russia. From an immigration perspective, just make sure to show your Russian passport in Russia.

I’m a dual citizen of Australia/UK (I’m living in Australia) and wanting to go to Hong Kong for a holiday. I will of course leave and return to Australia on an Australian passport but am I able to enter and leave HK on a British passport? Also, with regards to airlines wanting passport details, which passport should I give them? When I check in my luggage, do I show them the passport that I entered on the airline/travel website?

Hi Declan, thanks for your comment! When flying out of Australia as an AU citizen, you should use your Australian passport on your airline ticket & when checking in your luggage. When entering HK just show immigration your British passport if you want to enter as a UK citizen.

My sister who lives in Australia was going on holiday to Canada, she has dual nationality, Australia/United Kingdom. When she arrived at the airport she was told by the Canadian airline that she had to have both passports with her. She couldn’t see any reason why she would want her British passport with her and said so. She was then told that she would have to go home and get it, by this time she was getting upset as she lives 1 and a half hours from the airport. Eventually they got a more senior person and agreed to let her just have her Australian passport,she was in tears as she was going on a cruise and coach trip which had cost a lot of money. Surely this cannot be correct and if it is it is ridiculous.

Sorry to hear your sister had to go through that! I agree that technically there is no need for airlines to see both passports however I usually recommend travelling with both passports as airlines can make their own rules on what ID is required. Glad to hear it worked out in the end!

Thanks for the reply Michael. We got lucky since we just received his Canadian passports.

Very useful article. My son is a dual citizen (Canada/France) leaving in the US on a H4 visa. His Canadian passport, which is tied to his US visa, is expired so we sent it to Canada for a new passport. We need to travel soon to France, but we have not yet received his old and new Canadian passports. We are planning to leave the US and enter France with his French passport but I’m worried that this will raise flag at check-in since we never enter US on his French passport. While in France, we are planning to get old and new Canadian passport send to us, so he can re-enter US visa the Canadian passport that contains the visa. Any feedback on this issue? Thanks

Hi Patrick, I haven’t travelled in the US extensively, however, I imagine you could have problems leaving the country if you can’t prove that you legally entered the US and I wouldn’t suggest risking it. Can you pay extra to have your Canadian passport sent back quicker?

I am a dual citizen (Hong Kong SAR/British Citizen) living in the Hong Kong SAR and will be flying up to Russia for traveling with a Transit in United Kingdom (London). I enter United Kingdom with my British passport, which requires Visa for entering Russia, whereas HKSAR Passport is Visa-free to enter Russia for 14 Days. How should I do for checking in the following flights? 1. Hong Kong – London 2. London – St.Petersburg 3. Moscow – London 4. London – Hong Kong Info: Hong Kong immigration requires Hong Kong Identity cards (a prerequisite for holding HKSAR passport, with Right of Abode in Hong Kong) to enter / depart Hong Kong Also, can a through check-in at Hong Kong to be performed with 2 passports for Flights 1 & 2?

Hi Derek, the key thing is make sure that you use the right passport when clearing immigration in each country. So when entering the UK, use your British passport and then when entering Russia use your Hong Kong passport etc.

For Flight 1, i think you should check in with your HK passport and then clear immigration in London with your British passport. Flight 2 is tricky as you should probably check in with your British passport as you’re in London however they will require proof that you can legally enter Russia (I would clarify with the airline that showing the HK passport is sufficient)

For Flight 3, check in with your HK passport and clear immigration in London with your British passport. For flight 4, check in with your British passport and clear immigration in HK with your HK passport.

I am a dual citizen (Canada/United States) living in the US and will be driving up to Canada to visit family before flying from Toronto to Scotland. I will be travelling with my girlfriend, she is a US citizen. I enter Canada with my Canadian passport and she with her US passport. The part I’m not sure of, is leaving Canada and entering Scotland, and then leaving Scotland and entering Canada. I was planning on travelling on my Canadian passport and just going through the other line (for non-citizens) with my girlfriend when we returned to Canada. Is this the proper plan or should I be doing something else?

Hi Kevin! I don’t think it matters whether you use your Canadian or US passport in the UK (I assume both have visa free entry!) I’m not sure how the lines work in Canada but in other countries the citizen’s line is faster however you can use any line.

Im a japanese and filipino citizen. Im flying to japan using my japanese passport. Is that okay? Or i should have use my philippine passport flying to japan?

Usually, if you’re a citizen of a country, you need enter on the passport of that country. I assume it’ll be the same situation for Japan 🙂

Use your japanese passport but show your fil passport to phil immigration as well. When u reached japan you dont need to show you fil. Passport.

my daughter has dual citizenship, British and filipino. i had to cancel her flight to uk as she could not find her dual citizenship certificate and her philippine passport is expired. did i do the right thing or i should have just let her travel?

She would need a valid passport to enter the UK. I think given she’s British she needs to enter on her British passport however it’s best to check with immigration 🙂

I’m sorry if this isn’t correct,

But isn’t it the other way around? For example, if I am flying from Paris to New York and I am a dual citizen of France and the United States, I will book the flight on the number of my US passport and show it at the Check In, and then when I arrive at the exit immigration I will show them my French passport?

In my experience, the airline’s systems can be linked to visa systems so if you book a flight out on a passport which hasn’t entered the country it might raise some flags when you check in. As long as you have both passports with you I don’t think it should be an issue either way when you check in.

I have both Australian and US passports. I use the US passport to book airline tickets and to check in at the airport when travelling to US. This is because Australian citizens need visa to go to US. Checking in with my US passport does not need US visa. I use my Australian passport when exiting Australia. Entering US I use my US passport. Coming back to Australia I use my Australian passport for entry.

Yes. The airline makes a list of the passengers and sends it to the DESTINATION immigration. It is also responsible for ensuring that all passengers have the right VISA to enter the country they are flying to. So… in you case at he check-in you show the US passport. As you exit Paris immigration you show the French passport and at your destination you show again the US passport.

I’m curious about traveling on dual passports. I’ll be going from Canada to Georgia with British/Canadian. I was intending to use my Canadian passport to get to Georgia. But I’ve decided to visit my parents in Britain on the way back to Canada. I’ve been told I must use my Canadian passport for Canada and I must use my British passport for Britain. The airline accepts only one passport. I’ve also been warned by relatives that I shouldn’t use my Canadian passport in Georgia, I should use my British because allegedly, if there’s a problem, Britain wouldn’t aid me if I’m not using a British passport.

Who/what to believe? I’ve been getting a lot of conflicting information.

You’re right that you should use your Canadian passport in Canada and British passport in the UK. Even if put the Canadian passport on your airline ticket then isn’t anything stopping you from giving immigration your British passport when you land.

I would enter Georgia on whichever passport you feel most comfortable on. I don’t think either countries require a visa for Georgia so if it puts your relatives at ease then you can enter using your British passport 🙂

I have old & new passport but my employment visa is issued by old passport number so will i be able to clear the emmigration department?

Hi Rajesh, I suggest you contact the visa department for the country that issued you your visa and ask them. 🙂

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Astons > Blog > Traveling With Two Passports - Here’s How To Use A Second Passport

• January 31, 2024

Traveling With Two Passports – Here’s How To Use A Second Passport

Dual citizenship and a second passport are a measure of genuine status in today’s world – and possessing two passports elevates traveling to unparalleled dimensions. 

Dual citizenship is as much a tool and resource as a status symbol.

Having a second passport transforms more of the world into a visa-free zone, which by default means fewer government databases into which you need to submit your personal information.

Not to mention enhanced privacy, without needing a visa, you are not informing governments of your travel plans and itinerary. 

Being a dual citizen and traveling with two passports unlocks the world while better securing your privacy as you explore it.

But how exactly does a dual citizen travel and use two passports? The experts at Astons are here to explain.

How dual citizens travel with two passports

Having two passports is one of the most significant benefits and advantages of being a dual citizen.

But the question is often asked: how do you travel using two passports?

It’s a great question, and the answer is actually much more straightforward than many expect.

To best understand how to travel using two passports, it is easiest to divide the travel in the following ways:

• The stages of traveling – arrival vs departure
• Where and how you are traveling

The stages of traveling with two passports

Traveling with two passports – the departure process.

When traveling with two passports, the most important thing to remember is which one to use when.

It is easy to confuse departure and arrival elements simply because they intersect at the same point – the departure airport.

However, thinking about these elements individually makes it easier to understand how to apply the appropriate passport to each stage.

To begin with, at the departing airport, there are typically three instances in which you need to present a passport – in order:

• At check-in
• At passport control
• At the boarding gate

Situations 1 and 3 are connected to the airline, and thus, by default, the plane ticket and the arrival destination.

Situation 2 is based solely on how you are in the system – specifically, how you entered the country you are departing. 

When booking your plane ticket, you need to use the passport you intend to enter the next country with – not the passport you need to show to depart the country you are currently in. 

At check-in and the boarding gate, you will show the airline staff the passport you used to book the ticket and intend to use to enter the next country. It is not their business or concern if you have other passports in your possession. 

At the departing passport control, you do not need to show them your airline ticket – so you don’t. It is not their business or concern if you have other passports in your possession. 

You only need to present the passport you used to enter the country with – and that is precisely what you do. 

Once you are finished with departure passport control, you can put that passport away – you will no longer need it.

As a note, some countries require their citizens to depart, enter, or both using that country’s passport if you are a citizen of that country.

For example, all US citizens must use a valid US passport to enter and depart the United States – no exceptions. 

Traveling with two passports – the arrival process

The arrival process is straightforward once you arrive in your new country. 

Everything at this stage only involves one passport – the one you used to book the ticket with.

You simply depart your plane and head to arrival passport control. 

At passport control, present the passport you want to enter the country with – the one that matches the plane ticket – and get entered into the system under that identity.

For the return journey, do the same steps, but the airports are simply reversed. 

That is how dual citizens travel using two passports. 

Does where or how you travel affect using a second passport?

There is an interesting twist when discussing international travel, as not all international travel is the same.

Where you travel can actually make international traveling more like domestic travel. 

For example, once you have entered any EU country that is a member of the Schengen Zone , you can travel internationally to any other EU country of the Schengen Zone without needing a passport or dealing with passport control. This applies to the travel element obviously, to book a plane ticket is the same process and requires the same information. 

However, if you travel from an EU country in the Schengen Zone to an EU country outside the Schengen Zone –   Cyprus , Ireland, Bulgaria, and Romania – you do need to pass through passport control.

At these points, you need to use the same passport you used to enter the first EU country.

The Schengen Zone is a group of 27 European countries, mostly EU members, that have eliminated border control for travel between themselves. 

If a dual US/German citizen entered Germany using their German/EU passport,  and during their visit that person decided to travel to Italy, they would not be bothered with passport control.

However, if they were to visit Bulgaria, they would need to deal with border control and show their German passport to enter and leave Bulgaria to return to Germany.

Note – As of 1 April 2024, Bulgaria and Romania officially entered the European Union’s Schengen Zone

Likewise, how you travel can impact using two passports, but only in operation—the arrival and departure elements of which passport to use when remains the same.

For example, if you are traveling across international borders by bus, it is the same procedure as buying an airplane ticket. You must show the same passport for entry and departing the same country.

When crossing borders by bus, the bus ticket is often irrelevant, but to be sure, when travel tickets are involved, always follow the framework outlined in the airport example above.

When crossing by car, no ticket is involved; this is simply a straightforward passport issue. When you reach the departing border, you show the passport you entered that country with.

When you reach the next border, you present the passport with which you want to enter the country.

As a note, vehicle and insurance documentation can complicate this situation – specifically, the vehicle and insurance documents need to match the identity you present at passport control.

To address any discrepancies, you need to speak with the agencies that issued those documents and ask how they address the situation of dual citizens with more than one passport. They may issue duplicate documents with the other identity.

When traveling by ferry or train, implement the airport framework. 

Benefits of traveling with a second passport

There is a litany of benefits and advantages to being a dual citizen, but arguably the biggest is having two passports. 

While citizenship represents rights, passports represent access, and together, they are status.

With two passports, an entrepreneur, investor, and family can unlock destinations they are currently shuttered from due to visa requirements.

For example, US citizens require a visa to enter Russia, China, and Brazil. However, those with Caribbean passports from Dominica or Grenada can enter those countries visa-free.

A dual citizen of the US and Grenada would wield the power of both citizenships and, by default, both passports. 

The Caribbean countries have signed an historic collective agreement to increase investment requirements to at least $200,000 “no later than 30 June 2024”

Also, launching in 2025 is ETIAS, the EU’s eVisa system that will require all third-country nationals – including US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens – to apply for approval in order to enter any EU country. All EU citizens and EU residents will have ETIAS exemption.

Likewise, there are situations in which you don’t want some countries to know which places you have visited in the past. By using separate passports, you can shield your travel from unwarranted inspection.

Using two passports can also prevent the country you just left from knowing where you are going.

Pros to traveling with two passports

• Global mobility is genuinely global
• Access more visa-free countries
• Extended length of stay in certain countries
• No residency visa is needed in certain countries
• Use as identity documents to open bank accounts
• Prevent your travels from being tracked by unscrupulous parties and apps
• Use as an identity document to access education and health institutions in certain countries
• Access business grants and incentives in certain countries
• Work in certain countries as a citizen or resident without any visa requirements
• Privacy at a level unattainable any other way

Cons to traveling with two passports

• Cannot purchase round-trip tickets
• Passport management – get confused about which passport to use when
• Passport renewals – some countries require submitting biometrics in person
• Picking a favorite

How to become a dual citizen and get a second passport

Being a dual citizen is accessing a degree of self-sovereignty that was once only available to monarchs and the elite.

Today, however, this freedom and power move is available to entrepreneurs, investors, and families worldwide.

Astons provides access to a portfolio of citizenship and residency solutions that provide direct access to dual citizenship or Golden Visa programs that can lead to citizenship eligibility.

Our most popular programs are in the European Union and the Caribbean, and most can be completed in less than a year. 

Which is best for you depends upon your wants, dreams, goals, and demands, but our team will create a list of solutions for you to choose from that addresses them all.

Schedule your Free Confidential and Comprehensive Consultation with an expert at Astons now.

Thomas Julian

Marketing Manager – English-speaking Markets Digital Professional/Dual Citizen/Expat Consultant

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How to Travel with Two Passports

Updated: February 9, 2021 Dateline: Mexico City, Mexico

Dual citizenship can be a very exotic idea for many people. It’s mystical enough that when these people first find Nomad Capitalist while looking for second passport options , they have a hard time figuring out the logistics of something that seems so obscure.

“How do I travel with my second passport?” they ask. 

“How do I manage having two, three, or even four passports?” they wonder.

“What kind of problems is this going to cause and how do I avoid them?” is a common concern.

These questions can sometimes feel overwhelming. But, with a little bit of knowledge, most people find that there are pretty straightforward answers.

Here at Nomad Capitalist, we have the answers and knowledge that you’re looking for. In this article, we’ll cover which passports will help simplify your travel and what problems you should look out for while traveling. 

PASSPORTS AND FLAG THEORY

Now, if you’ve kept up with Nomad Capitalist and have read at least a few of our articles or watched some of our videos on the subject, you know that my approach to citizenship is a little different from that of other people.

The traditional dual citizen that people see on YouTube or Instagram is a Canadian or a US citizen that has branched out to explore somewhere else. Perhaps they had a grandparent from Ireland or another ancestor from Italy or Poland and picked up their second citizenship through descent .

This person now has two passports that allow them to travel visa-free around the European Union (EU) and North America. At this point, they’re basically traveling back and forth between the two regions, living in one and visiting the other. This is a relatively straightforward way of handling having two passports.

If you can get a European passport through ancestry, that’s fine. In the long term though, having a European passport may be a negative for your tax strategy . However, if you can get a free passport, you should take the opportunity while you can.

What I’m concerned with, and what we look into here at Nomad Capitalist, is how you can get and use passports to support your financial strategy and nomadic lifestyle — meaning passports that you can obtain from a country that you can use as a base in your international strategy to go where you’re treated best.

This means looking at all the available options that will best suit your needs rather than simply picking a place that sounds nice and trying to make it work.

As far as traveling is concerned, this involves knowing what kind of opportunities for visa-free travel are available through each citizenship. To this end, we’ve created the Nomad Passport Index to help our readers. Not only does the index account for visa-free travel but it also considers factors such as taxes and public perception to better inform you of a passport’s true value based on your personal situation and needs.

We have also created a tiered system to break down the quality of travel available with each passport. For this article, we’ll focus on these three tiers:

• Tier A Passports: Since the United States is the most difficult country to get into, Tier A passports are from countries that have visa-free access to the US as part of the US Visa Waiver Program . This is a very short list.
• Tier B Passports: These passports allow those carrying them to visit Europe’s Schengen Area without a visa. Europe is much more lenient than the US, but still not freely open to every passport holder.
• Tier C Passports: These passports are much more limited and do not allow visa-free access to the US or the EU.

The traditional example of a dual citizen is someone with two Tier A passports that has a relatively simple way of getting back and forth between destinations.

The catch is that those two Tier A passports come with tax burdens and other potential downsides that may not make the benefits of having those two passports worth it. These people will potentially have or want a series of Tier B passports that allow them a wide variety of opportunities, but with less of the drawbacks they want to avoid.

Having renounced my US citizenship, I now use a portfolio of Tier B passports that give me almost the same amount of visa-free travel as my old US passport. It’s a solution that truly allows me to go where I’m treated best.

COMMON TRAVEL COMPLICATIONS WITH MULTIPLE PASSPORTS

Whether you have two Tier A passports, a combination of Tier A and something else, or a portfolio of Tier B passports, you will certainly run into a few common complications when traveling with two passports.

The following are the issues my team , my clients, and I commonly face while traveling from country to country:

Juggling Passports with Airlines and Immigration

The first thing to consider is what you’re telling the airline (or whatever other method of travel you’re using) when you’re traveling between countries. 

Some people worry that the airline is going to hover over them, making sure that whatever passport they entered in the airline’s database is the passport they’re going to use. In reality, this isn’t the case.

The airline’s job is to make sure that you aren’t going to be denied entry into the next country. They aren’t worried about what passport you use to get through immigration. They just want to make sure that they don’t have to get you back after you’ve been denied entry.

Customs, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. If you live in the United States, you’re supposed to enter and exit with your US passport. They don’t want you to come in as a German or Norwegian citizen if you have a US passport. While there aren’t any exit controls, they want you to leave as a US citizen as well.

They want this because, for all intents and purposes, they consider you their citizen on their soil and no one else’s. And the same thing happens if you travel to the EU. They still view you as their citizen, no matter what other travel documents you may have.

All in all, this is not as huge of an issue as it may seem at first. Each group will expect the appropriate passport and, as long as you present the documents that airlines and customs are each expecting, you shouldn’t be held up.

If you aren’t a citizen of one or both of the countries you’re traveling through, the same principle applies. Show whichever passport is most suitable to the airline you’re traveling with so they know you won’t be denied entry. Then, show customs officers whichever passport will allow you to pass through freely.

Nothing too complicated, especially if you’ve done your research beforehand.

Residencies and Traveling

Another thing to pay attention to as you travel is if you’re going through a country where you have a residency permit . What passport you use while traveling through these countries can be potentially helpful or hurtful.

For example, if I’m going to Malaysia, I’m going to advise the airline of the passport I have that has my ten-year Malaysian sticker visa in it — just to make things easy and straightforward.

At the end of the day, it might not make a huge difference to the airline which of my passports I use as long as I can get in visa-free. The problem that could come up, however, is that entering Malaysia on another passport may invalidate my sticker visa.

Mexico is another country where this could be a problem. If I have a Mexican residence permit associated with one of my passports but enter on another, it will immediately nullify my residence permit.

The solution here is to understand the terms of entry to these countries. Mexico and Malaysia don’t really care which passport you use to enter. You’ll only have problems if there’s some other kind of immigration status to be concerned with.

As long as you keep straight which passport will admit you when you get there and understand the rules of the country you’re going to, this won’t be a problem.

Passports, Privacy Concerns, and Dual Citizen Restrictions

Privacy is something you’ll also want to keep in mind when it comes to restrictions on your dual citizenship status, more so for travelers who aren’t citizens of western countries. 

There are certain countries where you have to report dual citizenship and other countries where you aren’t allowed dual citizenship . India, for example, only allows a very select few to have dual citizenship.

What’s often advised is if you have a second passport and want to retain your Indian passport is to always travel through a third country. In this situation, you would fly from India to somewhere where Indians have visa-free travel and then switch in that country to your second passport. By doing this, there will be no record of your second passport in the Indian immigration system.

That being said, if you find yourself in a situation like this, you’ll want to take the time to get all the information you can from the people who helped you get the passport as well as lawyers in your own country. 

I personally don’t want to advise on something where you are potentially going to get in trouble at home by not reporting other citizenships.

Again, this isn’t normally an issue for westerners, but it can be for a few countries, including China.

What you should be aware of is that whatever passport you use with the airline database or to get through customs and immigration may go into a system that allows other groups to see what passports you have used as you traveled.

Any airline that flies into the United States, for example, is required to share its passenger data. You have to be careful how you enter and exit a country and how you’re representing yourself to the airline if you have a passport that you’re worried about. 

There are certainly privacy concerns here, but the reality of the situation is that a lot of data is being shared across borders. Increasingly, countries will be asking you what passports you hold.

Whether it’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization ( ESTA) or the Electronic Travel Information System ( ETIS) in the European Union, there is going to be much less privacy around citizenships in the coming years. If you’re traveling with multiple passports, the big issue will be being cognizant of any potential problems or issues that can come up that could endanger your dual citizenship.

CAN A SECOND PASSPORT GIVE YOU A TRAVEL LOOPHOLE? 

There are actually two definitions for “second passport.” 

In one case you have two passports from two different countries where you have citizenship. The other case would be if you had two passports from the same country for whatever reason — say one of your passports was in an embassy getting a visa sticker so you got a second passport from your country so that you could continue to travel. 

I get asked questions about whether you can travel in a different way, have more travel privileges or break some of the rules by having either type of second passport. People have asked if there are legal loopholes that having two travel documents can afford you. 

Of course there are some privileges that come with a second passport. 

Having two citizenships means you have two travel documents. If one of your countries has some kind of problem it can affect your travel options. 

We have been seeing this during the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons from certain countries were refused entry when traveling to other countries. If you were Chinese and you were trying to enter a country, it didn’t matter if you didn’t actually live in China, some countries were turning away all Chinese citizens. 

Additionally, not every passport can get into every country. Most Western passports have pretty good visa-free travel, but you probably can’t use them to get into Russia or China. If you have passports from two different countries it can expand your options for travel and business. It’s a good diversification strategy overall. 

But other than these benefits, people want to know if a second passport can provide a kind of travel loophole. 

Many want to know if you have two passports that both give access to the Schengen area in Europe if they can use the two different passports to extend their stay. For example, an American passport gives them 90 days out of the overall 180 days that they can spend in the Schengen area. The theory is that a second citizenship from another country that also has access to the Schengen area can provide an additional 90 days. 

Could they use these two passports to go to the Schengen area visa-free for 90 days with their American passport and then leave, turn around and come back with their St. Lucian passport for another 90 days visa-free? 

Other people have asked if they have a US passport and got a second US passport that has a different number, could they do the same thing where they leave and then come back and reenter the area using the other passport to get more visa-free travel. 

While there are still a lot of countries that don’t do biometrics and some that still don’t take your photo, most countries keep good records. 

When you go to a country, they scan your passport. Many countries now require biometric passports. They’re going to look at your name, date of birth, and photo and they’ll keep that on record. Sometimes they’ll capture your fingerprints or make sure they have photos. 

If you leave a country and come right back on a different passport, there are certain countries that may not mind. Certain countries will let you in as long as you’re respecting their visa rules. 

Let’s say you get 30 days or 90 days visa-free, if you leave every 30 or 90 days and come right back, some countries don’t care if you do that over and over again with the same passport. They can’t let you overstay but as long as you’re coming and going it’s fine. 

But other countries have a rule like 90 per 180 or 30 per 365. For example, Colombia has a 90 per 180 rule, meaning you can only spend up to 90 days in a 180 day period there, regardless of the number of entries. 

For those countries, it’s generally inadvisable to try and trick them by reentering with a different passport. If a country says you have visa-free access for 90 days out of every 180 days — this is the rule in the Schengen area — they aren’t talking about the passport, they’re talking about the person. 

You can’t use all your different passports to come and go. 

Many countries have interesting residence permit options. If you want to spend full time there I would recommend getting a residence permit or even citizenship in the country you want to live in rather than trying to trick them with two separate passports. 

Many people view dual citizenship and traveling with two passports as something exotic, but what they don’t realize is that it’s really just a practical issue with a practical solution. That solution breaks down into two simple ideas:

• Enter and exit a country on its own passport, wherever possible.
• Present yourself and your documents in the most practical and suitable way possible as you travel.

Depending on the reason that you have that second passport, this will look very different in each situation.

If you have a US passport along with a Tier B passport that you picked up through economic citizenship as a Plan B, you’ll probably still use the US passport in most emerging countries if both provide you the same visa-free access.

If you have two passports (or a portfolio of passports ) from nations that are very geopolitically different, like Montenegro and Serbia, appropriately using each of those passports will allow you to gain visa-free access to parts of the world you wouldn’t have on each one individually.

Sometimes these benefits are much smaller. For example, you can get into Armenia with either a US or St. Lucia passport, but the US passport will get you through faster with fewer questions. 

In other countries, being a US citizen may not be as favorable. 

All in all, if you’re able to create a true, cohesive story about who you are, where you’re from, where you’re going, and why you should be welcomed there, life is going to be much easier. In my experience, the more disjointed your story, the slower and more complicated your travel will be.

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The Ultimate Guide To Traveling With Two Passports

Being a dual citizen comes with a lot of benefits for travelers.  Not only does it give you access to two different embassies in the event that you need help when abroad, but it also means you can benefit from having two different options when it comes to entering different countries and taking advantage of their visa policies.

If you don’t have a second passport, I highly recommend finding out if you qualify for one.  If you were born in another country or one/both of your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents are citizens of another country, you may also qualify as a citizen.  Look into your family history and see if you can get a second passport!

I’m a dual Canadian and Romanian citizen and this has proven to be extremely useful for me in my travels since my Canadian passport gets me visa-free access to the USA & most other countries around the world whereas my Romanian passport gives me complete freedom of movement within the EU.

This means that while other Canadians have to calculate how many days they can spend in each country of the Schengen Area on their 90-day visa while also planning out their stay outside of it so they can maximize their total time in Europe, all I have to do is flash my Romanian passport and I can stay as long as I want!

And I’m not the only one who benefits from this.  If you’re reading this page, you probably also have dual citizenship and you’re wondering how you can make the most of it.  

The thing is, there is a process to traveling with two passports and you have to know what you’re doing because otherwise, you may run into immigration issues if you flash the wrong passport at the wrong time.

Luckily for you though, I have detailed everything you need to know about traveling with two passports in this easy-to-follow 5-step guide!

1. Decide which passport to use to enter your destination country

Before you book your flight or head to the airport, you should first figure out which of your two passports you plan to use to enter the country you plan to visit.  The one that you should use is the one that gives you the easiest access to that country with regards to visa requirements.

Note: If you are a citizen of the country you plan to enter, then you must use that country’s passport to enter it.  You cannot enter a country that you are a citizen of by using another country’s passport.

If you are not a citizen of the country you plan to enter, then you can find the visa requirements for that country by checking out its Destination Guide or by going to Wikipedia and searching for “visa policy of ______”, inputting the name of the country you’re planning to visit in the blank space.  

And if you want to compare the visa requirements for two passports at the same time, check out the Passport Index .  Just input your two nationalities and find out which one gives you easier access for every country in the world side by side!

Choose the passport that gives you the most visa-free days in that country .

However, if neither of your passports is visa-exempt for your destination country, then pick the one that only requires an eTA, eVisitor, or ETIAS.  If neither of them fit that criteria either, then pick the one that only requires a Visa on Arrival or eVisa.

Note 1: if you need to get a visa to enter your destination country, make sure you’re prepared for it by applying soon enough before your trip.  Learn more about the different types of visas in my Guide to Visas & Vaccinations .

Note 2: when crossing a land border, many countries will not allow you to to use a different passport than the one you used to exit the country you are crossing from.  They usually ask to see an exit stamp for that country before allowing you to enter.

If both of your passports have the exact same visa requirements for your destination country, then just use the same passport that you used/plan to use to enter the country of your departure airport to make it easier for you.  

For example: if you are in France on a US passport and you plan to fly from France to the UK, just continue using the US passport (assuming your 2nd passport has the exact same visa requirements for the UK) to enter the UK in order to keep things simple.

2. Which passport to use when booking your flight

When booking your flight to another country, most airlines will ask you for your passport information.  This is partly so they can identify you, but it’s also because they need to make sure that you are legally allowed to enter the country that they are bringing you to, whether that’s because you’re a citizen, you have visa-free entry, or you have a valid entry visa.  

The reason why airlines care whether or not you’re legally allowed to enter the country they are bringing you to is because if you’re denied entry into that country after arriving and you are deported back to your original country, it’s the airline’s responsibility to take you back.

Note: this is also why sometimes an airline will ask you for proof of onward travel before they will let you board a flight.  If it’s discovered that you cannot legally enter the country they bring you to, they often get fined for bringing you there in the first place.  Learn more about this in my Guide to Proof of Onward Travel .

Therefore when booking your flight, you should use the details for the passport that you chose in Step 1.  In other words, the passport that will legally let you enter the country of your destination country and that you plan to use to enter it.

3. Which passport to use when checking in for your flight

This one is pretty simple.  Just check in to your flight with the same passport that you used to book it because that’s what the airline check-in agents will have in their system.

If you show them any other passport, they will get confused and the check-in will get delayed.

4. Which passport to use at border control in the departure country

This one is also pretty simple.  The passport you show to the immigration officials at border control when leaving a country has to be the same one that you used to enter that country.   

Note: this might be different to the one that you plan to use to enter your arrival country.

This is because their system has been tracking how long you’ve been staying in the country and if you show them a passport that doesn’t have any entry data, they might assume that you entered the country illegally.  So to avoid any issues or questioning, just remember to show them the exact same passport that you used to enter the country.

For example: if you entered the UK on a US passport, you must show that exact same passport to the immigration official at the border control of your departure airport in the UK.

5. Which passport to use at border control in the arrival country

This is the final step in your dual passport journey and if you’ve been following this guide so far, then you probably already know the answer to this one.

The passport that you show to the immigration officials at border control when entering your destination country should be the one that you chose in Step 1 .

In other words, the one that gives you the easiest access to that country with regards to visa requirements (unless you are a citizen of that country, in which case you use that country’s passport).

Some important things to note about dual citizenship:

• If your second passport translates your name into another language, find out if they can add an English translation of your name on another page to help prove your identity in case someone questions the validity of your two passports.

If your second nationality is for a country that matches one of the previous descriptions, you may want to think twice about becoming a citizen and getting a passport for that country since the hassles of being a citizen may outweigh the benefits.  However, it is totally up to you to decide based on your own personal situation!

And that’s all there is to it!

Traveling with two passports comes with many benefits and as long as you know how to use them when crossing borders, you’ll never run into any issues doing it!  Luckily though, the process is pretty simple and straightforward.

If this guide helped clear up the process for you, let me know in the comments below.  And if you want to know how to protect yourself while abroad, check out my Guide to Staying Safe While Traveling .

About The Author

Hi there,  I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my  About page   and find me on social media.

Hi there, I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my About page   and find me on social media.

I’m Sebastian , the founder and creator of Travel Done Simple! I was born in Europe and raised in Canada, but I now consider myself to be a citizen of the world. When I’m not busy exploring new destinations, I’m here giving you the best travel tips so you can do the same! 

You can learn more about me on my About page and if it’s your first time on my site,  start here !

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So you have two passports—do you know how to use them?

Traveling with more than one passport in your pocket always comes with a spy thriller novel-like allure. But it’s also confusing. After all, a passport isn’t just a movie ticket that grants you entry; it establishes your ongoing right to visit, live in, or work in a country. A dual or triple citizen needs to make sure their movements don’t peeve the authorities of the countries they visit.

Dominic Volek is a man who knows a lot about passports. He is a managing partner at Henley & Partners, an investment migration firm that advises high-net-worth individuals on the numerous residence and citizenship-by-investment programs around the world. He estimates that up to 80% of the firm’s clientele are seeking a second passport in order to get visa-free access to a broader range of countries. (For example, passports from Cyprus and Malta are particularly appealing, as they provide investors with an alternative citizenship or residency in an EU member state, while Grenada and Moldova allow investors visa-free access to the Schengen area.)

However, he says for all the money and red tape clients wade through, the actual logistics of moving through airports once a client gets their second little blue, red, or green book rarely comes up. “What always surprises me is how few of our clients actually ask the question: How do I use this now that I have it? I would say probably only 10% of our clients actually [ask that].”

So, the first question you need to ask yourself when traveling with two passports is simple: Are both of those countries cool with you being a national of somewhere else? If they’re not, then traveling with multiple passports is a more high-risk endeavor—one that could get your passport revoked. The good news is that two thirds of the world’s nations already grant this right (high-income nations are more likely to do so) and Volek notes the global trend over the past few years is that more and more countries are seeing the benefit of allowing multiple citizenships.

The second thing to keep in mind is “the golden rule,” as Volek put it: “As long as you’re entering and exiting the same country with the same passport, then you’re fine.” That means the immigration officials of the country you are visiting (or living in) should only know you by one of your passports per trip. He’s right, of course, but there are some caveats.

The first caveat is what you do at the airline desk. An airline cares about one thing and one thing only: Do you have authorization to enter the destination country they are flying you to? If you don’t, then they are liable to pay to transport you back to where you came from (which they want to avoid).

Volek illustrated with an example: Let’s say you’re a South African citizen living in Singapore on a visa that’s linked to your South African passport. Let’s also say you have a UK passport. If you’re flying from Singapore to the UK, you’ll need to check in with the airline using with your UK passport. (If you tried to check in with your South African one, you’d be asked for a UK visa). However, once you move past the check-in desk and you come face to face with Singaporean immigration officials, you need to show them your South African passport, which contains the visa which grants you the right to be in that country. When you arrive in the UK, you enter on your UK passport.

The second caveat has to do with that immigration check. Confusingly, despite having relatively hardline stances towards immigration, the UK and the US are two of just a handful of countries in the world that do not have physical immigration checks when you depart. So even if you wanted to flash the same passport you used to enter the country to leave it, no one will directly ask you to. (Remember, the airline will only ask for the passport that affords you access to the country they are flying you to, not the one that grants you the right to be in the country you’re leaving.) This can be confusing for travelers , who may feel they have no proof (in the form of a passport stamp) which shows they didn’t overstay a visa.

However, just because some countries don’t have “boots on the ground” checks, that doesn’t mean officials are not aware you’re leaving the country. Airlines share their flight manifests with authorities before they take off—as do operators of sea, ferry, or rail journeys—so even if no one ever asked you to flash your passport, they know you left. A Customs Border Patrol official also confirmed for Quartz that officials know about your second passport; that’s why passport applications generally ask you if you possess a passport of another nation. So rest assured: They know you’re gone, with both your passports in tow.

In summary, says Volek, there are two main scenarios where people need to be cautious about which passport to use.  The first is the type that’s likely to affect one of his clients: people who have one passport that is much weaker than the other. This traveler needs to make sure she is traveling on the stronger passport that grants her visa-free access to the country she is visiting.

The other scenario is a question of citizenship and residency. You want to make sure you’re entering the country you live and work in on the passport that grants you the right to do that, even if you could theoretically enter visa-free or visa-on-arrival with your alternative passport. (It’s worth noting that US law requires that citizens who are entering or leaving the US “bear a valid United States passport”—even if they don’t live or work there anymore. However, a change in the law that went into effect in 1979 eliminated the penalties for this.)

While the second scenario may seem like common sense, it would be easy to assume, say, that if you lost your UK passport or it was going to expire two days before a flight, it’d be fine to enter the UK on your US passport (which would allow you visa-free access anyway). However, Volek says it’s best to avoid that. That said, it’s also best practice to always travel with both your passports in your possession.

Despite the lingering perception that traveling with two passports is dodgy, it’s not. As long as you’re a citizen of two nations that allow it, you’ve got nothing to hide.

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Traveling with Two Passports

10 June 2021

People who have more than one citizenship may also hold multiple passports. This raises a number of questions about taking a trip abroad. How does traveling with two passports work?

Should dual citizens bring both passports ? Which one should be shown at border control? Can you enter a country with one passport, but use the other for the return trip?

In many cases, the answer depends on the destination and the nationalities in question. There can be advantages and disadvantages to having multiple passports.

See below how to make the most of traveling with two passports, dual citizenship, and which one to use in which situations.

Can You Have Two Passports from Different Countries?

Yes, many countries allow their citizens to hold more than one nationality. This means travelers can potentially hold a passport for each country they are a citizen of .

Some people are automatically considered dual citizens from birth . This may be because their parents are of different nationalities and/or because they were born in a different country from their parents.

Dual citizenship can be obtained via the following ways:

• Ancestry (parents or grandparents of a different nationality)
• Naturalization

The rules vary depending on the country in question. Some countries do not recognize dual citizenship, while others will only allow it through certain means.

Which Passport Should Dual Citizens Use?

Travelers with dual citizenship should travel with the passport that makes their journey easiest .

Different countries each have their own immigration and visa policies . These policies often affect some nationalities differently from others .

Travelers of certain nationalities might need to go to an embassy to get a visa. The application can take weeks or even months to process. On the other hand, others might be eligible to take the faster and more convenient route of applying for an online visa or travel authorization. Some nationalities may not need a visa at all to enter certain destinations.

The advantage of having 2 passports is that one passport might grant the holder access to online visas or visa-free entry to destinations that the other does not.

For example, a dual citizen of both the US and Cuba will find it easier to visit Brazil with their US passport . If they travel with their Cuban passport, they will need to get a visa from an embassy. On the other hand, with their US passport, they can stay in Brazil for up to 90 days visa-free.

It is always a good idea to check the visa requirements for the countries that issued your passports before booking a trip or applying for a visa. Then, it is possible to choose the best option to travel with.

It is also important to remember that if a traveler applies for a visa, they will have to register their passport details . The same passport must then be used to enter the destination country.

Should Dual Citizens Travel With Both Passports?

Each journey is different and it is advisable to check the passport requirements of all the countries the traveler will leave, arrive in, or transit through.

In many cases, it is a good idea for those with dual citizenship to travel with both passports . That way, they will be able to take advantage of the perks of each document.

For example, one passport might allow them to get an eVisa rather than an embassy visa and speed up the process of getting entry permission. The other passport may make the journey home easier if there is a separate queue at border control for returning citizens, for example.

It is also worth noting that certain sovereign states, such as the USA, insist that returning nationals show a passport issued by that country upon arrival.

This applies to those with multiple nationalities. Americans traveling with dual passports may be able to use their non-US passport to enter other countries but must bring their US passport to return home.

Can I Enter a Country With One Passport and Exit With Another?

In most cases, travelers should show the same passport that they used to enter the country when they depart.

The rules and procedures vary depending on the country. Some states, such as the UK and US, do not stamp passports when an individual leaves. However, most countries require the passport to be shown at border control when departing and will either stamp or scan the document .

This is how authorities know that a foreign visitor has left the country and not overstayed their visa .

In some cases, it might be possible to leave with a different passport. However, it is not advisable, as immigration might believe the individual has overstayed and may impose penalties the next time they try to enter the country.

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How to Easily Travel with Two Passports – A Guide to Understanding Dual Citizenship

Are you a dual citizen looking to travel with two different passports? Has exploring multiple countries with two separate documents confused and overwhelmed you? If so, worry no more because this guide, specifically tailored for dual citizens, will provide all the details needed to make navigating international borders with multiple nationalities effortless. Here, we’ll cover everything from obtaining dual citizenship in the first place to how it works when you get on a plane or cross border checkpoints.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How to Travel With Two Passports?

Dual citizenship, as its name suggests, is holding citizenship in both the US and another country simultaneously. This can occur in several different ways depending on the situation. The first is by birth. If a child of a US citizen is born in another country, the child holds citizenship in both countries.

Marriage is another way that this can occur. Most countries automatically extend citizenship to people from the US who marry a person from that country. The third is by going through the naturalization process. This is where a US citizen will become a naturalized citizen.

When this happens, the person does not lose their previous status as a citizen of their home.

If you hold dual citizenship and are traveling with two valid passports, there are a number of essential things to keep in mind.

What Are The Benefits of Having a Second Passport?

The most important thing to know is that even if you are a dual citizen traveling with two completely valid passports , you will always need to travel with your United States passport at all times. You must use your US passport when you attempt to re-enter the US. The other passport is for the country where you have dual citizenship and want to enter that country.

The passport you should present when entering a country often depends on which passport you use when booking your airfare or other travel accommodations. For example, if you hold dual citizenship in France and the US, you may book your first flight with your French passport.

Then, book your return trip with your U.S. passport. In that event, you would present your French passport when you reach your destination. Hence, you’re US passport when you return home to the US. As a general rule of thumb, you should always use the passport number for the country you plan on visiting when booking any round-trip ticket.

Issuing and Renewing Passports

If you hold dual citizenship and plan on renewing or applying for a US passport , your second passport is not part of the application process. It can, however, be used as proof of your identity. Renewing your foreign passport while living in the US requires contacting your country’s embassy. Many will require you to return your current passport to complete the renewal process.

All in all, dual citizenship has many benefits, making it an attractive option. It can open the door for more opportunities to expand your career, study, and travel. Having dual citizenship also allows you to exploit two countries’ economic and political systems.

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Travel hassle-free with your 2 passports: 3 things you must know to pass European border checks

by Lara | Blog | 137 comments

Border police and airlines do not handle travelers with multiple passports.

They expect each traveler to have ONE passport. Showing two (or more) passports at border checks led to bad results for many people I met in my experience as an immigration lawyer: border officers may easily delay you and let you miss a connecting flight.

What should you know to avoid any problem at European border checks?

(This article was updated on Feb 29, 2024)

#1. European countries have immigration checks on EXIT, too!

Most countries in the world have immigration checks only on their entrance. Not in Europe.

Most European States are tied to the Schengen Agreement. They share external borders and the area within, a common space uniting more European countries, is called the Schengen area. Each traveler is expected to show the passport to the immigration police upon arrival at any point of entry of the Schengen area and also at any point of exit.

Schengen states (27): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden. Additionally, the non-EU States Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein also have joined the Schengen Area.

# 2. You are supposed to show only ONE passport. 

If you have more than one passport, which passport is it best to use?

If you are traveling to Italy and have an Italian passport or ID card, Italian law requires you to use that to identify yourself. Most states in the world have a similar policy.

– If you have an Italian passport

1. Always show your Italian passport (and only that) upon entering or leaving Italy, at any airport or another border crossing. 2. If you arrive at any point of entry in the Schengen area other than  Italy (and you do not have a passport of that particular country), again show your Italian passport. That is because Italy has privileged relations with all European Union countries.

Italian citizens can enter the EU and EAA countries freely, together with their family members. Follow the signs for European citizens and show your Italian passport.

– If you do not have an Italian passport

If you are traveling to Italy and do not have an Italian passport, the most convenient choice is to use the passport of the state with which Italy has special border policy agreements, such as one of the countries of the Schengen area (see list above). That allows you to enjoy free access without the limitations for non-EU citizens.

Other convenient passports are those of states for which Italy has no visa requirement, at least for short stays. The list varies from year to year. You can check whether you need a visa according to your passport and country of usual residence: official visa website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

How does the 90-days rule work with 2 passports?

Even if you are “visa-free”, a 90-days limit applies. The Schengen area policy is such that you can stay for a maximum of 90 days within the last 180-days period from your entry date (counting backwards). Check my article here for more details.

If you have more than one passport and none is of a Schengen state (listed above), the same rule applies. Each person has a 90 days stay limit within the 180-days period.

#3. Ticket data = passport data

When bookign your flight, write your data carefully according to what is written on your passport when traveling to Italy and to Europe.

Border police checks start with matching your passport data (including the passport number) with your travel ticket, as well as an EU Passenger Locator Form and whatever other document they may request at any given time of the year.

If the border police notice any difference, a deeper and more time-consuming control will take place. The outcome depends on the law of the state in which you find yourself at the time of entry. Moreover, you can be denied boarding if your name on it differs in anything from that on the registered passport in your flight booking.

Not only the passport number on your travel ticket and forms can be an issue. In some cases, the same person’s name and last name may vary from one passport to the other. For example, a married woman’s last name may be registered differently from country to country.  Whilst many states apply the husbands’ name to a wife, in Italy the maiden name usually applies to all ID documents. Moreover, the spelling of the name may vary, according to the law of the state that issued the passport. Italy applies the name(s) and spelling exactly as in the concerned person’s birth record.  The name on the birth record match exactly the name on the passport.

What if you already booked your trip with your other passport?

The risk is high that you will be denied boarding. So it is important to change your ID data on your travel ticket.

Most airlines allow you to change your data until checking in (for a fee). If you do not manage to obtain the change online or via the airline customer care before your departure date, you can obtain the changes at the check-in counter or at the airline office in the airport.

Show your Italian passport BOTH at entry and exit points. Your hassle-free journey starts with your booking. Remember to write the data on your Italian passport.

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137 Comments

My daughter holds dual citizenship, Dutch and Italian, and resides in Italy. She has a Dutch passport and an Italian Identity Card. This summer she is travelling to the UK. Can she use her Dutch passport or should I get her an Italian passport? Because I read it’s better to travel with the passport of the country you are travelling from and to….

Thank you for your insightful question, Iris! Indeed, it’s generally advisable to use the passport of the country you’re traveling to or from. However, for entering Italy or other Schengen states, citizens need only an ID card, not a passport. So, for your daughter’s trip to the UK, she can use her Dutch passport for entry into the UK and her Italian ID card for re-entry into Italy/Schengen. Keep in mind, there are no border checks when leaving the UK for Schengen areas. Should the UK authorities inquire at any point, even within the UK, she should present her Dutch passport. 👍 🇳🇱 🌷

Thanks a lot for your response, Lara.

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Can you have multiple passports?

The U.S. is just one of the more than 60 countries that permit dual citizenship, allowing its citizens to hold passports from other countries in addition to their American passports.

Dual citizenship, also known as dual nationality, allows you to work, live and study (among other benefits) in each country you hold citizenship, without the risk of losing your U.S. nationality.

There are multiple ways Americans can qualify for a second citizenship, including via marriage, birth, or citizenship by investment, a concept known as Golden Visa .

In addition to having two passports from different countries, Americans can also simultaneously hold two U.S. passports.

This story explains how dual nationality works in the U.S. and how to obtain multiple U.S. passports.

Can I have a U.S. passport and another passport?

As mentioned, federal law does not restrict Americans from becoming a national of two countries simultaneously and therefore holding passports from two different countries, a concept known as dual nationality.

"A child born in a foreign country to U.S. national parents may be both a U.S. national and a national of the country of birth," according to the State Department . "Or, an individual having one nationality at birth may naturalize at a later date in another country and become a dual national."

This means that U.S. citizens may "naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to his or her U.S. citizenship," thus making Americans eligible to hold passports from other countries and their U.S. passports.

Keep in mind that should a country such as Japan require you to renounce your U.S. nationality, you wouldn't be able to hold two passports. Otherwise, you wouldn't lose your American citizenship. Be sure to double-check that the second country allows you to dually hold an American passport in addition to theirs.

Can I have a second U.S. Passport?

A little-known fact is that Americans are eligible to hold two U.S. passports at the same time, which can be particularly helpful for travelers who frequently travel to places that require visas."As I work on trying to visit every country, I have to apply for a lot of visas. Sometimes these can take a long time," explained TPG credit card writer Ryan Smith. "When I am planning an upcoming trip to multiple countries that need visas, I often don't have enough time to wait for my first visa to be completed and then start the application for the second visa. Therefore, this helps me apply for two visas at the same time." This application process works the same as it does for your normal passport application, but there's an extra form you need to submit, explaining why you need a second passport. Applicants must submit this form, along with the other requested documents, photos and fees via mail.

Know you must meet several additional requirements in order to be deemed eligible for a second U.S. passport book, which the State Department outlines here . Valid reasons for applying for a second passport book include frequent international travel to places that require visas; travel to a foreign country that will deny entry based on previous travel to other countries and international urgent travel that does not provide enough time to process a visa, among others.

Applicants can choose from three types of standard service through the State Department, including expedited service, which takes three to five weeks, not including mailing times. Routine service currently takes six to nine weeks, according to current processing times.

Also note that your second U.S. passport will only be valid for four years, while your primary U.S. passport will remain valid for the normal 10 years.

Because you typically need to have an international trip coming up within the next three or four months to get approved for a second passport, Ryan recommends paying extra to go through a private agency to process this application. Options include ItsEasy Passports & Visas , Travel Visa Pro and Visa HQ .

"It's simpler than doing it in the mail and having it get messed up or waiting until the absolute last minute and trying your luck at a passport agency location," he said.

Another piece of advice from Ryan is to avoid having both U.S. passports on you at the same time to curb any potential confusion by border agents.

"This was a massive problem when I was stopped for a baggage inspection on a trip to several African countries. They lost their minds when they found that I had two passports and I had to contact the U.S. Embassy to provide approval and verification that both of my passports were valid and that neither one was fake," he recalled. "That involved several hours."

How do I apply for a different country's passport?

The passport application process is country-specific, and you'll need to go through the process for each passport you intend to obtain.

To apply for passports for other countries, start online by visiting the official government website of your respective country to verify you are eligible for another passport. Applicants will likely have to meet certain characteristics to obtain citizenship, such as having resided in a country for a certain amount of time. For example, the U.K. government explains how to apply for a U.K. passport online , which involves living in the country for at least 12 months, unless married to a U.K. citizen.

Holding passports from two different countries provides users with multiple benefits, including making it easier to obtain visas necessary to work or study in another country or simply just to enter the country.

For example, Ryan has a Brazilian passport in addition to two American passports, and which one he uses depends on the country to which he's traveling.

"For countries that charge money for a visa, I can use a passport that has a cheaper or easier visa," he told me. "Some countries have better rules for Americans, so I use that passport."

Since no country in South America requires a visa or passport for Brazilian travelers, Ryan uses his Brazilian passport to travel between South American countries with just an ID. Even so, he would need a passport to travel to places beyond South America, such as from the U.S. to Brazil or vice versa.

Secondly, having multiple passports also allows these people to live in a country that is not their home country long-term, instead of being subject to the usual rules limiting the amount of time a tourist can stay within a respective country.

Bottom line

If you are a holder of a U.S. passport and another passport, a U.S. national or dual national, you must use your U.S. passport to travel in and out of the country.

Certain countries may also require dual nationals to use its passport to enter and leave that country, so consider bringing both your U.S. passport and any other passports you hold when traveling.

Having passports from two countries is possible for U.S. passport holders, in addition to many other countries. Not only can it make it easier to enter another country, but also helps users find employment opportunities abroad more seamlessly, as well as stay for extended periods of time within the country you hold a second passport.

If you are interested in obtaining a second passport to complement your American one, start with the government of the country you are targeting to determine if you are eligible for such.

If you are a frequent international traveler who could benefit from having a second U.S. passport, you can apply for one online through the State Department, though you may want to consider a private agency for expedited service and assistance.

For more information on the U.S. passport application process, be sure to read:

• State Department plans to widely open online passport renewal system in 2023
• Where can I cruise without a passport?
• Passport expiring soon? Visit these countries within your 3-month renewal deadline
• A complete guide to the 6-month passport validity rule

• South Africa
• Caribbean Islands
• Puerto Rico
• New Zealand
• North Korea
• Principality of Hutt River
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• United Kingdom
• Cruising/Flying
• The Definitive Guide to Traveling as a Dual Citizen

October 15, 2013 | 359 Comments

How to Travel with Two Passports

We have received so many questions on how to travel with two passports that we created an eBook! If you’d like more detail in addition to what we provide on this page, check out the book:

So first things first, in order to travel with two passports, you actually need to have two (or more) passports.  There are a few ways this can happen.  This is definitely the coolest…

[youtube=http://youtu.be/aOLGJEEF1TY]

But assuming you aren’t a secret agent government assassin like Jason Bourne, you may have to go through other channels to acquire that second passport.

So How Do You Get Two Passports?

• Dual Citizenship by Acquisition – The most common way to have a second passport is if you are a citizen of two different countries at the same time.  Mostly this covers individuals that started out their lives in one country and then for various circumstances moved to another eventually acquiring their new country’s citizenship without giving up their original.
• Dual Citizenship by Birthright – Alternatively you could have dual citizenship through birthright.  Let’s say for example your parents or grandparents came from another country and because of that country’s laws, you qualify for citizenship there as well.  This can all get very complicated, but you see it a lot with people of Italian, Irish or other European descent.

Benefits of Having Two Passports

• Visa Issuance: For frequent travelers, having to send your passport away to issue a visa can be a problem if you need to travel during the same time-frame.  Having two passports (of the same or different countries) solves this by letting you send one passport away while you continue to travel on the other.
• Country Conflicts: Not all countries get along.  Some don’t recognize others existence and some take it so far that if they see a stamp in your passport they don’t like they may not let you in.  Let’s say for example you visit Israel and then later on the same passport you need to visit Lebanon.  Lebanon is not going to let you in because of that Israeli stamp but a second passport provides a clean slate and no questions asked.  Remember: although the country that issued your passport may be able to see your travel history, other countries for the most part, cannot.
• Visa Requirements:  Every country’s passport brings with it different entry requirements as you travel around the world.  Having two passports from different countries lets you choose which passport is the most beneficial to use at any given time.  Because each citizenship is absolute, you never need to present yourself as a dual citizen but instead whichever you prefer at the time (there is an important exception to this which I will get into later). For example, Chandra and I are both US citizens but I’m also an Italian citizen so last year when we went to Brazil Chandra had to go to the Brazilian Consulate and get a $140 visa but I just opted to travel on my Italian passport which has no visa requirement for Brazil and I entered for free.
• Reciprocity Fees: Some countries may not require you to have a visa, but may charge you a “ recriprocity fee ” to make up for what your country charges their citizens when they enter.  Americans feel the effects of these fees the worst and mostly in South America .  US passport holder?  A visit to Bolivia will cost you $140, Paraguay $65 and Argentina $160, just to name a few.  Got another passport?  Use it instead!
• Immigration Lines:  Definitely the most trivial of the benefits, but most countries make it far easier for their citizens to enter than foreigners.  Have an EU passport?  Enjoy a shorter line in all 28 European Union countries.
• Citizenship Rights:   Obviously a passport denotes much more than just travel benefits.  As a citizen of a country there are endless benefits such as right of abode , work permission, land ownership, possibly healthcare and even education.  But it also gives you the rights of that country while traveling.  For example let’s say you’re abroad and shit goes down.  Thanks to your second passport, now you can beg for help at two different embassies!
• Avoiding Controversy: Sometimes governments don’t make the best decisions.  Sometimes you may want to avoid a potential security risk.  Sometimes, in movies, the terrorists separate all the Americans and let everyone else go.  Sometimes it’s good to have two passports.

Long lines at immigration. Photo copyright Daily Mail

When to Use Which Passport

So I mentioned earlier that since citizenship is absolute, you can decide which passport to use based on which is better for you given the circumstances.  But there is a definite exception to this.  You must always present yourself to authorities of your country as a citizen of that country.  This is very important.  You can’t commit a crime in your home country and then flee to your other country’s embassy.  You can’t enter your home country using your passport from another country.  Doing these things will have serious legal consequences so here are some important procedures to remember should you have two different citizenships.

• When traveling internationally, you must use a single passport for each leg of a trip . You can’t switch mid-stream.  Meaning, you can’t check into a flight in New York using your American passport and then enter Brazil using your Italian passport.  This will cause problems because the airline records the identities and citizenships of everyone on the flight. Your information won’t line up.
• It is especially important to always enter your home country using that country’s passport .  Let’s say you have two passports and you are returning home to the USA after a trip abroad.  For some reason you decide to enter the US using your Italian passport.  Now you are in the US as a visitor and granted a temporary entry visa. After three months, that visa will expire and you will technically be in the United States illegally, even though you are also a US citizen.  Avoid messes like this. Use the proper passport from check-in all the way through to immigration.
• It’s a good idea to always travel with both of your passports no matter where you are going.  You never know what may happen.  A friend of mine, unaware of how things work, recently traveled to Argentina using his Israeli passport and left his US passport at home.  When trying to board his flight back to the US from Buenos Aires he was denied boarding because he didn’t’ have a valid visa to enter the US.  Even though he is a US citizen, he didn’t have his US passport and was out of luck.  He ended up having to fly to Canada and have a family member drive his US passport across the border to Montreal so that he could reenter the USA.  Don’t do that.

Follow the rules, you don’t want to end up here. Photo copyright The Guardian

Things to Keep in Mind

• Unlike Jason Bourne, you are not a secret agent.  You  may think that because you have two passports it’s like you are two different people.  But in reality most intelligence agencies will verify a passport not just on name and nationality, but on name, birthday and other info they always ask for when entering another country.  The bottom line is that if the government wanted to figure out if American you and Italian you was the same person, it would be pretty easy.  Don’t pull any funny business .
• Follow the rules on when to use which passport and make sure you always present yourself as a citizen of the proper country to immigration and other officials.
• Never leave your home country without your home country passport.  And never enter your own home country without using its passport!

Please note that for simplicity sake many of the statements I make in this post are very US-centric and also overly simplified.  In truth, acquiring secondary citizenship can be very complex and each country will present new challenges in how you then must interact with the world.  Be sure to do the research pursuant to your specific situation.

Related posts:

• How to Get a Visa for Traveling
• An Illegal Border Crossing into Paraguay
• Travel for Appreciation
• Travel Inspiration – A Tribute to My Grandmother

Tags: citizenship , dual citizenship , immigration , new , passport , passports , right of abode , second passport , travel , visa , visas

Author: Dave

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359 Responses to “How to Travel with Two Passports”

hi Dave, I have a queston regarding this. I have just left Brazil on a tourist visa using my british passport. I overstayed my tourist visa and have to pay a fine upon returning to brazil next time i arrive. This itself isn`t a problem. I have been told that using my british passport, i now have to wait up to 260 days to return to Brazil.

I want to return to Brazil sooner as my partner is there. If I get the necessary visa from my hometown of Australia can i travel to brazil on my Australian visa and enter without a problem? or will i have problems due to my british passport having used up the allocated time for one year?

Many thanks Lil

Hi Lily – This is a tricky situation. Have you ever used your Aussie passport to enter Brazil before? Have you ever declared to Brazil that you have dual citizenship or that you are also Australian? Technically speaking, having two passports doesn’t make you two different people. You overstayed your visit in Brazil, not your passport. So the restrictions they have placed on you would apply to you regardless of which passport you use. In reality however, I would highly doubt that upon entry with a valid tourist visa in your other passport you’d have any problem. I would say definitely apply for the visa and if they give it to you, you should be okay. There’s a chance they will deny it on the grounds that you overstayed your visit on the other passport. Also they may ask on the visa application when the last time you were in Brazil was and if you’ve ever overstayed in the past. I would not suggest lying on these sort of questions. I say fell it out and if you can get the visa approved, you’ll probably be okay.

Hi Dave, no never used my australian passport to enter Brazil. I really only ever use my british to travel and my australian to exit, enter australia.

the sydney brazilian consulate said that i couldnt do it, the larger more official canberra consulate here in our capital city wrote back and said it isn`t a problem although the Brazilian federal police might nt let me in the country.

It`s so confusing and i can`t find anyone else who has done it sudccessfully or unsuccessfully online.

I guess see if the Embassy in Canberra will issue you the visa as a first step.

I intend to travel in the US for tourism from Israel.

I leave in Israel and have an I have an Israeli passport.

I have also a French passport.

I want to use the French passport to enter the US.

Indeed, I can get easily a travel authorization with it, otherwise with the Israeli passport I need to apply for a visa (more complicated/expensive).

I have a different family name on my French and Israeli passport (I changed my family name when I immigrated to Israel).

How can I do? Which name shall I use to book the flight ticket?

You should book the ticket using your French passport and name and travel to the US using the French/US visa waiver program. You should then travel back to Israel checking in to the flight with your Israeli passport and arriving in Israel with it as well. If they do not let you check into the flight to Israel using the Israeli passport, use your french one since you don’t need a visa to go to Israel as a French person but then actually enter Israel using the Israeli.

HI Dave. I have 2 passports, one is Canadian the other is British. I am currently living in the UAE with a 2 year work visa on my Canadian passport. I am going on a trip to turkey and would like to use my British passport since the visa fee is much less then if i use my Canadian. Is it possible to leave turkey on my British passport and then present my Canadian passport when i arrive at customs in back in the UAE? Thanks Rebecca

Absolutely. Make sure you show your Canadian passport when departing the UAE but then you can show your UK passport on arrival in Turkey. Then you’ll depart Turkey showing UK and enter UAE with Canada. Just remember when checking in for flights to show the passport you will arrive where you are going with.

Hi Dave, i am just a little confused because in your article you said “Meaning, you can’t check into a flight in New York using your American passport and then enter Brazil using your Italian passport. This will cause problems because the airline records the identities and citizenships of everyone on the flight. Your information won’t line up.” but in your response above you are suggesting Rebecca to leave UAE using her Canadian passport and enter Turkey using her British passport. I am clearly missing something here…please clarify, thank you!

Sorry for the confusion. There is a key different in leaving the country and checking into your flight. I’ll break it down using Rebecca’s example above: Check into flight to Turkey: UK Passport Depart UAE Immigration: Canadian Passport Arrive Turkey Immigration: UK Passport (to match flight manifest) Check into flight back to UAE: Canadian Passport Depart Turkey Immigration: UK Passport Arrive UAE Immigration: Canadian Passport

Hope this helps clarify things!

This is a bit tricky for real.. Say for instant u have a US and Ca Pp…you enter the uk on a Canadian pp and a one way ticket…can you book a flight to the US for with your US PP info but still show the ticketing agent your Ca PP when departing the Uk without raising questions….

So you are in the UK and have entered with a Canadian passport. You are then flying to the USA. You must show the ticketing agent your US passport since you are flying to the USA. Then you will show your Canadian passport to the UK immigration upon exiting the United Kingdom. Then when you arrive in the US you’ll obviously use your UK passport.

It’s important to show the airline person your US passport so that the manifest shows you as a US citizen. You could certainly show the Canadian passport and then fly to the US as a Canadian but if you plan to stay in the US for an extended period of time you may overstay whatever permission Canadians have (which I am not sure). Technically you need to show your US passport when flying to or entering the US. But you could get away with not doing so as long as you depart the US before your on-arrival visa expires. I do not advise doing so however.

Hi Dave, Is it better if i enter a country for example the netherlands with one passport and go on holiday with my italian passport?

What i meant was i have two passports and i wanted to move to the netherlands for university. Is it possible then once i enter the netherlands to go out of the country using my italian passport and not the other one?

You have to enter and exit a country on the same passport. But you can then enter another country on whichever passport you wish.

Hi Dave, what if I never been to the US and recently got my dual citizens after many years, my parents send my passport to the country I am living… Can I enter the US without immigration interrogation…

Hi Kizzy – sorry for the delay. Got tied up with Christmas. So just to be clear, you have never been to the USA but you just received your US citizenship and have your new passport in the country where you live? By law, you must enter the USA using your US passport. You must always present yourself to US authorities as a US citizen. So if you were flying to the US from your home country you must first check into your flight using your US passport (this is important so that the airline manifest has you as a US citizen), then use your other passport to exit whatever country you live in (if necessary), then present your US passport on arrival into the US and use the US Citizens entry line. It may be weird since you’ve never been to the USA – but you are a citizen with the same rights as those that were born and grew up here.

Thank you.. Hope you had a wonderful christmas

Dave… What if I never depart the US on my US pass port can I re enter on my US passport? Will they see my departure date from the US using my second passport?

Hi Lisa – I do this all the time. Since the US doesn’t have exit immigration I routinely leave the US only showing my Italian passport. But then when you check in for your return flight back to the US you must check in with your US passport so that the flight manifest shows you as a US citizen. This doesn’t affect you departing the other countries you visited using your second passport. Then you must show your US passport on arrival back in the US. It doesn’t matter that your US passport was never used abroad while you were gone.

So they the US Inmigration do not have record of your departure date, hence they will not know how long you have depart the US whether you use a UK Pasport or US Pasport?

I wouldn’t say they don’t know when you depart. But you won’t go through exit immigration. But it doesn’t matter how long you are out of the US if you are US citizen. You don’t have a visa to stick to. You can come and go as you please.

Hi bro! I am in Ecuador. I entered with US Passport. I need to go to Brazil, I am entering there on my 2nd passport since it is not required to have a visa. US Passport is under Michael James Perry, 2nd Passport is under James Perry. Will immigration let me exit Ecuador if the name in the US passport is slightly different than the one on my reservation?

Oh, and thanks A BUNCH for this post! I have bookmarked it.

Hi Michael! Your situation is a bit strange because the names are different on your passports. You should check into your flight to Brazil on your 2nd passport, then exit Ecuador immigration on your US passport, then enter Brazil with your 2nd passport. In this case it’s not immigration you need to worry about since immigration wont’ be so concerned with your reservation, but the airline will. When you go to check in for your flight to Brazil you should present your 2nd passport with the mismatched name. If they let you check in and give you a boarding card, you’re good to go. If they give you a hard time about the name being slightly different, show them your US passport which matches exactly. Technically the passport should match the ticket but this probably won’t be a problem. Worst case you can just fly on your US passport and then enter Brazil using the 2nd passport. I do not believe they have the same flight manifest requirements the US does but again, last resort.

Wow, great info, thank you! Or I can do an open jaw flight Ecuador-USA-Brazil. On my flight back to Ecuador I won’t need a passport because with my Brazilian Residency card which I’ll get when I go there, I could travel without a passport.

And I have the mismatched names because I had a name change after my 2nd country issued the passport and didn’t bother changing it there because it means I’d have to apply for another passport which is expensive.

Sounds like you have some options. Let me know if I can help in any other way and enjoy Brasil!

Hello David,

I am a citizen of Canada and Croatia and since Croatia has recently joined the EU I’d like to leverage my Croatian passport where possible. As a result I have two trips coming up and I was wondering if you could correct my logic in case I plan on using the wrong passport:

SEA – KEF (check in using Croatian passport, arrive to customs using Croatian passport). KEF – SEA (check in using Canadian passport, exit customs using Croatian passport, arrive in US using Canadian passport)

YVR – IAH (check in using Canadian passport, and where required for this leg) or should i use the Croatian one here? IAH – IST (enter Turkish customs with Croatian passport, proceed to next leg) IST – ZRH (enter swiss customs with Croatian passport and move on) ZRH – SPU (enter with Croatian passport and proceed as I’m a citizen)

SPU – ZRH (check in with Canadian passport, exit customs with Croatian passport) ZRH – YUL (exit customs with Croatian passport, arrive in Canada, use Canadian passport).

Thanks so much in advance!!

I think this all looks right except at the very end. It looks like you will enter Zurich on your Croation passport. If that’s the case you need to be sure to depart Zurich on it as well, even if you check into your flight onward to Canada on your Canadian passport. To simplify this you really only need to use your Canadian passport when checking in for the flight to Houston and entering the US and then checking in for the return flight to Canada and entering Montreal.

Great! That makes sense. Thanks so much. If I get detained, I won’t quote you :p

Hi David, I have an italian and a UK passport and I live in the UK. Say I am travelling from UK to Italy and then back and I purchase the ticket in UK: because I need my UK passport to leave the UK I assume that I will need to register (some airlines like easyjet ask you to register your passport before you travel) with the UK passport and this won’t cause any problem entering and leaving Italy on the way back? thanks

So in this case you will leave the UK using your UK passport but everything related to your flight you should use the Italian passport on. So when you buy your ticket, enter your Italian passport. When you check in to the flight – Italian passport. When you depart UK immigration, UK passport, then Italian passport to board the flight and on arrival in Italy. When you depart Italy back to the UK you’ll do the opposite. Use your UK passport to check into the flight but your Italian one on departure from Italian immigration. Hope this makes sense?

Thank you very much for your reply David, yes it makes sense although I would have thought that when in Italy (providing I bought the ticket using my Italian passport) I would use the Italian passport not only at the italian immigration but also at the check in and not the UK one because the ticket has been bought using the Italian passport?

Also, further to what you said above, I assume that, since I live in the UK, it would be OK if I decide to buy a plane ticket to Italy using my UK passport as opposed to the Italian one, as long as I remember to give the Italian passport to the Italian immigration control in Italy when I land and when I depart.

So, just to stick to the example of a return UK-Italy flight, as a general rule whatever passport I buy the ticket with (and therefore fill in the API with) I will have to use that passport anytime there is something flight-related (like check in, boarding the plane, claim a lost luggage etc) no matter what country I am in. But as far as the immigration controls, if I am in Italy I will use the Italian passport and if I am in the UK I will use the british passport.

Thanks again for your help, and great blog by the way!

There’s really no such thing as buying a ticket on a specific passport. All that matters is flight check in, immigration exit and immigration entrance.

OK thank you very much for your help!

Hi David, this is a really interesting post! From what I gather from this and the comments below is that immigration & the airlines don’t share the information on passport details and what flight you’re meant to be on? Is that correct? So, essentially, I can check in with an airline on Passport A, present Passport B to immigration, then board the flight with Passport A? Once in the destination country, can I then present either passport to immigration or should I stick with Passport A that was used for the flight? Another question – if you’ve got a return flight booked, does the airline keep the information of which passport was used to check in to the first leg, in which case they’d expect that you’d be checking in on the return leg with the same passport? Thanks!

The thing to remember is that there are two different processes going on at the same time – exiting and entering. The airline absolutely does share information with immigration, but the airline is only concerned with your future arrival in the country you are going to, not your departure from wherever you are starting. Let me break it down using the three times you’d need to show your passport on a given trip:

Flight Check In: Here we are concerned only with where you are going so the passport you show must be aligned with that.

Immigration Departure: Here we are concerned only with where you are, not where you are going. Whatever passport you entered the country with, you must present. This step has nothing to do with where you are going.

Immigration Arrival: This step must align with what you presented on flight-check in. The airline will have shared your information with immigration so that they are expecting you on arrival. If you change passports here, the records won’t line up.

These same three steps can be repeated for any trip in any direction. Hope this makes sense!

I would appreciate any comments you might have on this situation.

Person A has both a Japanese (JP) and US passport. Person A was born in Japan and is a naturalized US citizen living in the US. Person A wants to travel to Japan and enter Japan as a Japanese citizen. Is this process correct?

1. Purchase round trip tickets: JP passport

2. Flight check-in US: JP passport

3. Immigration departure US: US passport

4. Immigration arrival Japan: JP passport

Return trip:

1. Flight check-in Japan: JP passport

2. Immigration departure Japan: JP passport

3. Immigration arrival US: US passport

Will Immigration arrival in the US question the lack of entry and exit visas on the US passport?

This is pretty close. On departing trip there really is no step three as the US doesn’t have a formalized immigration exit. Then on return trip step 1 needs to be US passport. Since you are flying to the US, you must check in using your US passport. Immigration will not question the lack of entry or exit stamps in your US passport upon return to the US. If they do, you can always show your Japanese passport which you must by law use when going to Japan. But they will also know you were in Japan based on the flight data from the airline. That’s why it’s important to check in for the Japan-USA flight using the US passport.

This does not make sense. The airline checks the passport number against the ticket, so don’t all legs of a trip have to be made with the same passport? If the person checks in in Japan using a US passport when the ticket was purchased using a JP passport, won’ t the airlines refuse boarding?

Although the airline will ask for a passport number when purchasing the ticket, this really doesn’t mean anything. Each leg of the trip will be independent and the airline won’t send information to immigration of the receiving country until passengers are checked in. Therefore, the passport does not need to match what was entered when was booked and you can use different passports on different legs of the same trip.

The reason the passport you entered when booking the ticket is meaningless is because nobody has checked the physical passport. You can actually just enter a bunch of nonsense when booking (as I have done when I hadn’t yet received my new passport). It’s the airline’s responsibility to physically check the passport when you are at the airport and make sure the data is correct – on a flight by flight basis.

This is excellent! So the real lesson here is the two points of control.

1. The departure flight check in must be with a passport acceptable at the destination country! Acceptable means a visa in the departing country passport or with a second passport that could be from the destination country. This is because the airlines send the passport information to the destination immigration authorities, who will be expecting that the same passport presented at the airline check will also be presented in immigration arrival.

2. If a person holds a passport as a citizen of a destination country, the immigration arrival and departure from that country must be with that country’s passport.

The passport number used to purchase the ticket is not relevant at the point of purchase, but is relevant at the point of airline check in.

So in this case (Person A has both a Japanese (JP) and US passport. Person A was born in Japan and is a naturalized US citizen living in the US. Person A wants to travel to Japan and enter Japan as a Japanese citizen) the following sequence would work:

Departure from US:

1. Purchase round trip tickets: Either JP or US passport

3. Immigration arrival Japan: JP passport

Return trip from Japan:

1. Flight check-in Japan: US passport

3. Immigration arrival US: US passport Is this finally correct?

Anton – I think you’ve got it! You’re all set now.

What happens on the return trip when the airlines attempt to match the passport used to purchase the ticket (JP) with the passport used at check in in Japan (US) and find that they are different?

Question for you David. In my scenario my daughter has dual citizenship with U.S. and Brazil. If we travel to Brazil using the following passports. Will we not have to have a U.S. Visa to return to the U.S.

1. Purchase round trip tickets to Brazil: BRZ passport

2. Flight check-in US: BRZ passport

3. Immigration arrival Brazil: BRZ passport

1. Flight check-in U.S.: U.S. passport

2. Immigration departure BR passport: (Brazilian’s need visa to travel to U.S.?)

Want the Brazilian immigration officer be looking for a required U.S. visa?

This is all correct. The immigration officials on exit of Brazil won’t be looking for a US visa. Their job is to process you departing Brazil so all they will look for is the entry stamp you got when entering Brazil. The responsibility of checking for a US visa falls to the airline since they will be fined $10,000 if they allow you to board without one. With them you show the US passport and you’re all good.

Hello David. I have an urgent question. I have a Trinidad passport and a Greek one. I recently bought a ticket to Norway (I live in UK) with my Trinidad passport. I completely forgot I could use my EU (Greek) passport to enter Norway without a VISA (using the Trinidad one). Will I having a dual nationality be okay to enter with no VISA to Norway if they consider my EU passport (Which I will have on me). Thanks

Hi Dimitris – If you have a Greek passport you can enter Norway visa-free. It doesn’t matter that you also have a Trinidad passport or what passport you entered when you purchased the ticket. As long as your EU passport is valid and meets all the other requirements for Norway you can use it exclusively on this trip and not bother with your Trinidad passport at all since I assume you live in the UK on your Greek passport since it offers right-of-abode in the UK. If you have some sort of work permissions or entry visa in your Trinidad passport or are in the UK using that passport be sure you exit Trinidad showing your Trinidad passport so they know you departed. When you exit Norway to come home you can use either passport assuming your Trinidad passport has a visa that allows you to enter the UK.

You are a star I’m telling you coz I’m proper dreading it. Coz I completely forgot that I could use my EU one and used the other one instead. So you are saying that it doesnt matter that I booked the ticket with my Trini one as long as I show them my EU one they are going to let me go visa-free is that right? I’m getting paranoid that they will not accept me in haha

You should certainly call the airline and change the passport that’s on the reservation, but it shouldn’t matter. The passport you show when you check into the flight it the one that matters.

Yeah I will deffo call the airline tomorrow make sure. But given it is Ryanair they might charge me for it and might be a rip-off. That’s what Im thinking as well though that as long as I have my EU passport with me they will see I can get in visa-free without a doubt (I hope)

Haha – they shouldn’t charge you for it. I think you’ll be okay.

Alright cheers for that! Thank you for your immediate responses! 🙂

Here’s my question…I live in Canada and am a dual Canadian/South African citizen (with both passports). I will be going to South Africa in March and then leaving from there to India and then back to South Africa (and back home to Canada). [Canada-South Africa-India-South Africa-Canada]. I’m in the process of getting a visa for India, which I thought should be in my Canadian passport, correct? I’m a bit confused because as a South Africa citizen, I have to enter and leave South Africa with my South African passport. So when I leave South Africa for India..wouldn’t that mean I’d have to use my South African passport (without the India visa). Or is “leaving” a country and “entering” another country 2 separate occurrences (i.e. I could “check out” of South Africa with my South African passport and then use my Canadian passport with the Indian visa to get into India)? My main question is…should I be getting the Indian visa in my Canadian passport, South African passport…or both?! Thanks!!

Whoops, sorry, I just read the posts below. So according to the 3 times my passport will be required, I should be fine with getting the Indian visa in just my Canadian passport. If this is incorrect, please do let me know. Thanks!

That’s correct. Get the visa in your Canadian passport. Enter SA using your SA passport. Then when you are departing SA check into your India flight with your Canadian passport, depart SA immigration with your SA passport, then enter India with your Canadian passport. 🙂

Awesome, thanks!

Hi, I’d like to leave the U.S. and enter Argentina with my EU passport (and not my U.S. passport) to avoid paying the ARG reciprocity fee. But U.S. law says U.S. citizens–even dual citizens–must enter AND leave the U.S. on their U.S. passport (e.g., see here: http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/childabduction/dual_nationality.pdf ). Any thoughts on this? Thanks!

I’m honestly not really sure how you would go about “leaving” the USA using your US passport. Since you don’t show your documents to any US CBP officers on departure there really is no way I know of to do this. Let’s say for example you were going to the EU instead of Argentina. You would have to fly using your EU passport by law in order to enter the EU legally. This is the same thing, except with Argentina. I don’t think it’s a problem and in fact have done it myself with several South American countries that levy a reciprocity fee on Americans but not EU citizens. It’s your choice which passport you want to use at any given time. As long as you never misrepresent yourself to officials from either of your home countries.

Hello. I have dual panamanian / USA citizenship, thus carrying two Passports. I recently entered Spain via Madrid on my Panamanian Passport and stayed for a week. However, on my way out, I realized I had left my panamanian Passport in the hotel where I had been staying and had no time to recover it before my flight left so I ended up having to use my US Passport to leave the country (was later sent the Passport by Courier by the hotel). I was asked no questions, nor did I volunteer any information to the immigration officer as I left spain (I am pretty sure they only put a stamp on my Passport and not even scanned it or anything but can´t be 100% sure). I was able to leave just fine but am left wondering if this could cause me any potential problems down the road when I go back to spain or anywhere in the EU. Can anyone help? Thanks

This is a unique problem. They should have picked up on the fact that you entered and left with different passports but I suppose the fact that they didn’t helped you get through a rough situation. Technically, the Panamanian you never left the EU so after 90 days they could assume you overstayed your visa. You can try to contact Spanish immigration and say you never received an exit stamp and want to clarify you left the country (still wouldn’t volunteer that you have two passports) but I’m not sure how effective this is. It’s worth a shot, but in the mean time I would make sure you use your Panamanian passport to enter somewhere else so that you have documented and dated proof that you are no longer in Spain.

Thank you David. The fact that they didnt mention anything leads me to believe that the immigration officer never cross referenced my information as I left, as I did not see him use any kind of machine, just a stamp, however, I can´t be 100% sure. He did stamp my us Passport. I am now back in panamá, where, upon entry, Panamanian immigration has stamped my Passport thus clearly indicating I entered another country within a week of entering spain. I guess I just wanted to know if this would make for a difficult entry next time I try to enter europe, or spain more specifically. I guess I can always just use my US Passport regardless.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s a problem for you. But worst case if you ever went back and they questioned you about overstaying upon entry you can show your entry stamp to Panama that followed and prove that wasn’t the case. I wouldn’t worry too much. There are plenty of border crossings you could have used to exit the EU that definitely would not have entered your details electronically.

Hi! I would really appreciate your advice too. I have dual USA/Korean citizenship. I’m currently studying abroad in France – since it’s less than 90 days, I didn’t have to get a visa. I got into France with my US passport (I came from the US). As I’m planning weekend trips from France, I am wondering if it’s okay to use my Korean passport even though I used the US passport to get into Europe?

Thanks for your help!

It sounds like you should use your US passport exclusively since you don’t have a visa in your Korean one. If your planned weekend trips are to other Schengen countries (within the EU) you won’t technically be exiting/entering and if anyone needs to see your passport you should show the one you initially entered the EU with (US). If you are going outside the US on a weekend trip you can certainly use your Korean passport given it allows you to enter those countries.

Thank you so much!

hi Dave, i have a question, i have a friend who just granted a green card through asylum and wanted to get back to his home country by leaving us with the us travel document and entering a transit country with us travel document and leave the transit country with his home country passport and visa verse in the return ? is that’s possible?

**leave the transit country to his country with his home country passport

Hi Mando – I don’t know anything about how green cards or asylum work so I wouldn’t want to advise. But the green card and asylum elements aside, this does sound possible. But I would strongly recommend checking with the terms of the asylum to make sure no rules are broken

Hello Dave, I have a Bolivian and US passport. Borned in Bolivia naturalized Citizen in the US. Bolivia does not accept dual citizenship. I have to go to Brazil for a few days of work meetings and due to time on getting Brazilian visas for US passports I would like to leave the US with my Bolivian passport (show airline), enter Brazil with the Bolivian passport. When coming back (if I got it right after reading comments): – I show the airline my US passport – Bolivian passport to Brazilian immigration, – Show US passport to US immigration. Is this OK? I have a concern that in all of this travel Bolivia does not accept the dual citizenship.

This sounds right to me. Nobody really accepts the dual citizenship, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t a dual citizen. I am born American but have Italian citizenship by birthright. When I went to Brazil a couple years ago I checked into my flight from the US using my Italian passport (no visa). I then entered Brazil as an Italian and enjoyed my trip. Upon leaving Brazil I checked in with the airline using my US passport, departed Brazilian immigration as an Italian, and arrived back in the US as an American. This is exactly what you’re looking to do and you should be all good. The most important thing is that you check into your US bound flight as an American and show your US passport at US immigration.

Hello Dave, hope you don’t mind another question. I’m a Canadian/NZ citizen going on a trip to Sweden-Finland-Russia. Because of the high volume (Sochi) the Russians still have my Canadian passport for visa purposes and it won’t be ready until February 4th (I enter Russia Feb 10) but I leave for Sweden January 31st! Can you forsee any problems flying to Sweden from Canada on my NZ passport and then picking up my Canadian passport in Finland with the visa and entering Russia as a Canadian? Then I’ll fly home as a Canadian again.

Sounds good as long as your Canadian passport is in Finland and not a Russian Embassy in Canada. Just make sure you depart Sweden as a Kiwi before you enter Russia as a Canadian.

Hi Dave, My husband has 2 passports, one from New Zealand and a one from Britian ( father was a citizen he was granted this passport birth right). He lives in Canada now and has a permanent residence card, we want to travel to cuba for a week but his New Zealand passport is expired but his Britian one isn’t, can he travel on this passport or will we have problems?

Hi Sherry. I’m not sure what you are asking. If he has a valid passport why couldn’t he travel on it?

I didn’t think it was a big deal but my travel agent is reluctant to book the trip cause she doesn’t want us to get turned around in Cuba. So as long as he has a valid passport it won’t matter which one he uses? It’s ok for him to use the passport that is not from his home country (New Zealand)?

Hi Sherry. Citizenship to a country is absolute. Your husband has the absolute right to present himself as a citizen of either New Zealand or Britain. It makes no difference where he resides. He could reside in a third country, it makes him no less a citizen of both. I am in Russia right now traveling on my Italian passport and I have never resided on Italy. Like your husband, I possess it by birthright. As long as the passport is valid and allows him to enter, he’s good to go. Just be sure to reenter Canada using the passport he has residency there with. That means checking in in Havana using that passport.

Hi Dave, If I have a UK and Australian passport, and want to travel from Thailand to Turkey (I have a work permit for Thailand in my Australian passport), can I use the UK passport to depart from Thailand and enter Turkey, and then travel back to Thailand on my Australian passport (with the thai visa in it)? The fees for Australians to get a visa to enter Turkey are significantly more than UK citizens.

Thanks for your help.

Jenny Spencer

Hi Jenny – If you entered the Thailand on your Aussie passport you must depart on it. However you can then arrive in Turkey on your UK passport. Then do the reverse to go back. Depart Turkey on your UK passport and on arrival in Thailand present your Aussie one with the work permit.

Goodness, I hope I am not repeating anything but I think my question could possibly be a bit different. I have dual citizenship, therefore I have an EU and South African passport. I am currently in the US on a J1 visa in approximately 6 months that will expire. I entered and applied for my visa using my SA passport. With the rules of the program, and SA law I fall under the 2 year rule. Is it possible for me to apply for another visa or re-enter the US using my EU passport. I know the system probably cannot be tricked that way, but I’m just weighing my options. Any help and/or advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

From a legal standpoint, the USA doesn’t care what passport you use, you are just one person and the rules apply to you as a whole. I would not recommend truing to reenter the US using your EU passport if you are not supposed to be in the USA using your SA passport. If you want to attempt this, you should contact someone at USCBP and ask what the rules are on revisiting as a tourist from a visa waiver country after the expiratiojn of a J1 visa in a different passport.

I have a uk and canadian passport . I was refused entry on the ESTA using uk passport because of a 5 year old DUI I think?? Can only be this? ( wasn’t even driving just sat in the car warming up as snowing at the time – lucky huh!!??). Anyway , Canadians are exempt from needing an esta , I bought my flight not knowing about esta as last time I travelled to usa was 2009 and it wasn’t an issue then. Will I be turned around at us customs ? I don’t want to waste flight money also don’t want to waste a trip ? Any help will be appreciated !

All the best

Btw I missed I’m travelling London to New York and back to London , staying 6 days visiting in holidays . Using canadian passport as no need for esta

Jim – you were previously refused entry into the USA using your UK passport because of an outstanding DUI? Was this ever resolved? What did CBP say when they turned you away? What were the next steps? If you were turned away previously and have not rectified the issue, I would not attempt it again. You may be using a different passport, but you are the same person and an outstanding DUI is tied to you, not your passport. I would recommend contacting Customs & Border Protection to see if you will be admitted.

Thanks for replying David. I wasnt clear sorry. i have never been refused entry to the USA. I have been 4 times. the last time was 2009 when ESTA came in to place. I was not refused entry at all. I understand if you are from the UK then you need to fill in an online ESTA form. I bought my flight not knowing about this. I did the ESTA and it said “not illegable to travel” i needed to apply for a VISA but would never have got a Visa in 2 weeks 🙁

After looking up ways round it, becuase i have a Canadian passport then i dont need an ESTA so i will travel to USA on Canadian passport and hope for the best ?

Jim – it depends on what the deal is with that DUI. Do you have any active warrents in the USA? Because CBP will know about them before your arrival and you will have problems. If not and it’s just something that happened and was resolved, I dont’ know why that would be a problem.

Hi David, upon departure doesn’t the airline in the US match/share your information with whatever entry records US immigration officials have? I have US and Italian citizenships and I would be concerned about leaving the US on a foreign passport. Also, unless there is a specific rule in Italy about entering with an Italian passport, I would rather travel to Europe as an American

Hi Steve – if you have an Italian passport you must, by law, enter Italy using it. That’s pretty important. When you check into your flight in the USA the airline shares your details with the place you are going, not where you are leaving. Arrival immigration at the destination will then know who is coming.

I have acquired American citizenship but I am also French (being born there myself). I live in the US but travel back to France for visits. My French passport expired a few months back and I travelled to France on my American passport. Your article states that doing this was not a good idea.

I am wondering why exactly and what the consequences might be if I return to France to visit on my then renewed French passport? And what you recommend?

When I travelled to France, the French authorities did make the comment that I was travelling on an American passport and asked if I had obtained American citizenship.

You probably won’t have a problem, but by law you need to represent yourself as a citizen of France to French authorities. This goes the same for US authorities where you must always present yourself as American. You went and came back and shouldn’t have a problem. But for example if you had reentered the US using your French passport and then over 90 passed you would have overstayed your arrival-visa – even though you are also American. As a rule use the passport of the country you are entering. But you will be fine in this case.

Hi Dave, wow so many questions already! However just to be sure I’d like to ask another! I have a Canadian and UK passport, and am traveling to Brazil. I want to travel on my UK as there are no visa requirements – Do I need to leave as well as re-enter Canada on my Canadian? I am afraid if I leave Canada on my Canadian I will have issues entering Brazil on my UK and I also think I may have problems leaving Brazil on my Canadian if I entered on a UK

Hi Chantel – I am actually about to post an article that more clearly explains this but basically explains what to do:

Check into your flight departing Canada – show UK passport Clear Canada departure immigration – show Canadian passport Arrive Brazil immigration – show UK passport *enjoy Brazil* Check into your flight departing Brazil – show Canadian passport Clear Brazil departure immigration – show UK passport you entered with Arrive Canada immigration – show Canada passport

Here is the new post I mentioned. Hopefully it’s helpful – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

(Let’s make it a bit more tricky :)) Hi Dave,

I am exactly on the same situation as Chantal (except I have Moroccan passport instead of UK). I am planing to do the same itinerary but with a stop on the US (Toronto -> NY -> Brazil & then Rio -> NY -> Toronto). Fortunately, I do already have a US visa on my Moroccan passport and also I don’t need a visa to enter Brazil with the Moroccan one.

My question is which passport should I present to US customs when transiting through NY (each way)??

My understanding is: I have to show them Moroccan passport on my to Rio. And then show them Canadian passport on my way back to Canada. right? Knowing how the US customs are rigid and I don’t wanna make it complicated. (Canadian and Brazilians customs should be cool…. I guess :))

Are you staying in the US each time or just transiting through? If you have a visa in your Moroccan passport that may be easier. Although I think it’s really easy for Canadians to come/go from the US without any problems. Regardless, it sounds like it doesn’t matter which you show since the US doesn’t have exit immigration. You will have to be careful which passport you show the airline people to make sure it lines up with which you will enter the destination country with.

Hi Dave, I have a US and a NZ passport – I currently live in the UK and want to travel to South America and then the US. I obviously want to use my NZ passport because visas for Americans are horrific in South America. But I’m not sure if I can fly into Ecuador with an NZ passport and then out of Brazil with an American passport? When should I change my passport? When I book my flight out? But when I arrive to the US from Brazil and don’t have a stamp from Brazil, will this not look suspicious?

Angela – I think our new post would help you. http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

If you are still unclear on exactly which passport to use at each step of the process in departing and entering a country, please consult this follow up post with a step by step guide – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Hi Dave, Glad I found your website. I traveled from San Francisco to France with my EU passport and then tried to return from France to San Francisco, not realizing I needed a visa to enter the US. I only had a copy of my US passport and after much difficulty they let me on the plane, only to have more difficulties arriving in San Francisco. I am now returning to France with a one way ticket. Even after reading your info, I still don’t know which passport I should use for my return to France. Do I leave with the EU passport because I need to show on the EU passport that I left the US? Thanks, Trish

Hi Trish – Please see our new step-by-step guide post to help you out here! http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Please note there is no passport control leaving the US.

Interesting part about not changing passports midway, I often do this when travelling, my 2nd passport is the one saved with the airline, i use the 1st to leave the country but then use the 2nd to enter the next and use it to then leave. IE the 1st is left in a kind of limbo as its never arrived in a new country, thus it looks like I’ve left the UK gone no where for a few months then returned. Hasn’t been a problem yet. 🙂

My explanation for why this works is the airline only needs to know that you have the correct visa/passport to enter the country and the immigration/emigration is completely separate to your airline passport check.

I don’t think what you are describing is any different than my post. I think we are on the same page.

Hi David. I need your advice. I have Thai and UK passports, and I have always done what you and Dan described above leaving Thailand (my home country) for Europe/USA. However, I am in a slightly different situation now. I have been in Peru for some months on my Thai passport (no visa needed for 90-120 days) and I am leaving to go back to Thailand via LAX.

**The reason I’m not using my UK passport in Peru right now is because, long story short, my boyfriend has been working in Peru and I’ve already been here with him for the period of almost a year on my UK passport (leaving and coming back in again after the allowed 180 days with no need for visa). I didn’t bother looking into getting a dependent visa because we’re not married and we thought it would be too much of a hassle. The second time I came back in, the immigration staff questioned me a lot why I wanted to be in Peru for such a long time and it scared me. The third time I decided and was advised to come in as “a different person” on my Thai one.**

Technically, I know I have to check in for the flight using my UK passport (to enter the US with visa waiver) while exiting Peru on my Thai and that shouldn’t be a problem. BUT because I am NOT leaving from my home country this time, do you think there is a chance the check in staff will look through my UK passport and wonder where my Peruvian stamp is? Might that cause further questions and problems? What if I’m pressured into showing my Thai passport? If they see both passports together they’ll know right away I’ve been sneakily switching passports to extend my stay in Peru, and then they might contact immigration?? Argh.

Or are you absolutely sure from your experience that it won’t be of the airline’s concern and that the check in process is absolutely separate from immigration? Thank you so much.

Hmm. Sounds complex.

Hi, some countries have a limits on how long you can stay there in a year. For example I can only be in Brasil for 6 months in a 12 month period maximum. Can i leave and enter using my second passport?

Those limits are placed on a person, not a passport. You may be able to get away with it but if they catch you it could be a big problem.

Thank you David

My daughter has Japanese Citizenship with japanese name (totally different from her american name, her middle name and my maiden Japanese last name) and she also has a US Citizen… Now that we are purchasing her ticket to Japan for the first time, I am panicking of not knowing which name to buy her ticket…

To purchase a ticket should we purchase under her English Name, and use her US passport and to enter Japan should I just show both passports to show that both passports are legal?

We haven’t made her passport yet so not sure if we can indicate her English name in her Japanese Passport.

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Thank you!!

This is a really excellent question. Your daughter’s situation may be a bit more complicated but you still shouldn’t have a problem. Book the ticket using whichever name you prefer. You’ll then always show the passport that matches that name to airline and airport staff no matter where you are. When you arrive in Japan, show the Japanese passport since that’s what you have to enter with and they won’t care about your boarding card or anything other then if you are allowed in. When leaving Japan depart using your Japanese passport and once again, if it doesn’t match the boarding card it shouldn’t be a problem since the immigration people are more concerned with you and not what it says on your boarding card. This may mean that the airline will manifest you as a Japanese citizen on return to the USA. But you’ll just show your US passport on arrival. IF it gets flagged for some reason, showing both passports should remedy the situation. But it probably wont’ and you’ll be fine.

I would probably opt to buy the ticket with the American name and show the American passport everywhere except Japanese immigration arrival and departure. That should make it the most seamless. Don’t worry, your situation is not so unique and you won’t have any problems.

Thank you very much for responding to my questions. I will purchase under my daughter’s American name and use her Japanese passport for arrival and departure at the immigration as you suggested but always carry her

Now I feel so much better 🙂

Again, thank you!

Hey Dave, i have a complicated question. I have both US and Taiwan passport(born in US). I am currently in Canada and i have overstayed. I was thinking if i could leave Canada with my US passport, the one i used to come to Canada, and come back to Canada with my Taiwan passport. Will they know that it’s me that overstayed? And will they deny me entry? Do they know that if two passports are connected? Thanks!

As a rule, you are only one person no matter how many passports you have. Chances are they will note that you overstayed based on your name, birthday and other info and not necessarily your passport number. Imagine if you just got a new passport with a new number – you couldn’t just go to a country you previously overstayed because you had a new number. Does your Taiwan passport have the exact same name as your US one? Also, I’m not sure if Taiwan requires a visa to enter Canada. If so, on the visa application they will ask you if you have ever overstayed in Canada. And lying would not be a good idea.

No, my two passports have two different names and Taiwan passport doesn’t need visa into Canada anymore. So you think it most likely won’t work?

With different names there is a good chance it would work. But it is a gamble and you’d have to decide if it was worth taking it.

I have both Malaysian ( by birth) and Australian ( by naturalization) passport. Malaysia does not recognize dual citizenship but Australia does. I do not want to give up my Malaysia citizenship. To stay below the radar from the Malaysian government , does below plan sound good:

Flying from Australia to Malaysia: Buy airline ticket under Malaysia passport details Check in with airlines under Malaysian Passport Exit at the Australian Immigration check point with Australian passport When entering Malaysia, use Malaysian Passport at the Malaysian Immigration check ( Malaysian citizens go through Auto-gate when entering and exiting Malaysia) .

Flying from Malaysia to Australia: Buy airline ticket under Australian passport details. Check in with airlines under Australian Passport Exit at the Malaysian Immigration(Auto-gate) check point with Malaysian passport.

Tnx a heap.

Sounds like you’ve got it right! Have a great trip!

Dear Dave, I am a South African citizen with a SA passport and have a British passport as well. If I travel on my South African passport and my British passport has just expired, will I be allowed into the UK without a visa. I intend to renew my passport when I am in the UK. I will only be in the UK to work for one month.

It is very expensive to renew a British passport in South Africa and I only have six weeks before I leave for the UK.

Regards, Dorothy

I believe SA citizens require a visa to go to the UK. If your British passport is expired, you need to renew it before traveling to the UK. You could travel on your SA passport with visa to the UK, but you are not supposed to. I don’t think you have any real option besides renewing your British passport before departure.

Quick question (and similar to dan’s below)….. my wife has 2 passports – New Zealand and French. We are traveling to Ireland where I will be working. Her NZ passport has her married name on it, but her French passport has her maiden name on it. Tickets are booked in her married name. Now to my question… we will obviously need to check in to all flights using the NZ passport (as it matches the tickets), however she wants to enter Ireland using her French passport (as an EU national). The name in her French passport won’t match the name she departed on, or on the tickets. Is this likely to cause us issues? Thanks!

This can cause an issue. Your wife should have her French passport to have her new name. It’s okay if she doesn’t and decides to travel exclusively on her maiden name but that’s not what you are looking to do here. I would have her update the passport with France.

Thanks for the advice David. Really appreciate it.

I wish I read your post earlier! I am afraid now it might be too late to do anything about. I will ask away anyway.

I will be traveling from Canada to Chile, then to Argentina, Uruguay, and finally Brazil before catching a direct flight home. Out of these countries, a reciprocity fee is applicable for Chile and Argentina when entering as a Canadian. I have dual citizenship (British and Canadian). I just realized there is such a thing as ‘reciprocity fee’ for these countries, and it looks like if I entered using my British passport those fees would be waived. Unfortunately I booked the flight with information given to the travel agent from my Canadian passport. I wish my agent had said something.

So with that information, plus what I read on your post about always try to leave/enter my home country (Canada) using the passport from that country… my question is: Do you think I can still utilize my British passport for Chile or Argentina?

Any suggestion is much, much appreciated!

I just read your response to Chantel. so basically our situation is almost the same. but my worries are: 1) i booked my flight base on my Canadian passport. even though the names are identical, I don’t remember if the travel agent actually had my passport number or asked which one i am traveling with… in the last 10 years i have always traveled with my Canadian. i am not sure if my agent has my profile set to Canadian or something while booking. so can i just decide which one to use on the spot, without being concerned with whether the passport i use correspond with the one i used while booking the flights? 2) i didn’t quite understand what you mean by using Canadian passport while checking in the flight, and use UK while going through customs… at the Vancouver airport, there is no obvious ‘customs’ counter. there is the airline counter, then once we enter the gate, you hand your passport to the customer officer and then you throw your hand carry on that belt thing.. then that’s it. next stop is at the gate, where you give your passport and ticket stub to the airline staff before boarding. can you clarify this further? what am i handing to each person (airline counter, customs officer, airline staff at the gate) as i pass through each of them? your help is much, much appreciated. i just realized also with a UK passport I do not need a visa for Brazil. so if this works, i am actually going to save a lot!

thanks so much again, Janice

I just noticed my airline ticket is issued under ‘last name, first name’ UK passport is ‘last name, middle name, first name’ Canadian passport is ‘last name, first name’

do you think there is a problem if my UK passport does not match exactly with airline ticket? i do know that to change the airline ticket name the whole ticket needs to be re-issued so it’s not a possibility for me at this point.

I think you are in luck here. The information your travel agent may or may not have shared when she made your booking is meaningless. The only thing that matters is what you show to authorities. When you get to the airport and check into your first flight show your UK passport. If you have to go through an immigration exit in Canada where they stamp your passport, show your Canadian passport. Otherwise, continue to show your UK passport for everything else throughout the trip. Only when you are checking in for your flight back to Canada do you need to use your Canadian passport, and then of course on arrival in Canada with immigration. This will allow you visa and reciprocity fee free entrance into all the countries you mentioned.

As for the name issue, a middle name usually isn’t a problem if it doesn’t match. But, you could call the airline and have it added to your ticket. It shouldn’t constitute a re-issue and if it does, it’s not worth doing.

that’s really interesting. it just made me realize i don’t really get a stamp anywhere on my passport before i board the plane in canada. i just walk through this security belt and hand my passport to someone standing by. sounds like that is the practice in US as well? so in that case, you are saying at the customs checkpoint i can start to use my UK passport… i’m relieved, excited, and scared at the same time! this is a huge trip for me and my boyfriend and he doesn’t think i should risk it. what i also am pondering is… if me and him are at the immigration counter at these countries together… and we both claim we are from canada.. would they question why he uses as canadian passport, but i use a UK one? would i be questioned why i am holding a british passport when i claim i am from canada? am i over-thinking here??

Janice – you have to relax! You aren’t planning to commit a crime here. If you have a UK passport you have certain benefits. It doesn’t matter if you live in Canada or also have a Canadian passport. All that matters is which you are using. Chandra and I went to South America last October with our baby. Me and baby have US and Italian passports but Chandra has only a US passport. At each entry point we presented two Italian passports and an American one even though we were clearly a family and clearly American. None of that matters. This is a paperwork game. If you hold a UK passport you don’t pay the reciprocity fees or need a visa for Brazil. It makes no difference if you actually live in the UK. There is no risk here so don’t worry about it. The reciprocity fees apply to the passport, not the person. So relax and enjoy saving some money!

Also, for Argentina you need to pay the reciprocity fee ahead of time online so make sure your non-UK traveling companion does that. You show a receipt of payment on entry. With your UK passport, you don’t need such a receipt. In Chile, you have to go to special counter before clearing immigration and pay the entry fee and get a receipt. Just be aware of these things – especially paying Argentina in advance and bringing the receipt – very important.

My wife has a valid South African and a valid British passport, both in her married name. For a holiday in South Africa my preference is to travel on the British passport as regards the airline, but show the South African passport at immigration for both entry and exit in South Africa. So gate checkins and UK immigration/security would use British passport.

The advantage is that a layover in Dubai would more easily permit going landside in Dubai on the British passport (on the spot visa with no fee). Travelling on South African passport as regards the airline records would mean swapping passports in Dubai and might risk electronic passport checking issues on return to the UK.

So in our case is it OK to travel on British passport and just use South African for immigration control in SA, particularly since the names are the same? Many thanks.

Sorry, I should have used your second article rather than add a comment on this one. Having read your second article, I think I should book the airlines using the South African passport. Hopefully we can swap to British for the few hours in Dubai as regards the Dubai immigration desk, and continue with South African on the airline. Also returning to UK we should be able to show British passport to the airline to explain lack of visa and show British passport to UK immigration despite traveling on South African one, even if this is not ideal.

Do you foresee any problems?

Just to clarify you are traveling from the UK to SA via Dubai and want to enter Dubai briefly which is easier on your UK passport. I would do this:

Check in for flight to Dubai/SA – SA Passport Arrive in Dubai and depart Dubai – UK Passport Arrive in SA – SA Passport Check in for flight to UK/Dubai – UK passport Depart SA immigration – SA passport Arrive/depart Dubai and arrive UK – UK passport

The only potential discrepancy that can occur here is that you will enter the UAE without seemingly haven flown there. But honestly I do not think you’ll have an issue with that at all. Absolute worst case, you just show your SA passport along with your UK one to explain. You have to enter SA on the SA passport so this would be understandable.

I was thinking the same thing. If Emirates only allow one entry for passport details per passenger, rather than split passport details for out and return, I’d have to return with SA passport on the airline records and show UK passport both at airline visa check in SA and at UK immigration. I guess that would also work OK? Thanks very much for your advice.

This is interesting I always leave Australia on My Aussie passport and put it away during the flight then pull out my Italian Passport and Enter the UK on that one.

Which one do you show to the airline at check-in? It should be the Italian one to match the manifest with immigration. Chances are you’d be okay if you don’t. But it could cause a red flag.

I show my aussie passport to both. then once i jump on the plane I put that away and pull out my Italian Passport for UK immigration.

Probably shouldn’t do that but okay. 🙂

After reading Everything on both blogs. I am now going to follow the way you have set out. Seems very appropriate.

I hope you won’t mind a question about the switching passports mid-stream part of your very helpful post.

I am a US/Canadian dual citizen. I am flying tomorrow from Canada to Mexico via the US. (I’m flying from Toronto to Chicago, then connecting in Chicago for a flight to Mexico.) I’d like to use my Canadian passport to enter Mexico, and I obviously need to show my Cdn passport to return to Canada. Also, I need to show my US passport to enter the US. So, I’m a bit confused as to how this works.

Should I check in at the Canadian airport with my US passport, since that is what I will be showing the US immigration official to enter the US? If so, can I then present my Canadian passport when I arrive in Mexico? Or would I have to use my US passport since that is what I checked in with for the first leg of the flight (Toronto – Chicago).

Similarly, on the way back, I assume I should check in to my flight from Mexico to Chicago with my US passport, since that is what I’ll use to enter the US. But then I’ll be transferring in Chicago for a flight to Toronto and need to use my Canadian passport to enter Canada. Will this be a problem since I checked in to the flight (back in Mexico) with my US passport?

I hope this question makes sense and would be grateful for any guidance!

Just to clarify: I understand that airlines share information with immigration officials, so the passport I use to check in has to match the one I use to enter the destination country. If I check in in Canada with my US passport for an itinerary with a final destination of Mexico, changing flights in the US, will the airline give my US passport info to both destination countries (first US, then Mexico)? If so, will this present a problem on my return? I’d be checking in in Mexico with my US passport, to enter the US, but I’m switching flights in the US and flying on to Canada, and I need to enter Canada with my Canadian passport. Will the airline pass on my US passport info to the Canadian passport control authorities as well as to the US ones?

I assume I’ll just be checking in once for the entire itinerary — is there a way to check in for the flight to the US with my US passport, then “re-check-in” for the connecting flight (to Mexico or, for the return, back to Canada) and get them to enter the Canadian passport information for that second flight?

I replied to you on the other post. Let me know if you have other questions.

David, I cannot see your answer, and it is of interest to me. Could you please send it to me? Thank you very much, R

It’s the top comment on http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

I have a question for you. I have both American and Spanish passports (my husband is US citizen) and at the present time I’m expecting our first child. Although we are currently residing in Lithuania I’m having the baby in Spain and as I am an only child I would like my son to have my last name in his Spanish passport so it won’t be lost forever and his father last name in his US passport, is that possible?, I’ve read in the US consulate information that in that case I would have to produce an affidavit when I register the baby at the consulate indicating the reason why the name in the Spanish Birth Certificate it’s not correct. Do you think it is possible to have both passports with different names on each one of them?. Thanks

Hi Laura – I can’t pretend to be an expert on Spanish passports but I do now that in Italian passports it’s customary to keep your maiden name even after being married. So having two passports with two names is possible. You’ll just have to see if the authorities will do it.

Ok, how about I have a US passport and that of another country, so I enter my other country with their passport. Coming back to the US, I will need to enter with the US passport. Now, my question is am I not going to be questioned by Immigration why I dnt have and entry stamp or visa from the country I am traveling from? Because to them I went with my US passport. And input on this, please.

You will not have problems – this is exactly the scenario described in the post. US Customs will not search for an entry stamp – they already know where you are coming from via the airline.

i was asked if I have another passport of which i said yes. they didn’t ask to see it. and how long I was there. And let me go. they can’t deport you.. I mean deport you back to the US?.. if you have citizenship you have the right to be here.

Hi Dave! I also need to go to Brazil and I have two passports, argentinean an american, leave from Texas (were I reside), now my concern is, when I do the tickets reservation I will give my argentinean info, when I come back to Texas and show my american passport that will no match whith what they have there. I will be ok?

Hi Karina – if you follow the exact example above with Michael’s case, you will be fine (I am assuming it is easier for Argentinians to go to Brazil vs. Americans). Just follow everything step by step. The tickets reservation is not important. It is important when you check into the flight and present a passport to immigration.

Many thanks!

Hi Dave! Thank you for the article. I have a question that I’m not sure if you will be able to answer. I’m currently a Temporary Resident in Canada. I entered with a Student Visa attached to my Brazilian passport, and now I am under a port-graduate work permit. My Visa expired, so that means that I can’t leave Canada as I can’t use my work permit as a re-entry document. The Company I work at will travel to the Bahamas on the next months and I was invited. The problem is: I have an Italian passport and I don’t need a visa to enter the US or Canada. Can I leave Canada and enter with my Italian passport? Will my status change if I enter the country with a different passport? Thank you 🙂

Henrick – Are you saying that you have overstayed your visa in Canada and that’s why you can’t leave without being able to come back? Or do you have a valid work-permit that is allowing you to stay in Canada? If you overstayed, changing passports doesn’t solve your problem (although you may not get caught). But if you have a Canadian work permit in your Brazilian passport you can’t leave and reenter as an Italian. If you do, you won’t be under the work permit, you’ll be a normal tourist and restricted to a 90 day stay.

HENRICK it does not matter what passport you use your name and birthday follows you Canada will see your status and have you exit the country no doubt about it if you leave the country with out clearing up your status.

Hey! I have dual citizenship, and I am going to obtain a one year VISA to Austria on my JORDANIAN passport. Can I use the AMERICAN passport in inter-european transportations??? Please answer asap

If you are staying within the Schengen zone it’s considered one border and you should remain on your Jordanian passport. Although this is an open border so you really won’t need it. If coming and going from the Schengen zone, you can use whichever passport you wish. As long as you reenter Austria with the Jordanian since that’s what has your visa.

Hi Dave! I was wondering if you could help me obtain a second passport. I’m from UK and my grandparents are Italian. The instructions supplied by the consulate are very confusing. Did you need to provide a copy of the birth certificates for EVERY person descended from the Italian member of your family born in Italy? Also, did they have to be registered with AIRE in italy?

If you can’t answer my question, advice of any kind would be much appreciated. I simply do not understand he instructions given to me in order to obtain an Italian passport.

Thank you very much.

Hi Beniamino – I’m happy to help. You will need to supply the birth documents, marriage documents and death documents of every individual between you and your ancestor that allows you to have Italian citizenship. It is a complex process that gets more complex the further back you have to go. Nobody needs to be registered with AIRE but if they are still alive and not living in Italy, they should be. When I went through the process, this site was a major help: http://italiancitizenship.freeforums.org/ Otherwise, you can email me with more specific questions at [email protected]

Hello Dave!

Great article! I have a question for you. I have American and Canadian passports, but I’ll be getting a UK work visa on my Canadian passport. I plan to leave from the US, since I am a resident of the US and not of Canada. Would I have to leave through Canada, to show my Canadian passport (with the work visa) when I arrive to the UK, or could I leave from the US?

Also, if I were to come back from the UK, would I need to show my US passport when re-entering the US? I ask this because my US passport won’t have any stamps in it, whilst my Canadian one would, due to the work visa.

Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hi Bobby, You do not have to leave through Canada. Check into your flight as a Canadian from the US. There is no exit immigration from the US, so the only ones who will even see your passport upon your departure are the airline agents (however, this is beside the point). When you arrive in the UK, you will still be presenting your Canadian passport (matching the flight manifest and containing your visa). When you leave the UK, present your US passport to the airline, your Canadian passport to UK immigration and your US passport to US officials. Your situation is exactly the same as in this post. Thanks for reading! Chandra

It’s even easier than that. There’s no exit immigration from the UK either, so just use your US passport throughout.

Dave, I’m trying not to be repetitive asking questions you have already answered but I am still not 100% clear on my situation. I have dual citizenship with the US and the Netherlands. I traveled to Germany to visit my mother who is stationed here using my American passport. I am about to be going home to the states 2weeks shy of visiting Germany for 1 year. I know I need to use my American passport, will I have issues entering the country having been gone for so long? I currently have a Netherlands passport to prove I have dual nationality if I were to be questioned. Thank you so much for your help!

Hi Jo-Anna, First off, when you are a citizen of a country you can come and go as you please. It does not matter how long you stay or how long you are away. You will not be in any sort of trouble for being outside the US for too long.

Secondly, you did mention though that you entered Germany as an American. You should have entered with your Dutch passport because Germany is part of the EU, like the Netherlands. This actually means you have overstayed your visa, unless you somehow got an extension past the usual 90 days. Americans can only stay in the EU for 90 days unless they have a visa. To Germany, you are there as an American citizen, not as an EU citizen.

Unfortunately my Dutch passport had expired mere days of traveling to Europe, otherwise I would have entered as an EU citizen. That was my fault for not paying attention to details and will be better prepared next time. Thank you so much for such a timely response. I was so stressed about this issue and having trouble finding the answer on my own.

Being that I entered Germany as an American citizen, will I have trouble leaving Germany? I did not get an extension to my visa. I wasn’t aware that I had to do this. I thought renewing my EU passport was sufficient enough. I’ve definetly learned a lot from you today.

I see. If I were you, I would probably contact your (Dutch) consulate. If you just try to leave Germany, they will know you have overstayed and you could face a fine and/or some sort of punishment. Your consulate may be able to give you info on how to proceed since you should technically be able to stay in the EU as long as you want given your citizenship.

This is not the same scenario, but as an aside I have been able to reclassify myself after entering a country abroad and receiving the wrong kind of stamp at the airport (I should have been given a student visa but was just given a standard tourist 90 days by mistake in the UK).

I flew to New Zealand in 2010 and I had trouble when I arrived in New Zealand, I think I booked my ticket using my British Passport and then had a stop over at Singapore and used my Kiwi passport there. Once I arrived in New Zealand they rushed me into the electronic check in and I was there for half an hour trying to see why it wouldn’t accept my passport. I went to a desk near by and they had to put it in manually because the kiwi passport didn’t link to what my boarding pass had said?

On my way home I stopped in Aussie for 5 months because I have free visa entry because of my kiwi nationality and I came back to NZ for a few days. I asked the check in woman and said what one should I use and she said ‘whatever one you want’, so I said I’ll just use my British passport to avoid hassle again, went up to NZ departure immigration and the guy behind the desk was asking me why I was here for only a few days not realising I should have just used my NZ passport.

I am going back in October so I’m just going to book it again on my British passport but use my kiwi passport as I did but on my return journey just use my kiwi passport on the way out..

I’m not sure what your question is here? If you follow the step by step procedure above you won’t have any of the problems you outlined having in the past. Basically you must always show your NZ passport to NZ officials but when it comes to the airline you show the passport you are going to use at your destination.

My situation is a bit unique. I was a Canadian citizen first and obtained US citizenship later. When I applied for US citizenship, I have my first name changed. So I have two different names on the two passports. I’d like to use my Canadian passport when I apply for a visa to China because the application fee is cheaper. I know that I should use my Canadian passport when I book an air ticket, check in at the airport when leaving the US and present to the Chinese Immigration Authority. My question is what I should do in the return trip? I have to use my Canadian passport to check in with the air line because the name on the Canadian passport, but not the US one, is the same as on the air tickets. But I will have to present my US passport to the US Immigration Authority. Will the inconsistence be a problem for me to enter the US?

Thanks a lot in advance!

I assume you are flying via the US to get to China? Your situation is tough as the ticket should match the passport used. Where are you going to/coming from exactly? Do you live in the USA and will go from/to there? If so, I would recommend using your US passport entirely.

I live in the USA. I’m planning for a trip from the USA to China, and will come back to the USA. I guess I should use my USA passport for the whole trip as you suggested.

I wrote to you a while ago but couldn’t find your response. Here it is again. I am Mexican living in Canada. I am Canadian Citizen too. I am flying to Mexico to see my Grandma but I only have my Canadian passport. I think that I will be fine entering Mexico as Canadian right? My ticket has the name that appears in my Canadian passport. Do you think I should get my Mexican passport and enter as Mexican in Mexico? or I will be fine by entering as Canadian? I just didn’t want to pay for 2 passports.

Hi Claudine, You wrote on the other post here: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Basically, you can not do what you’re describing. You must enter Mexico with your Mexican passport.

Hi Dave! Please help me to figure this out: have 2 passports – Uzbek by birth and Iranian by marriage. I have green card and live in US. Green card states that my country of origin is Uzbekistan. I want to travel to France this summer and would like to use Iranian passport. Uzbek passport is not valid to travel outside of Uzbekistan due to expired exit visa (unique to post-soviet countries). So when exiting France to US which passport should I use – iranian or uzbek?

You should follow the step by step directions here – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

If you are departing France back to the US and your US visa is in your Uzbek passport be sure to exit EU immigration with your Iranian passport but check into your US flight and enter the US as an Uzbek.

Hi Dave, My daughter has dual citizenship – UK and NZ and therefore 2 passports. Her UK passport has expired (and for various reasons can’t be renewed in the time frame), so she wants to use the NZ one. I know she doesn’t need a visa, but can she exit and reenter UK freely on her NZ passport? Thanks. Joy

Sorry, was rushing before! She is going to Spain 1st April – sorry for omission!

It may be less of a problem if she is entering Spain. But she lives in the UK and needs to go back there after? If so, she must enter as a UK citizen. That’s very important.

Great, thanks!

Although she may get away with this, the answer is no. As a UK citizen she must enter and exit the UK using her UK passport. Using her NZ passport would mean failing to present herself to UK authorities as a UK citizen, which is against the law.

Thank you, Dave – I’ve had problems getting a conclusive answer on this!

What if you’re leaving your home country and entering your other home country, which passport do you use then?

To illustrate this, let’s assume you are American and Italian and you are traveling from the USA to Italy. You would check into your flight to Italy using your Italian passport. Then depart immigration using your US passport, then arrive in Italy and show your Italian passport. Then when it comes time to go home you’d check into your flight using your US passport, depart Italian immigration using the Italian passport then arrive back in the USA usig the US passport. Check out my other post, it may be helpful – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Im shima. I have recently got my US passport and currently, i hold two citizen Malaysian and US. Now i’m migrating to US with my husband and its my first time traveling to US. My questions is, when i first leaving Malaysia, which passport should i verify at the immigration and which passport should i bought my ticket. Since im buying only one way ticket.

Hi Shima. You need to show your US passport to the airline when you check in. Then show your Malay passport to the immigration officials when you depart Malaysia. Then your US passport to the US authorities when you arrive in the US. It doesn’t matter that you are buying a one-way ticket as you are a US citizen and can come to the US forever if you’d like. My other post may be helpful to you – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Quick question – all the websites say it’s the law that US citizens enter and leave the US on a US passport. Which law is it? Thanks

This is correct. You must always present yourself as a citizen of a specific country to authorities from that country. This applies to the US and everywhere else. It would be illegal for you to arrive in the US as a US citizen and enter the US with a non-US passport.

I want to drive by car to Oman. Is there any passport control , whan i leave Dubai , before i enter Oman ? Is there border?

There is absolutely a border between the UAE and Oman. They are different countries and there is passport control.

Hi Dave! Quick question for you. I am in Dubai . I have 1 month visa in Moldavian passport . Visa will expire in 2 weeks. I also have Romanian passport, which dont need visa from march 22. Can i go to Oman with Moldavian passport and exit with Romanian one? Is it legal ? Romanian has same rights as italian . Thanks in advance

You can’t enter and exit Romania on different passports but you can exit the UAE as a Moldovian, then enter Oman as a Romanian, then exit Oman as a Romanian and re-enter UAE as a Romanian. Just be sure not to exceed any overstay limits in the UAE. Those maximums apply to you as a person and not one of your passports.

Salam Dave,

I am a student studying in Malaysia. I want to get rid off my current Somali passport and change it with a Djiboutian passport. How can that work out. Thanks

Salam Giire. I’m not exactly sure I can help you with this. You are obviously a Somali citizen but are you a citizen of Djibouti? Do you have some connection there?

Yes, I am a citizen of Djibouti by birth. My father is a Djiboutian and my mother is from Somaliland. I took my education in Somaliland. When I was coming to Malaysia, I used the passport of a self-declared de facto sovereign state of Somaliland that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia. Somaliland’s passport was officially accepted by Malaysia’s immigration department however after using the passport for almost one year and a half. The Somali embassy accused Malaysia for dividing their country. My Somaliland Passport was taken away and changed with the Passport of Somalia against my will. So, I need to change it by denouncing the Somali citizenship inorder to use my Djiboutian passport which is now in my hand. Note: Djibouti does not allow dual citizenship. The real challenge is how am I going to work this out??? Thanks in advance Dave.

Are you saying you have your Djiboutian passport in-hand? Do you currently hold a valid passport from Djibouti? If so, what are you asking how to do, simply renounce your citizenship with Somalia?

Thanks Dave

The best thing to do is keep very quiet about your dual citizenship. Your Somali by birthright so think you should keep quiet and see what happens.

Hi! Great website here. I also have a question. My wife was born in Ukraine. She moved to the US on Fiance Visa (did not get “exit” visa from Ukraine). She is now a US citizen. If she flies to Ukraine, and enters Ukraine on a US passport … is this a problem? Her Urkaine passport expired already. She never officially renounced her citizenship either, as it is apparently complicated to do.

Hi Mark – your wife must enter Ukraine on her Ukraine passport, that’s the law. She should have the Ukraine passport renewed at the Consulate in the USA. If she plans to renounce and never renew, she can probably get away with using her USA passport.

Hi David, I am a recent naturalized citizen of the US but currently have a valid UK passport. I submitted an application for a US passport a day before I found out my father passed. I have called a number of times to get my application expedited but I fear it will not get back to me in time. I need to travel to NZ and re-enter the US in a couple of days. I plan to have my wife fed-ex the new US passport to NZ when I receive it. Not ideal, but not sure what else I can do. Any suggestions/advice?

That should be doable. The only other suggestion I would have is to get a temporary passport in NZ. The Consulates are able to issue these.

Hello any help would be appreciated: I’m traveling from the United States to Brazil this summer. Brazil has no visa requirements for Bosnian citizens where as it does for Americans. Obviously I should be using my Bosnian passport to enter Brazil but what should I be using when checking into my flight/leaving the USA, if I use my Bosnian passport won’t that raise flags since Bosnian’s aren’t allowed in the US without a visa?

Hi Dino – you need to follow exactly the steps here – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

My friend lives in South Africa & has a South African passport (valid for 9 years) & a UK Passport. She is visiting the UK for a 3 week holiday in April but her UK passport is only valid until August 2014, will this cause a problem?, what’s the best thing to do as she is due to arrive on 5th April?

It sounds like her UK passport is valid for the duration of her stay in the UK? If that’s the case, she’ll be fine. The 6 month validity for passports only applies to foreign passport holders to prevent overstaying. As a UK citizen, it’s not possible for her to overstay.

Taking these steps are stupid when your travel your name follows you everywhere. I travel to Canada on my UK passport the same info pops up as if I used my us passport. I travel home to the US on my UK passport no problem. It’s no secret that you are a dual citizens expecially with rfid. Coming home to the US they can’t really bother you if your a us citizen traveling with a foreign passport cause permanent residents have to use foreign passport and they don’t have more rights then citizens.

It sounds like you don’t have a problem then Charlz. The issue comes into play where the airlines transmits the flight’s passenger manifest to the immigration authorities and that manifest does not line up with the arriving passengers. If you were to use US Global Entry or Nexus for example those systems verify your point of origin based on what the airline shares, which includes passport number as the primary identifier. That doesn’t mean it will always cause a problem, but a lot of this is best practices to stay below the radar. It’s true you can always be let in because you are a citizen of a country, but most people would rather avoid as much attention as possible.

An interesting outline Dave, but as a dual citizen with two passports I do have to correct you on one point – for the sake of readers who may take this information as gospel. When you talk about Citizenship Rights and suggest “thanks to your second passport, now you can beg for help at two different embassies”, that is not the case. In the event that “…shit goes down” a dual citizen will be viewed by any and all embassies SPECIFICALLY as a citizen only of the country issuing the passport THEY USED TO ENTER THAT COUNTRY. This is a fact. Dual citizen travellers should be aware of the possible pitfalls in this scenario when they select the passport they use for entry.

You are incorrect. For example, Canada has helped its citizens in countries such as Sri Lanka and Lebanon, despite those individuals having entered with Sri Lankan/ Lebanese Passports. I know since I was one of them.

I hope that nobody takes your comment for gospel, since you are just wrong.

It’s a disservice to intelligent knowledge transfer when someone such as yourself with an uninformed opinion – particularly when it’s based on outdated and personal assumption – spouts misinformation on a note of importance such as this. The conditions for travel by dual citizens are NOT static, and uninformed travel as such could lead to significant problems in time of requiring consular assistance. You should not communicate your opinions as fact, as you are simply wrong. For anyone on this forum reading the reply from DuaCitizen, please ignore it, as it is patently incorrect and not current. Please read this as an updated and current opinion on entry and travel by dual citizens relative to Canada.

http://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/1v6vmd/consular_services_to_scale_back_aid_for_dual/

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hi there! I understand the issue of not switching passports from airport to immigration, but, is it a bad idea to leave your home country on the foreign passport? In which case, there would be no stamp on it yet? E.g. check in at LAX on my Italian passport, arrive in Scotland & enter using my Italian passport, then when I am leaving Scotland, use my US one at the airport and customs/arrival back home?

Hi Kristy! Your question follows our other post that’s mentioned above: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/ Hope this helps!

Hey dave!! I need help, I entered the US with my italian passport, though I reside in Argentina. I was able to stay 3 months, but I thought a trip to canada would renew it but it didn’t. I left in time, and am now in Canada, do you know if I can attempt to go back in a month or 2 and get 3 months again? (They said I should go back to my country of residence.. Which of course I am not planning to in the short term). Thanks!!!!

Hello Meme! Unfortunately the US and Canada cooperate when it comes to things like this in order to prevent exactly what you are trying to do. Under the visa waiver program you can stay 90 days but you must leave not only the US but also Canada, Mexico and many nearby islands as well before returning. Otherwise, there is no limit to how long you have to wait before you can come back again. As long as the CBP officer allowing you entrance doesn’t think you are suspicious or trying to spend too much time in the US, you’ll be fine. But, you will have to leave North America before being able to enter again.

I am Thai-Candian and I just got my Canadian passport two years ago and have not use it. How ever I live in Sweden and has a residential visa for my Thai passport to stay with in the shengen visa. I would like to go to Scottland however the visa (shengen) dosent allow for the Thai passport in to the UK with out a visa.

So when I exit Sweden can I use my Canadian passport to exit and enter into the UK? And on the round trip back use the Thai passport to enter Sweden?

Yes, since the UK is not in the Shengen zone you would just exit Sweden with your Thai passport and then enter the UK as a Canadian.

I also have to use my Thai passport when I enter Germany for transit to Aberdeen?

Aberdeen, UK? Just be sure to show the Thai passport with Shengen visa when entering exiting the Shengen states and your Canadian passport into and out of the UK. This may mean some passport swapping. Check out our post on when to use what which may be helpful. http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Thanks this helps a lot. I have read your link. And one thing, do I have to show both of my passports to the airline and the immigration? Saying that I will exit with this and enter with this?

You don’t have to show both, just show the right one at the right time. Although showing both probably won’t cause you any problems.

As an American I have just been approved for dual citizenship with Italy under “jus sanguinis”. I have not as of yet received my passport but have a question regarding upcoming travel to Italy. When I do finally receive my Italian passport can I just use my US passport for the duration of the trip considering I will only be there for a few weeks? If one has both a US and Italian passport is it mandatory that I always use my Italian passport when arriving in Italy? There are many different answers that I’m reading and not quite sure what’s correct as I always want to do what is legal.

One other thing, I have made reservations for a rental car and have an international drivers license obtained in the US. How is this handled considering that I only have a US drivers license? Thanks in advance!

Hi – I am absolutely certain that you must enter Italy as an Italian. It does not matter if you are there 1 hour or 1 year – you are Italian and must present yourself as such. This post will also be helpful to you:

http://www.stylehiclub.com/tips-general-travel/frequently-asked-questions-traveling-with-two-passports/

As far as the license, you will not have a problem with only a US drivers license. We’ve been fortunate to travel to many countries and have rented cars in many of them (Ireland, UK, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, New Zealand, Seychelles, etc) – the American license is enough. In fact, it is more possible that the International Drivers License will be unknown to them.

Hi Dave, thanks for the article! Very helpful. I have been searching for a solid source on which countries allow dual citizenship or which ones don’t. I still haven’t found a good link, do you have any suggestions on this issue? (Specifically interested in whether Paraguay allows dual citizenship or not). Thanks again!

I’m afraid I don’t have a specific resource on this. However, most countries won’t have anything to say on it, which means you’re fine. The only way you’ll have a problem is if a country specifically says that if you obtain a second citizenship you lose your primary – like India. Most countries won’t “allow” dual citizenship but they tolerate it because there is nothing they can really do as long as you respect their rules in their eyes.

I hold a US & Irish passport but I am without a state ID. My US passport just expired. Can I travel within the US using my Irish passport until my new US passport arrives?

Within the US you should be able to do this, yes. TSA only checks you are who you are. As long as you don’t present it to an immigration or customs agent. But try to get your US id as soon as possible.

hi my daughter has indian passport as she is born in india..im her mother and im from philippines. can i apply for her philippine passport as well

Most likely, yes. But you should check with the Philippine consulate on exact requirements. You will probably just need to gather paperwork.

I have a question; I am a dual citizen of both France and the USA, I am traveling to China this summer as a tourist, the visa fee for a US citizen is $130 whereas for everyone else it is $30. Obviously I want to go there as a Frenchman, but on the visa application it makes you list other nationalities, Will the Chinese embassy charge me as an american or a frenchman? (it is important to note that I also live in America) Which passport should i use? Any help would be appreciated.

You have the option of which passport to use in your application. They won’t make you use your US passport just because you have one. That said, there may be other benefits to using the US passport over the French. Last year I was in the same situation with India and was going to apply using my Italian passport, however the wait time for a visa in a non-US passport was weeks, compared to just a couple days for a US passport. Just be sure you know all the pros and cons but it is your choice.

Thanks a lot for your help.

hi Dave, I hold a US and Thai passport and am hoping to work in Thailand with my US passport as an expat. Do you think they’ll be any problems with me applying for a non immigrant visa or a work permit for Thailand?

I’m not sure why you want to work in Thailand as an expat when you are not an expat and hold a Thai passport? I’m sorry to say, what you want to do is most likely illegal.

i have two passport, i enter a country with my main passport but it got stolen. Is it possible if i use my other passport to leave the country?

Technically the answer is no. But you may be able to get away with it. Which country?

I am a dual citizen with Serbian and Swedish passports, I currently reside in Sweden and intend to travel to Turkey from a second country which is Denmark , now to my problem…in my last trip to Turkey I overstayed my visa and received an entryban for 3 years on my Swedish passport, this time I intend to travel from Serbia to Turkey with my Serbian passport and att the passport control in Turkey show my Serbian passport …..will they be able to tell that it´s me the same person that was banned in Turkey on a Swedish passport or will I maybe manage to pass through?

I would say there is a high probability that this will not work. Most immigration authorities don’t check identities based on passport type/number but rather on more universal identifiers like name and birth date. Although I don’t know if this would work or not in Turkey I can assure you it would not work in the USA. I would say doing it would be taking a considerable risk.

thanks for this interesting topic, Dave

I have a question, I got two passports with the same info and same ID, I need to travel from my home country Sudan, to Saudi Arabia then to Malaysia and then to Thailand, the problem is I got the two Visas to Saudi Arabia and to Thailand on one passport, but when I come to the Malaysia Visa I discovered that the passport will expired within 6 months period, which is something unacceptable for Malaysian Immigration. (For that I issued the second passport), now I got two Visas in one, and the other is empty new passport, my question is can I get into Malaysia with a completely new passport having no stamps on it ? or should I show them both? I don’t know what to do. Thanks in advance

Mohamed I’m not sure what your question is. Are you just asking if you can use a blank passport to get into Malaysia? As long as the passport is valid you can use it. It makes no difference if there are other stamps in it.

Hey Dave, I used my U.S. passport to enter Colombia instead of my Brasilian one since I thought it would make more sense cause my Brasilian one is a empty. As I crossed into Ecuador over land I tried to use my Brasilian passport but they would only accept the U.S. one. Next I’m traveling to Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and then Brasil. How can I possibly switch over to my Brasilian passport? Do I have to cross the border by flight instead of land and will that even work? Please help!

As long as you use the same passport to enter and exit a single country, you can change anytime. As you crossed into Ecuador you should have shown your US passport to Colombian authorities and your Brazilian one to the Ecuadorians. They may give you a hard time but just insist. You can use whichever passport you want as long as you enter and exit on the same one.

I tried using my Brasilian passport to get into Peru but was denied and forced to use my US one. Ugh. Now, I can only enter Bolivia on my Brasilian passport as I’m not going to so a Visa nor pay $140USD. Will this be a huge hassle/is legal?

Did you make it known you had both? Or did they look for your previous exit stamp and not find it? If the later, try to get Peru to exit stamp your Brazilian passport on departure.

Hi Dave,my question might confuse you abit,so my apologies:) Well,i have UK-refuge travel document and Iranian passport( got this 3years after having the uk travel document) and visiting turkey soon,I applied for the trukish visa and got the visa on my uk travel document,but im planing to visit Dubai(they do NOT accept refuge travel document)but they do accept Iranian passport! So I’m Entering turkey with my uk travel document and then leaving turkey with my Iranian passport and entering Dubai and then coming back to turkey with my iranian passport and leaving turkey and coming back to the uk with my uk travel document! My question is,will the trukish authorities question me when I leave turkey for Dubai. Will they ask me that,why there isn’t Entry stamp on my iranian passport? Thanks in advance.

You just need to follow the exact steps in our other article and you’ll be fine – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Actually I hold three citizenships: US by birth, moroccan by descend and italian by naturalization of my father when I was a minor. I’ve read that a US citizen MUST enter and leave on his american passport. I live in the EU and actually travelled in many countries (Morocco included) only on my italian passport, do you think I have to apply for an american passport to visit the US?

If you are a US citizen you must by law enter the US and present yourself to US officials as one. Using a different passport to enter the US would technically be illegal. If you’ve never had a US passport issued you probably won’t have any problems but to answer your question, yes.

Thanks for confirming, very helpful.

I am a European citizen but still am a citizen of my country of birth, can I still ask for a U.S visa on my second passport?

You haven’t provided enough information but as long as your country of birth isn’t the USA, this should be fine. You can choose whichever passport is most convenient to use at any time – as long as you use the passports of the countries you hold citizenship to come and go from those countries.

Thank you,that’s very helpful.

I’m 17 and am a dual citizen of Canada and the UK, however I am currently living in America. Im going to Canada to visit some family in August for two weeks, and am then leaving to go to England for school. Which passport do I enter Canada (my home country) with? Because I need to enter England with my British passport for the school i’m going to.

You can only enter Canada as a Canadian. Anything else would be against the law. Follow these exact steps and you’ll be fine – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

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Hi Dave, I have dual citizenship with Australia and Brazil. My problem is that in Brazil you use both your mother’s maiden name and your father’s surname as your surname. In Australia I’ve just been using my father’s surname and used my mother’s maiden name as my middle name. So both passports are different. Will I have an issue with my passports being different when travelling to Brazil? All names are shown on both passports. I’m worried that because I don’t have a visa for Brazil, that I’ll be stopped when checking in because my Brazilian passport doesn’t match my Australian. I hope this makes sense. Thanks for your time.

Hi Cazzz – I do not think you’ll have an issue, especially since all names are on both passports. It is possible to call the airline to have both names added to the ticket, but it sounds like the names are the same, it is just what you’re calling your middle name vs part of your last name. You will show your Brazilian passport to the airline in Oz (so they will know you don’t need a visa), then your Aussie passport to the airline when leaving Brazil.

Great! Thank you for your help! 🙂

Hi, My son has a US passport and a Srilankan. He was seven years old when we applied for the us passport and when he got it he also had a Srilankan passport. When I broigt my son to Sl in 2009 I used the Srilankan. Now he’s going to the us. But he doesn’t have the dual citizenship certificate. So we are planning to travel to Singapore on his Srilankan and then when he enters Sl to use the passport so he’ll be a us citizen in Sl. Therefore when he leaves Sl to dxb there won’t be any confusion. Any problema with this idea?

Hi tikiri, your son is American. All he needs to prove this is his US passport. Why wouldn’t you just fly from SL to the US (via DXB if the flight requires) and enter as an American? I’m confused why you are going to Singapore (unless you just want to visit there…).

Hi Dave ! My name is Luke. I flew in to Sweden with my Canadian Passport, but I have almost been here 3 months and I plan to stay a little longer (more than 3 months). I also have a Polish (European Union) Passport, which allows me to stay in Europe without any limitations.

So, my question is, would I be able to stay here, even though I came through with my Canadian Passport, even if I have a Polish Passport? Or would I have to go back to Canada and leave again with my Polish passport?

If there is a three month limit for Canadians then you can’t stay longer than that regardless of what other passports you have that you have chosen not to use. You don’t need to go back to Canada, just leave the country and come back in on the EU passport. Go to Norway which is not part of the EU.

This really helps! I do not have a visa or anything. So I could take a bus to Norway, i think to Trondheim and take a flight from Norway back to Sweden on my Polish passport? Or would I have to fly out of sweden to norway and back to sweden?

Land crossing should be fine, but you might be better off just booking a round-trip flight to Oslo as it’s only an hour away. An alternative is to try to remedy the problem with the immigration officers at the airport in Stockholm, but this may be more work than it’s worth.

Here’s a toughie. I’m living and working in Thailand with a working visa. I have to travel to Israel for a wedding and have my Israeli passport. Can I just use my Israeli passport to leave and re enter the country so I dont have to get a renewal on my visa in my American passport?

If you have a visa that doesn’t allow you to leave then you can’t leave. Leaving on the Israeli passport isn’t an option since you never entered on it in the first place. Plus, how would you then come back? Sorry but this won’t work. See if your visa allows multiple-entry as it almost certainly does.

so big question I’m mexican, with a mexican passport in the US with a F-1 student visa for 4 years i also have an spanish passport i really wanna go to canada but with the mexican passport i need a visa and pay fees bla bla and with the spanish passport i just show up and maybe pay fee (way easier) but would i have a problem when i want to come back to the us???

it is ok if i leave the us and enter canada with the spanish passport but leave canada and enter de us with the mexican

As long as your F1 allowed you to leave and come back, this is not a problem. Just follow the steps on http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Hi! I will be travelling with two passports for the first time and I am quite unsure as to how to handle this. I am Mexican and I recently acquired British nationality. I will be going to Mexico soon but through the US. This means I am fine to travel with the British passport all the way to the US, should I then enter Mexico with my Mexican passport? when leaving I shouldn’t I in theory show the Mexican one? The problem is with a Mexican passport I would need a transit visa in order to go through the US! Should I then just travel on my British passport? I have been told I should always enter my home country with my Mexican passport, so I don’t really know what to do… help?

I know I complicated everything by going through the US but it is cheaper of course.

You’ll need to use both passports for this trip. British to get to the US and Mexican to enter and exit Mexico. Follow the steps on this post and you should be all st – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

My husband and I plan on moving to Spain for a year. We are both U.S. citizens and I have an Irish/EU passport. Can I/we be eligible for national healthcare in Spain? I read that you can get free coverage if the country you are coming from offers free healthcare, which Ireland does. And does that extend to same sex married couples?

Thanks for your question John. It’s a good one however I’m afraid a bit outside the scope of my area of expertise. I would guess however that since same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005, that it wouldn’t matter as long as you are legally married. As far as eligibility for national healthcare overall, you may need to live in Spain a certain amount of time before qualifying but honestly I really have no idea. I would say this will probably all be very doable though.

Yes and yes

So if I entered Canada on my Canadian passport, but was flying from Canada to the UK and needed to enter the UK on my British passport, which passport do I book the flight on? Because I have to leave Canada on my Canadian, but Britain is my final destination. Thanks so much!

It doesn’t really matter what you enter when booking the flight. What matters is what you show when you check in at the airport. But in your case, enter the UK passport when booking.

I’m planning to visit Brazil for two weeks. I have dual citizenship from the US and Mexico. Since Mexican citizens don’t need a visa to enter Brazil, I want to use the Mexican passport to enter Brazil. However, I’m flying directly from the US and I’m a worry this might be a little troublesome. I read your Step by Step Guide, but Mexico not being a country in the Visa Waiver Program, I’m wondering if the airline employee at the check-in counter may ask to see a US visa or other proof that I’ve been in the US legally; specially since the information they record on the manifest is forwarded to CBP. Then I would have to show her my US passport. And then what if at that point she says that as a US citizen I must have a Brazil Visa in order to board the plane, irrespective of other nationalities I may have?

Later, when I arrive in Brazil, what if the immigration authorities realize that I’m a US citizen, and refuse to let me in without a Visa, even if I hand them my Mexican passport?

Finally, when I show my US passport while checking-in for the return fly, what if I’m told that as a US citizen, I’m not supposed to be in Brazil without a visa, even if I have another nationality?

Do you know someone who faced a similar situation? – that is a dual citizen of the US and country X traveling from the US to Brazil, where country X citizens need a Visa for the US but not for Brazil. I rather not get a Visa, but I would be very upset if my trip was ruined because of some bureaucratic policy.

Thanks Antonio

Antonio – you have to relax 🙂 All you need to do is show what’s necessary when asked. If someone wants to see you are allowed to be in the US, just show your US passport. There is no reason anyone would tell you you need to use your US passport over your Mexican for anything other than entering the US. So relax, it’s all good my friend 🙂 You can enter and exit Brazil as a Mexican. That’s your right.

Great posting. However and correct me if I am wrong here. I hold a us passport and eu passport. Booking a ticket online with the airline asks you for your passport info. In order for me to avoid a visa for Brazil I would enter the passport info of my eu passport. Now when I get to airport there is no immigration leaving but the airline person at the check in would ask me to swipe my us passport and will ask to see it as well. I can’t imagine that booking a ticket with my eu passport and checking in with my us passport won’t raise a reg flag. Thoughts please.

Don’t worry about what you enter when you buy the ticket. What matters is what you show the airline when you check in and that must match what passport you’ll use when you arrive at your destination. Follow the exact details in this post and you’ll be okay: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Thanks for the quick response. I am holding a German passport as well as an US passport. If I use my German passport to go to Brazil and hand it to the airline person they will ask for my arrival card I-94 for sure. Since I always enter with my US passport I won’t have/need that card. Only my customs form is needed for US citizen. The airline will report people without the I-94 immigration when leaving the country.

I am a US citizen and I often depart the US showing only my Italian passport to the airline staff if that is the passport I am using at my destination. I have never been asked to see my arrival card I-94. If I ever was, I’d show show I was an American citizen and therefore don’t need one.

Hi! I live in the Philippines and I have both a US and a Philippine passport. I will be going to the US in a few days, and I’ve heard of people like me using their PH passport departing, and their US one upon arrival without any problems. Should I do the same, or is it better to stick to the US passport? Thanks.

Hi Daniel – please see our post for exactly how to do this: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

Thank you! Very helpful article.

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So I have a Finnish (EU) and Malaysian passport. And as you may know, Malaysia does not recognize dual citizenship. I am planning on going to the UK to look for a job using my Finnish passport and I will be leaving from Malaysia. My plan was to leave Malaysia using my Malaysian passport. I am just wondering if I should then enter the UK with my EU passport of Malaysian passport. If i enter using the Malaysian one, I am allowed to stay for up to 6 months and I was planning to then use my EU one in the country to look for a job. There are pros and cons to either option. I am a little confused with what I should do. Your help would be much appreciated!

In this case you need to use your EU passport to enter the UK, or you won’t be able to work. You can’t have entered on the other passport and then look for work. You will eventually overstay and be there illegally as a Malay.

I currently live in the UK, I hold a UK and US Passport. My UK passport is currently unavailable(it’s been sent off and I’m not sure I will get it back in time)…I have booked a trip to Ireland this month and if I do not receive my UK passport in time would it be acceptable to travel to and from with my US passport. I understand you’re supposed to enter your ‘home’ country with that passport but as it’s unavailable this looks like it may be my only option.

You aren’t supposed to do this, but you most likely won’t have a problem in doing so.

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Hi, I have a question. My boyfriend is an American citizen and travelled to the UK to visit me for one week 9 months ago. Upon arrival he was denied entry due to lack of funds. He was however given temporary admission of one night. He is wanting to come back to see me and has recently found out he may be able to obtain an Italian passport. If he gets it, could he enter the UK with his Italian passport instead? Will his name still register as someone who had been denied? Will the officers see it as him trying to hide the fact he was denied by coming in on his other passport? And if so, could they start asking why he’s now coming in on another passport and deny him again? In reality he would be using it so he could gain instant access but we don’t want the officers thinking he’s desperate to enter so is sneaking about as if he’s up to no good.

Your boyfriend can use whatever passport he wants to enter each time so there’s nothing shady about doing so. That said, if they have a problem with him entering it won’t matter which passport he uses. But I don’t think changing to an Italian one will cause any problems. It can only help.

Hi – I am a US and UK citizen, and reside in the USA. I will be traveling to Canada for work in the near future quite extensively (pretty much every week). But I need to send my US passport off for a Saudi Visa application for a trip I have to make later this year. I don’t think I should have issues entering Canada on my UK Passport but how should I handle re-entry to the USA with my US Passport? thanks,

You aren’t supposed to enter the US using anything but your US passport so this may be a problem. Any way you can send your UK passport for the Saudi visa? If not, you can get a second US provisional passport from the US State Department that should solve your problem. They are good for two years.

Hi, can I get some help? I applied for a British passport and it didn’t arrive when I left the US to go to the UK, so I used my US passport. I will be getting my British passport by mail soon before I go to France. Do I need to leave the EU entirely and fly back in with my British passport, or do I just enter the next country on the British passport to be able to stay as long as I want?

Because on my American passport I can only stay for 90 days, so if I leave as an American from a country, and enter another as British, does that still matter??

If that makes any sense. Thanks!

Since the UK is not in the Schengen zone you can just leave the UK and enter the Schengen EU using the British passport. You shouldn’t have entered the UK without your UK passport, but you should be fine.

Hi, if I use this system with 2 non USA passports, to enter the States, can I stay for 90days on one passport then depart and reenter on the 2nd passport (with a valid Visa waiver)?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. You are the same person.

Thanks. ONLY asking!

That’s fine – just stressing this point. We explicitly say it in the post.

Depending on where your passport is from, you may be allowed 90 days per entry, and not per year. Check it out, you may be okay.

If I have an Italian and US passport and I am traveling to Italy, do I leave the US with my Italian passport?

Just wanted to thank you for all your help! Your spell is amazing and got my man back. Now to clarify, it had already been some time since we had even spoken to each other, and I was really starting to miss him. but since i contacted [email protected] bring him back, and it worked! … I could not have done it without you! We are now blissfully celebrating our Birthdays together, and are even planning a beach getaway just us two.

Thank you sooooo much!!!

So I have quite a complex issue that I could use some advice if anyone has experience with a similar situation, here’s my long story:

I was born in Russia but moved to Canada when i was around 7. My only grandparents live in Russia and they are too old to travel, so try to visit them every 4 years or so.

* This May i found tickets for a great price leaving June 4th, which made me realize that my Russian passports are expired (Russia has 2 passports, Domestic and International best i can phrase it)

* At the Russian consulate in Toronto (after several visits) they gave me a document that allows me to exit Canada and enter Russia in order to renew my Russian passports. This form was to be given to the passport offices within 3 days of arrival

* I had no problems getting to my destination, by the second day I had already renewed and been given my Russian Domestic passport. Thought I was off to a pretty good start.

* On the third day I went to the Russian passport office and gave them the document that allowed me to enter Russia and began asking about the International Russian passport. They told me that it takes a minimum of a month to renew; but that I could do it from Toronto (My current trip was booked for 3 weeks – June 4- 27th). They also assured me that I would have no issue exiting Russia with my Canadian Passport.

* Worry free I didn’t bother modifying my flight itinerary and fast forward until today, at the airport when 3 hours before my flight, passport control rejects me from exiting Russia. They tell me that there is NO WAY the will let me leave Russia without the Russian International passport. I had them get a manager and she just yelled and threatened me in Russian.

I have a job and commitments back home in Canada, and could really use some advice on how to deal with my current situation as I had to cancel my flight last minute and currently trapped in Russia for the next undetermined period of time. Oh yeah, and as an added bonus, up until I turn 27 (about 6 months from now) I can still technically be sent to the Russian army regardless of the fact that I’ve lived for over 20 of those in Canada.

Holy crap. That is the worst ever. I have never heard a good thing about Russian passport stories and have had my fair share of annoyances but nothing this bad. Can you appeal to the Canadian Embassy?

As of now my best bet is to try and find a way to expedite the international passport via whatever means possible. The embassy wouldn’t get involved because it would only start a political mess since i’m also a citizen of russia.

I hope you’ve applied for your Russian pp soon after arriving. I wonder if you can contact Rus Consulate in Toronto and ask them what your options are. Please post what happened to you, as it may help others with dual Rus/Can citizenship. Thank you.

I never use to believe in spell casting until i met Great Baba a powerful spell caster who helped me to be a happy person again. My name is Sarah Kelly and i reside in USA. After 3 years of Broken marriage, my husband left me with three kids. I felt like my life was about to end and i almost committed suicide, i was emotionally down for a very long time. Thanks to a Great spell caster called Great Baba which i met online on one faithful day when I was browsing through the internet, i came across a lot of testimonies about this particular Great spell caster how he has helped so many people. he has helped people to bring back their Ex lover, some testified that he restores womb, cure cancer and other sickness, and so on. I also came across a testimony, it was about a woman called Amanda, she testified about how his spell made her to be pregnant after so many years of bareness and at the end of her testimony she dropped Great Baba’s email address. After reading all these, i decided to give it a try and i contacted him and explained my problem to him and he assured me that in less than 48 hours, my husband will call me and beg for forgiveness but i thought it will not work. When he had finished casting the spell, the next day my husband called me and he was begging for forgiveness just as Great Baba said. This is not brain washing and after the spell has been cast, i realised that my husband love me like never before and the spell caster opened him up to know how much i love him and how much love we need to share. We are even happier now than before. Great Baba is really a gifted man and i will not stop publishing him because he is a wonderful man. If you have a problem and you are looking for a real and a genuine spell caster to solve all your problems contact Great Baba now on [email protected] he will help you solve your problems. Once again thank you Great Baba for your good deeds.

Excellent site and thank you Dave!

I know this may sound outlandish, but are US citizens allowed to have three passports?

For example, a US passport (first), Italian passport (second) and an Argentine passport (third)? I do have two, and am considering a third, but I don’t want to go through all the hassle just to find out that the US does not allow one to have three passports.

Any suggestions — and any links that may be useful?

Thank you!!!!

I do not think this is a problem.

My partner and her mother are dual US – German citizens, traveling to Germany for the first time since getting German citizenship (we live in the US). I understand from your post that they should show the airline their German passport for their flight to Germany, and then show the airline their US passport for their flight home, so that they can enter each country with that country’s passport. The problem is, buying the airline tickets online, the airline website requires info on one (and only one) passport per passenger.

How do they convey the info for two passports each at this point? If they just buy the tickets using their German passports, won’t that cause problems when they try to check in with the airline for their return flight from Berlin with their US passports?

It doesn’t matter what you give to the airline when you book, What matters is what passport you show when you check in for the flight at the airport. That’s why they ask for your passport at that time.

Hi Dave! I need some advice. I hold dual citizenship for the UK and South Africa. I travelled back to SA a few years ago and wasn’t allowed to travel on my British passport as South Africans require their citizens enter on a SA passport. It actually delayed my holiday as my SA passport was out of date! Anyway, the airline used my renewed SA passport as my travel document for the return flight too but I had issues when I got back to the UK border. An official accused me of being dodgy travelling on the SA passport and then trying to enter the country on the UK passport. Should I have done something differently on the journey or was he just blowing hot air? I’m due to do the same trip in a few months and want to avoid any more confrontations. Thanks

You need to follow the exact steps outlined here – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/ Do that and you should be totally fine.

Wondering if you can help me out here… I am a dual citizen, British by birth and Canadian by naturalization. I have already booked tickets to SEA, India and Turkey on my Canadian passports (travelling with my Canadian fiance) but want to know if I can still use my British passport to apply for my visas to Turkey and India… The fees are much cheaper and I have more leeway with that than with my Canadian passport – Do you know if there will be any issues with my “passport info” not matching up with my “travel documents”…?

Let me know your thoughts!

The passport you entered when booking is meaningless. What matters is what you show at the airport. Just make sure you follow the steps outlined here – http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

I know my situation is probably unusual, but it’s all down to how crazy my birth country, Venezuela, is right now. Let’s see if any of you have any wisdom for me in this case:

I am a dual citizen: Venezuela and Colombia. For all practical purposes, my residence is in Venezuela, and I hold a U.S. 10-year tourist visa on my Venezuelan passport. However, my passport expires in octobre, and due to many complications outside the scope of this question, it may not be possible to get the renewal in time for a trip later this year.

I also hold a Colombian passport, but my U.S. Visa is in my Venezuelan passport. Would I be allowed to enter the U.S. by showing my valid U.S. Visa in my (by then) expired Venezuelan passport and also my current Colombian passport? I know that visas cannot be “transferred” between passports when the passports expire or when for example you change your name due to marriage, and that you just show the passport where the visa was issued, next to your new one, but I’ve found nothing that covers this situation where the “new” one is from a different country.

Looking forward to your comments.

I thought I had replied to this already. Apologies if I did not. Yes, you can enter and show your still valid US visa in your other (expired) passport. Just make sure the passport you are entering on is valid for at least six more months.

Hi guys, So I am a citizen of the US and also the Netherlands (EU) I possess both valid and current passports, I reside in the USA. I am going to Colombia in August, flying from Los Angeles, to Fort Lauderdale, connecting in Fort Lauderdale to Medellin Colombia. For family reasons I do not want my US passport to be stamped. So my question is can I travel with both passports, present my Dutch passport in Colombia aand present my US passport when I arrive in the US again. Thanks so much

Yes, this is no problem. Follow exactly the steps here: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

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BEWARE OF SCAMS!!! DR MALAIKA ODOGWU IS THE ONLY SPELL CASTER TO TRUST! ( [email protected] ) will be of great help to you. I never believed in spell casting but After 4 years of dating my hobby, he left me because I lost my womb . I felt like my life was about to end I almost committed suicide, i was emotionally down for a very long time. Thanks to the spell caster called Dr malaika whom i met online after my friend Tracy told me how he has helped her. She testified about how Dr Malaika brought back her Ex lover in less than 3 days and reversed the effect of her lost womb, and at the end of her testimony she dropped Dr Malaika’s email address. After reading all these,I decided to give Dr malaika a try. I contacted him via email and explained my problems to him. In just 3 days, my Hubby came begging. We resolved our issues, and we are even happier than before, am pregnant now to God be the glory. Dr Malaika is really a gifted man and i will not stop publishing him because he is a wonderful man… Come to think of it I didn’t pay much and all I have to do is send him little 250 dollars which he used in providing the materials used for the spell. Even my pastor said that God works mysteriously, that some men are used by God to help others. If you have a problem and you are looking for a real and genuine spell caster to solve all your problems for you. Contact Dr malaika anytime, he is the answer to your problems. Here’s his contact [email protected] ..

Hi Dave Just a little confused on what to do. I am a Canadian citizen but also have a Portuguese passport by birthright. I will be moving to the Netherlands. So which passport should I be showing when I leave Canada and showing when I arrive in the Netherlands ? The reason for my move is to be with my boyfriend. Thank you Jessica

Since the Netherlands and Portugal are members of the EU, you should show your Portugese passport when entering the Netherlands. By entering as an EU citizen you won’t have any limitation in how long you can stay and you’ll be able to work, own property, etc.

Hi Dave Thank you so much for the info. One more thing which so when I leave Canada should I show my Portuguese passport when I leave Canada???

Please reference this post for exact steps – thanks! http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

This is a great article. I have two American passports at the moment, the second of which was processed through the Peace Corps. If I were to enter the EU using one and stay for the full 90 day period would I be able to reenter on the second instead of waiting for another 90 day period to elapse between?

Time limitations such as these are applied to the person, not the passport. In this case you would not be able to do this. That’s not to say you wouldn’t be able to get away with it, but it would be against the law.

Hey Dave, your post is really good, but it’s still not answering my problem. I have two kinds of passports: Israeli and Austrian. I got into Italy with my Israeli passport. Then by car I got into Germany. Can I leave Germany with my Austrian one? Or I have to use the same one I used to get in? Is it connect? Because it’s not the same country… Thank u!

Hi Mary – you should enter and exit the EU as a whole on the same passport so yes, exit on your Israeli.

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hello friends, this is unbelievable but a true story. I became frustrated in my relationship and after trying several methods i went online to seek help there i saw a post on how a lady got her husband back and i decided to try this prophet that helped her because my marriage was failing. truly speaking, i never believed in spiritual work or spell casting but i reluctantly tried him because i was desperate and had no other option. To my greatest surprise this prophet helped me and my relationship is now the best you can imagine. just as he promised my husband now treats me like a queen even when he had told me before he doesn’t love me anymore just the other day my husband bought me a rose flower and this days he does things I had forgotten existed in relationship. well, i can not say much but if you are passing through difficulties in your relationship try him here is his email [email protected] of a truth he really helps again his email his [email protected] in deed prophet I am grateful

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Still got questions about traveling with two passports? Want to talk to us and get our opinion on what you should do in your specific situation? Check out our eBook. It’s the Internet’s definitive guide to traveling as a dual citizen. It also includes a personalized consultation! http://www.stylehiclub.com/definitive-guide-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/

I’ve entered Canada (my country of birth) on my Canadian passport, but I’m flying out of Canada to England on my British passport in two weeks. Do I show my British passport when at the airport in Toronto?

Hi Parker – you should follow our steps on our other post. If you are still unclear, check out or eBook written just for dual citizens. http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

I am a resident in the UAE on my South African passport with my married name. I have a French Passport that is in my maiden name (the French won’t give it to me in my married name until I have registered my first marriage and then divorce and then my second marriage – and these documents are not readily available as first husband certificates issued in Rhodesia). I am travelling to France in September – what is the best way to travel?

You have to enter France on your French passport. If you want further info, check out our eBook which has details on these sorts of situations and includes a free consultation so we can speak individually. http://www.stylehiclub.com/definitive-guide-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/

Just in folks! I have been moaning and groaning about having to send off my US passport (YES the actual PP) with my Brit one to renew my British one. (I am in Sweden) According to Brit PP authorities ”it has always been like this.”

However, today I saw that now, one only has to send in color photocopies of the 2nd PP, not the actual PP. This is very new, maybe i was not the only one howling in protest.

Thought you would like to know as there were several comments about this when I was posting a few weeks ago.

PS, I know many Swedes, Brits etc who are US cits, who routinely travel to their home countries on their US PPs. This is of course just for a short trip, not to stay.

Thank you! I’m sure this will be very helpful to many people.

Yes, i hope it will. You can verify this by going to the UK PP renewal site.

Thinking about it though, the person who decapitated James Foley, spoke with a British accent. Many terrorists have UK, US or other Western PPs in addition to their terrorist homelands. Maybe that is the reason the authorities want to know what other PPs are held by UK cits. They are not looking for you or me. But they should tell us that, then we would all understand.

Edit: It is also unlikely that a terrorist would ‘fess up to having another dubious PP.

Hi, Interesting article. I’m just not sure/slightly worried about what you said on flying with a single passport on each leg of the trip. I was born in Brazil and have a birthright German passport, which I use to fly to London 2-3 times every year since that is where I go to university. Only recently has BA started asking for my Brazilian passport at Heathrow, but what I have done for a few years and without problem was to use the German passport only for all things Heathrow and the Brazilian one in Brazil. Is there anything I should be doing to ensure that no problem arises from this? Thanks

BA will need to see your Brazilian passport at Heathrow when returning to Brazil so that they know you are allowed to be in Brazil. You need to show the airline the passport you will use at the destination, not where you currently are. If you have more questions on how this works, you should check out our eBook – http://www.stylehiclub.com/definitive-guide-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/

I am a dual citizenship of US and Malaysia and have traveled to and fro both countries. I am here because I got myself into a complicated situation. My Malaysia passport expired while I am residing in the US, and I am planning on returning to Malaysia for vacation. I am contemplating whether or not I should renew my Malaysia passport at a nearby consulate in the US (I have to present legal docs that might reveal my dual citizenship). Any advice?

I assume the alternative is to visit Malaysia as an American citizen? Is dual citizenship illegal in Malaysia?

I have a Dominican passport and an American passport. I have a warrant for my arrest due to a misdemeanor conviction (left the country for Dominican Republic and abandoned probation), plus I have pending felony charges (assault with deadly weapon) and a a DUI. I came to Dominican Republic and became a citizen due to birthright. Am I able to travel with my Dominican passport as a tourist without having to reveal my American criminal history?

Where do you want to travel to? You will not be able to visit the US. Regardless of what passport you enter with.

Hey Dave, this post has answered a lot of the questions I had with dual-citizenship and how to effectively use it so I really have to thank you for writing it. I just have a few questions that I’m hoping you can answer.

I was born in Romania, but I grew up in Canada so I have both passports (I just have to renew the Romanian one to get it since I’ve only ever used the Canadian one to travel). I plan to move to Germany in about 2 years after I graduate from university and I was wondering if it would be more beneficial for me to enter and live in Germany as a Canadian citizen or as a Romanian citizen. My gut tells me the answer is Romanian because being a part of the EU, I wouldn’t have to apply for a visa and I would be able to live and work there without any permits. However, my parents keep telling me that it wouldn’t be worth it because of the bad image that Romanians have and the discrimination they face in Europe as well as the better consular services that I would receive from the Canadian embassy versus the Romanian one. Now I am skeptical about this because I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks (even if the bad image and discrimination was true/actively affected me) due to the EU citizenship, but I would like to get a third opinion on this, ideally from someone as knowledged as you.

I guess what it boils down to are these questions:

If I move to Germany and get into trouble, would I have to go to the consulate of the country of the passport that I used to enter Germany or could I go to either?

If I move as a Romanian citizen, would I have access to Germany’s social services (such as health insurance, etc) or would I have to depend on Romania’s?

Do Romanians really face discrimination from other EU countries that actively affect their lives and work opportunities? (If this is out of your scope, no worries)

Which is the more beneficial citizenship to use when moving to Germany, in your opinion?

You have a complex question with many parts but the gist of my answer is that you would be crazy not to use your Romanian passport. You have full work rights and right of abode in Germany. To not make use of that and go through lengthy immigration procedures is just nuts. I believe you would have access to all German social services but that may depend on your job and how long you are there. Using Canadian consular services would not be theoretically possible since you will be considered an EU citizen. If you have more questions about this process, you should check out our eBook! http://www.stylehiclub.com/definitive-guide-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/

I live in th US, I hold a British and U.S. Passport and am traveling to France for a year. Could someone clear up for me which passport I use to exit US both with airlines and security and which do I use to enter France

You should follow our step by step guide. Check out our eBook! http://www.stylehiclub.com/definitive-guide-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/

Note that there is no immigration check upon exiting the USA.

Sorry but I’m really struggling to make much sense of the information above, it seems a little tautological at time. Especially since you’re saying it’s really just the immigration desks you need to worry about, yet the airlines pass information to those desks (details of the flight) which should match up. Here’s my situation. I’ve been in Brazil on my UK passport for coming up to six months (I renewed the tourist visa which allows 3 months stay). I’ve been told that I can (friends of friends have done it) leave the country, in this case to Argentina, and re-enter BR with my Tunisian passport. There are no visa requirements for Tunisians in Brazil, but there are for Tunisians in Argentina. My idea was to leave Brazil on my UK passport, they stamp it blah blah blah, I leave a few days before my tourist visa expires, all good…enter Argentina on my UK because that means I won’t need a visa…return with my UK, through immigration in Argentina etc…then enter Brazil with my Tunisian. My concern is that if they check my Tunisian in Brazil they might see that the Tunisian passport number doesn’t match the number on the flight details.

Oh and by the way thanks in advance for any help you can give me!!!

Whichever passport you use to enter the country you should also use to check in for the flight. Then you’re all set. If you have more questions about this process, you should check out our eBook! http://www.stylehiclub.com/definitive-guide-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/

Hi, I have a query. My boss has 2 passports. He is travelling to Dubai and then to US and then to Ecuador. He wants to use his 1st passport to enter Dubai and then use the 2nd passport from Dubai to the US and Ecuador. Can you please let me know if this is possible. Many thanks

This is possible yes. Just need to use the same passport to enter and exit a single country. If you have more questions about this process, you should check out our eBook! http://www.stylehiclub.com/definitive-guide-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/

HI! Excellent article just the one I was looking for: My question: Is is possible to switch passports on the US-Canada (road) border? 2 passports HU+RO. HU does not need visa for Canada, but US J-1 is in my RO. Thanks! So the plan is to exit US with RO, switch on the bridge, enter Canada with HU, do the reverse on the way back.

This may be difficult as many of the US/Canadian immigration checks are combined. I would present both passports and explain what you want to do.

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Need A New U.S. Passport Fast? Here’s How You Can Speed Up the Process

From emergency travel to suddenly realizing your passport has expired right before a big international trip, there are numerous situations that might require a quick passport turnaround..

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Sometimes we need a new passport sooner than we realized.

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Whether last-minute travel plans have suddenly sprung up or a big international trip is here before you had time to double-check the expiration date on your passport, it’s not uncommon for travelers to have to expedite their U.S. passport applications.

Several other situations might require a new or renewed passport in a hurry as well. For example, some countries don’t permit entry if your passport has less than six months of validity. Some international destinations, like South Africa, require that you have at least two consecutive blank pages in your passport book. It’s important to check the U.S. State Department’s website for each country’s visa and passport requirements or contact your airline or travel agency before you hit the road to make sure that your travel documents will be accepted upon arrival.

The process (for both renewing and getting a new passport quickly ) is fairly similar to the regular application process , which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Due to a big surge in demand for new and renewed U.S. passports—the U.S. State Department processed nearly 22 million passports in 2022, more than at any point since tallying began in 1974— standard passport processing times inched back up in early 2023.

Here’s what you need to know to get a passport in your hands as quickly as possible.

How long does it take to get an expedited passport?

During the pandemic, even expedited services experienced a massive slowdown. Thankfully, both regular and rushed passport processing times started to come down toward the end of 2021. But in early 2023, regular passport processing times crept back up due to a massive influx in applications—the standard processing period is 8 to 11 weeks, according to a March 2023 update from the State Department, up from the 6 to 9 weeks for a routine passport application in January 2023.

If you apply for an expedited passport directly though the U.S. State Department, processing times are about 5 to 7 weeks, according to a March 7 update —but that doesn’t include mail delivery times, which according to the State Department can add “several weeks” to the total processing time.

“Processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply. Mailing times may add several weeks on to the door-to-door time it takes to receive your passport,” the State Department reports.

Nevertheless, the 5- to 7-week time frame is down from the 12 to 18 weeks the agency had estimated for expedited passport service during the pandemic. For a faster turnaround, an expeditor like RushMyPassport.com offers services that are as speedy as one or two weeks, but it’ll cost: The fastest one-week service is about $800. At press time, RushMyPassport.com offered expedited passport services ranging from 1 to 10 weeks from the time documents are received by the agency.

If you need it within 7 weeks, you can still do it yourself

If you have a life-or-death emergency or urgent international travel coming up within 14 days, you can make an in-person appointment at one of the 26 passport agencies throughout the United States. You must have an appointment to visit an agency, and the only way to make an appointment is by calling 1-877-487-2778.

You can also apply via mail. The window for expediting is 5 to 7 weeks, but as mentioned above that doesn’t include mail delivery times, which can vary widely across the country.

How to apply for an expedited passport

Don’t wait until you’re at the airport to find out your passport isn’t travel ready.

Photo by Africa Studio/Shutterstock

To apply for a rushed passport, begin at the State Department’s website , where a handy checklist will keep you from making a mistake that could slow down the process. The $60 expediting fee (plus overnight shipping) is not refundable, so make sure you have dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s when applying. This fee is in addition to the standard $130 application fee—so $190 total for the expedited passport service (not including shipping). First-time applicants are charged an additional $35 execution fee.

If you want the expedited service, you need to send your application using Priority Mail Express with the U.S. Postal Service. The State Department recommends that applicants send their application via trackable mail so that applicants can know exactly when it arrives and enters the system. Travelers can also opt for one- to two-day return delivery of their passport for an extra $19.53, to help speed things along somewhat.

If you score an appointment to apply in person, you must use form DS-11. To apply by mail, you’ll need to use the form DS-82 (you can download these forms here ). Submitted forms must be single-sided and printed clearly. Complete the application online before printing it out or by hand in black or blue ink; remember to write “expedited” on the envelope and include two recent photos that meet the passport photo specifications. If applying by mail, you must include a check; if applying in person, find out what methods of payment are allowed at your specific acceptance facility.

You can renew your passport by mail and can begin the process online as long as you are in possession of your expired or expiring passport; your passport was issued when you were age 16 or older; it was issued within the past 15 years; and it was issued to your current name or you have documentation to support a name change. Children under 16, all first-time applicants, and applicants who have lost their passport or had it stolen must apply in person.

You can make a free appointment ahead of time but spaces are limited—passport agencies and acceptance facilities are not accepting walk-in services and require advance appointments. Acceptance facilities include post offices, clerks of court, libraries, and local government offices. If you want to apply at a post office, you need to make an appointment at USPS.com . Other acceptance facilities may be requiring advance appointments as well.

Passport agency appointments must be scheduled over the phone by calling 1-877-487-2778 or 1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. The online appointment system was disabled after an underground market developed; third parties using bots would secure urgent appointments and then sell them to travelers in a bind. Many of these were not even legitimate appointments.

How an expeditor can (and can’t) help

Expediting agencies are companies that assist with rushed passport applications. They charge an additional fee (on top of the standard passport application fee and expedited passport service fee) but can often help navigate the ins and outs of the expediting process. Services like RushMyPassport.com double-check your application before it gets submitted and catch any errors or snags that might slow it down. The fastest turnaround time RushMyPassport.com offers is one week for $799 or a two-week option for $599. Even these can be limited in availability since expeditors also rely on a subset of appointments being available.

David Alwadish, CEO and founder of ItsEasy Passport & Visa , notes that the expediting slots get snatched up quickly. ItsEasy Passport & Visa currently charges $45 for its four-week passport processing service and $895 for one-day service. “One- to three-day passport service requires urgent travel. Please contact us for details,” the agency advises. Do-it-yourselfers can also use his company’s ItsEasy Passport App to submit applications for standard passport processing.

If you need it within 24 to 72 hours, try going to an agency in person

If it’s a life-or-death emergency , such as an illness, injury, or a death in your immediate family, getting an emergency appointment at an agency in person is the only option. Instead of wasting a day with overnight shipping, you can save valuable time by going in-person—even if you have to fly to a passport agency in the departure city of your international flight. In these circumstances, it can take anywhere between 24 and 72 hours depending on where you apply and if you can provide accepted documentation, such as a death certificate or signed documentation from medical personnel.

One final tip . . .

The best thing you can do to avoid paying extra for expediting your passport is to set a calendar reminder for nine months before the expiration date of your current valid passport, for those who have one. At that point, you can look ahead at your travels and figure out the best 18-week period to apply—one where, ideally, you know you won’t be heading abroad. If you travel frequently enough that such a period is hard to identify, you may want to look into the option of applying for a second passport .

This article was originally published in 2019. It was updated on March 7, 2023, to include current information.

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Dual citizens

You should understand the requirements and impacts of travelling or living outside Canada while holding citizenship of another country or countries even when your Canadian citizenship is recognized.

On this page

Canadians with dual citizenship, before you go.

• While you're away

Returning to Canada

Canada allows you to have multiple citizenships while keeping your Canadian citizenship. However, not all countries do allow this. Some countries may even consider it illegal for you to have another citizenship.

Examples of ways you might have another citizenship(s):

• you were born in another country
• you have a parent(s) who was born in, or is a citizen of, another country
• you officially apply for citizenship of another country

Note: You may not even be aware that you have citizenship in another country. For example, even if you’re born in Canada, if you have at least 1 parent who is a citizen of another country, that country may see you as a citizen as well and may not recognize your Canadian citizenship.

Having dual citizenship can also impact other aspects of your personal situation. For instance:

• Child abduction and parenting or custody issues
• Marriage outside Canada

Before leaving Canada to travel to another country where you also hold citizenship: 

• make sure to understand and meet the requirements of dual citizenship for that country
• contact that country’s embassy or consulate in Canada for information on the laws and regulations relating to dual citizenship
• consult Travel Advice and Advisories for country-specific information, including about dual citizenship

It’s important that you find out if you have other citizenships if you’re planning to travel outside of Canada. You may be required to follow certain regulations or face restrictions if you hold citizenship there.

While you’re away

If you hold citizenship in another country, different entry and exit rules may apply to you, even if your Canadian citizenship is recognized there. These requirements may not necessarily apply to other Canadian travellers without dual citizenship. 

Some examples of laws and regulations you may encounter when travelling to or living in a country where you hold citizenship:

• You may need a passport issued by the country to enter, and in some cases exit, that country.
• You may need an exit visa on your passport to leave the country.
• You may need to register your Canadian citizenship upon entry or while you’re there.
• This ban could be due to investigations into you, your family or your employer. It could also be in relation to criminal and civil matters, including business disputes.
• some countries have laws requiring parental permission to exit, depending on your age, gender or marital status.
• Your nationality may have an impact on whether these rules might apply to you.
• You can be forced to register for military service. This could be imposed immediately upon arrival or when attempting to exit the country.
• You may be required to pay taxes , as any other citizen of that country.
• You may need to register your child with the country, even if the child was born in Canada.

Consider the possible laws and regulations when travelling to other countries where you do not hold citizenship. For example:

• If your Canadian passport shows you were born outside Canada, some countries may have specific entry requirements. In some cases, you may not be able to enter the country.

If your Canadian citizenship is not recognized

Limited or no access to canadian consular services.

Based on the country's laws, local authorities could be within their right to prevent Canadian consular officials from assisting you in a consular emergency. Local authorities may refuse your request to access Canadian consular services.

Renouncing your citizenship

You may be forced to give up your Canadian citizenship or be required to renounce your other citizenship.

Learn more about giving up your Canadian citizenship .

If you need help

For help with emergencies outside Canada, contact the:

• nearest Canadian office abroad
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa

If you are a Canadian with dual citizenship, you need to carry a valid Canadian passport to return to Canada by air.

This applies even if:

• the country or countries you’re travelling from require you to carry your other passport
• you’re only passing through

More information about why you need a valid Canadian passport .

Related links

• Find a foreign representative in Canada
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• Canadian passports - IRCC
• Documents that prove your Canadian citizenship - IRCC
• A Guide for Canadians Detained Abroad - Travel.gc.ca

The Passport Book vs Card: Which Is Universally Accepted?

T he U.S. Department of State issues two types of government documentation for international travel. These documents allow travelers to have some flexibility in how they are identified while they travel internationally or domestically. Which type of identification is used can be up to personal preference depending on the type of traveling happening. 

The passport book and passport card have some similarities and differences that are important to keep in mind before choosing between the two . The main differences between these two are where they are accepted, who can use them and what information they provide.  

About the Passport Book

The traditional passport book is a common object that is often used for photo ops while traveling abroad, but it also serves a much more important purpose. While many go their whole lives never having a passport, it is impossible to travel internationally without one. A passport is a form of identification for international travel that verifies a person’s citizenship and over the years, is a type of travel diary. The cost of a passport application for first-timers over the age of 16 is $165 (the application cost is $130 and acceptance fee is $35), while those under the age of 16 are charged $135 (the application fee is $100 and acceptance fee is $35). 

Where Are Passport Books Accepted as Identification?

Passport books serve a universal purpose and are accepted for all forms of international travel throughout the world. A passport is a precious document, so if it is lost during travel or while abroad the traveler is required to recover or replace it before returning to the United States. The U.S. Embassy or consulate will be able to assist in this process. 

Who Uses Passport Books?

The passport book is available to U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals. It is used for international travel by means of air, sea or land. People of all ages can have a passport, in fact, many people have passports before they can even read due to their frequent flier family. If you are old enough (at least 16 years of age or older), the passport book will be valid for 10 years. 

What Information Is Inside the Passport Book? 

Passport books include a photo of the traveler and a unique number to identify the particular book. Personal information within the first few pages of the book includes the traveler’s full name, date of birth, nationality, sex, birth place and the book’s issue and expiration date. 

Although the standard passport book is 28 pages, the majority of the passport book is actually empty. The reason the rest of the pages of the passport book are empty is so that travelers can fill them with passport stamps, which has become a fun collectors activity for frequent travelers. Those that anticipate frequent international travel can request a 52 page passport book. 

More on Passport Cards

Passport Cards are a type of identification used for land crossings and sea ports into the United States. These types of passports are easily transportable due to their small size and condensed information. The cost for first time passport card applications is $65 for adults and $50 for children (under the age of 16). 

Passport Cards Are Valid in Limited Locations

The passport card is only acceptable as an identification document for travelers going to Mexico, Canada, Caribbean countries or Bermuda by sea or land from the United States. The card cannot be used for international air travel but can be used as identification for domestic flights. 

Who Can Utilize a Passport Card?

The card version of the passport was made for the ease of travelers that frequently pass through U.S. bordering countries. All U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals are eligible for a U.S. passport card. 

What Information Does the Passport Card Contain?

A passport card contains nearly identical information to the passport book. Details like the traveler’s full name, nationality, date and place of birth, sex, and issue and expiration date are all on the card. The only difference is that the identification card gets a unique passport card number.

The passport card is about the size of a driver’s license, so it easily fits in a wallet but does not include much other than personal identification information.

Protect Your Trip »

Here's when you need (and don't need) a passport to cruise.

It's the type of sailing – closed-loop or open-loop – that largely determines whether or not you need a passport to cruise.

Do You Need a Passport for a Cruise?

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A passport isn't always required for cruising.

To determine whether or not you need a passport to cruise, you first need to figure out if the itinerary is closed-loop or open-loop (also known as open-jaw).

Closed-loop cruise: A closed-loop cruise typically doesn't require a passport since it begins and ends in the same U.S. port (though there are some exceptions to this rule).

Example: Royal Caribbean International 's seven-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise stops in several countries – the Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti and Grand Cayman – but the itinerary is considered closed-loop because it starts and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Open-loop cruise: An open-loop cruise begins in one U.S. port and ends in a different U.S. port.

Example: Carnival Cruise Line 's 16-day Panama Canal from Seattle itinerary is not considered closed-loop because it departs from Seattle and completes its journey in New Orleans.

All of the above regulations have been determined by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: a plan by the departments of State and Homeland Security that determines which documents are acceptable for proving identity and citizenship when entering the United States.

Where to cruise without a passport

There are several destinations where you can cruise without a passport on a closed-loop sailing. They include the following:

• The Bahamas

When looking at cruises to these locations, be mindful of the home ports. The Bahamas, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada are all foreign ports, which means they only qualify for the passport exception if they are a stop along your cruise itinerary . If the cruise originates in any of these countries, it is likely you will need a passport.

Since Alaska, Hawaii and New England are all U.S. destinations, any closed-loop routes departing from these locations will not require a passport. However, keep in mind that it can be hard to find closed-loop cruises originating in Hawaii or Alaska.

To find closed-loop itineraries for a Hawaiian voyage or Alaskan cruise , try searching for sailings departing from major cities on the West Coast, like Seattle or Los Angeles . By contrast, quite a few closed-loop cruises leave from New England ports, but they are often marketed as Canadian cruises.

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When you need a passport for closed-loop cruises

Some cruise itineraries include foreign ports that require a passport for disembarkation. This is most commonly an issue for travelers on a closed-loop Caribbean cruise. Barbados , Guadeloupe , Haiti, Martinique , St. Barts , and Trinidad and Tobago all require U.S. citizens to present a valid passport to disembark and enter the country, despite WHTI regulations not requiring a passport for these destinations. Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private island , is an exception and does not require a passport despite its location in Haiti.

If your itinerary includes a country requiring a U.S. passport, your cruise line will require you to have the passport at check-in. Note that your passport must not expire within six months of your arrival in a foreign country or else it won't be considered valid for international travel.

Read: The Easiest Way to Renew Your Passport

Acceptable forms of ID

All travelers – U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike – must present documents that show identity and citizenship when entering the United States. A U.S. passport can show both. If you don't have one or don't want to bring one, be aware that you may need to present more than one document.

U.S. citizens 16 and older

If you're a U.S. citizen age 16 or older sailing on a closed-loop cruise without your passport, you will need a government-issued photo ID like a driver's license. In addition, you must present a document that proves your U.S. citizenship. These include:

• Passport card
• State-issued enhanced driver's license (EDL)
• Government-issued birth certificate
• Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST)
• American Indian Card (Form I-872) or Enhanced Tribal ID Card

The Trusted Traveler Programs are risk-based programs to facilitate the entry of travelers who have been vetted and preapproved. Most of these programs will provide you with a machine-readable card that allows you to pass through border checkpoints quickly. Keep in mind, some of these IDs are only available to travelers 16 and older.

Read: TSA Precheck vs. Global Entry

U.S. citizens younger than 16

U.S. citizens younger than 16 are only required to present proof of citizenship, such as one of the following documents:

• Original, notarized or certified copy of their government-issued birth certificate
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by U.S. Department of State
• Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Read: How to Get a Passport for Kids

Non-U.S. citizens

If you are a lawful permanent resident (or LPR) of the United States, you are required to present a permanent resident card or other valid evidence of permanent residence status.

Non-U.S. citizens, with the exception of Canadians and Mexicans, are not subject to passport exceptions, so a valid passport will need to be provided. Canadian citizens can present a valid passport, Enhanced Driver's License or Trusted Traveler Program card. Mexican citizens must present a passport with a visa or a Border Crossing Card.

Unacceptable forms of ID

While most common forms of identification are accepted, there are a few exceptions. U.S. military identification cards and U.S. Merchant Mariner documents are valid forms of identification, but only when traveling on official orders or in conjunction with official maritime business, so it is unlikely they will be accepted when traveling on a cruise.

Here are some other documents that will not be accepted as proof of citizenship:

• Voter registration cards
• Social Security cards
• Baptismal papers
• Hospital certificates of birth (for anyone older than a newborn)

It is important to note that many of the permitted forms of identification, such as a passport card or EDL, are only accepted at land and sea border crossings. Unforeseen circumstances, such as a medical air evacuation, may cause you to return to the U.S. by air travel. In this case, these documents won't be accepted when you try to reenter at the border crossing.

To avoid extra delays in your return to the U.S. following unforeseen travel complications, the Department of State recommends that everyone taking a cruise from the United States carry a valid passport book in case of emergency.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Erin Vasta has traveled extensively to international destinations, gaining a deep knowledge of travel regulations in the process. Her expertise in this area has saved her family and friends from unnecessary travel delays and ensured stress-free trips through border security in nearly 15 countries. To write this article, Vasta used her international travel experience and research skills.

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• Cruise Packing List: Essentials to Bring
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Life-or-Death Emergencies

Courier and Expeditor Companies

• Life-or-Death Emergency  (appointment required)
• Urgent Travel  (appointment required)
• Routine      
• Consider the total time it will take to get a passport when you are booking travel. Processing times + mailing times (up to 2 weeks) = total time to get a passport

Expand the options below to learn more about the four types of service we offer.

You may qualify for a life-or-death emergency appointment if you need to travel to a foreign country in the next 14 days because your immediate family member outside of the united states: has died, or is dying (hospice care), or has a life-threatening illness or injury see our  life-or-death emergencies  page for more information on how to make an appointment. , choose this service if you are traveling in less than 2-3 weeks.  if you have not applied, make an appointment online . your appointment at a  passport agency or center  must within 14 calendar days of your international travel date.  if you have already applied, call us at 1-877-487-2778 .  we cannot guarantee an appointment will be available. , choose this service if you are traveling in less than 8 weeks from the date you submit your application.  expedited service takes 2-3 weeks and does not include mailing times. mailing times may add 2 weeks on to the total time to get your passport. you can  expedite at an acceptance facility  or  expedite a renewal by mail .    , choose this service if you are traveling over 8 weeks from the date you submit your application. routine service takes 6-8 weeks and does not include mailing times. mailing times may add 2 weeks on to the total time to get your passport. you can apply for routine service at an  acceptance facility  or  renew by mail .    , contacting us if you have urgent travel.

Check your application status online and sign up for updates via email . How our contact center can help you depends on your travel date, and if you have applied or not yet applied...

I have already applied and do not have my passport

I have not applied yet, reminders for contacting us.

• Representatives are available Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. We close on federal holidays.
• Our primary number is 1-877-487-2778 . Se habla español.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-888-874-7793 for TDD/TTY teletype services.
• Contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate if you are applying outside the United States.

Traveling in Less Than 2-3 Weeks

Make an appointment at a passport agency or center.

We have two types of appointments:  Life-or-Death Emergency Service  and  Urgent Travel Service .

• You cannot walk in without an appointment. 
• We do not charge a fee to make an appointment.
• You cannot transfer your appointment to another customer.

Life-or-Death Emergency Service is for customers who are traveling in the next 14 days for a life-or-death emergency. Learn more on our  Life-or-Death Emergency page .

Urgent Travel Service : If you have not yet applied , make an appointment online . Your appointment must be scheduled within 14 calendar days of your international travel date.  

If you have already applied , call 1-877-487-2778 . 

We cannot guarantee an appointment will be available. 

Traveling in Less Than 8 Weeks

Expedite a first-time application or a child's application.

Use our Form Filler to fill out Form DS-11, print it, and apply in person at an acceptance facility.

• Follow the steps on how to apply in person
• Include your $60 expedite fee with the application fee
• Find an  acceptance facility  near you to submit your application

Expedite a Renewal or Name Change by Mail

Use our Form Filler  to fill out your form, print it, and mail it to us.

• Use Form DS-82 if you are renewing. Follow the steps on how to mail your application
• Use Form DS-5504 if you are changing your name within one year of a passport being issued. Follow the steps on how to change your name.
• Include the $60 expedite fee with the application fee
• Write "EXPEDITE" on the outside of the envelope you send us

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i pay for faster delivery and return shipping.

Yes. You may choose one or both of the following shipment options:

• Delivering application to us : Pay for Priority Mail Express for faster shipping. The price for this service varies depending on the area of the country.
• Returning the passport to you : Pay $19.53 for 1-2 day delivery. This means you will receive your passport   1-2 days after we send it. Include this fee with your check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State. Do not submit a return envelope to us with postage pre-paid. 

You may receive your passport and supporting documents in separate mailings. If you are renewing a passport card, we will send it to you via First Class Mail. We do not use 1-2 day delivery services if you only applied for a passport card.

What are passport expeditors and courier companies?

Passport expeditors and couriers are companies that are not part of the U.S. Department of State. These companies submit applications and pick up passports for customers. 

These companies may charge several hundred dollars in extra fees. They may also charge for services that we offer for free such as making an appointment and filling out a form. 

To learn more about these companies, visit our  Passport Expeditor and Courier page .

Make An Appointment at a Passport Agency or Center

We have two types of appointments: Life-or-Death Emergency Service and Urgent Travel Service . You cannot walk-in. 

Not Yet Applied : Make an appointment online

Already Applied : Call  1-877-487-2778 . Se habla español.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call  1-888-874-7793  for TDD/TTY teletype services. 

Processing Times

Routine:  6-8 weeks*

Expedited: 2-3 weeks and an extra $60*

*Consider the total time it will take to get a passport when you are booking travel.  Processing times only include the time your application is at a passport agency or center.

• It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive at a passport agency or center. It may take up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport after we print it. 
• Processing times + mailing times = total time to get a passport

Urgent Travel:  See our Get my Passport Fast page. 

Requesting a Refund for Expedited Service

Service Commitment

If you paid the $60 fee for expedited service when you applied and you did not receive expedited service, you may be eligible to  request a refund  of this fee. We cannot refund any other passport fees or your travel expenses if you miss your trip.

Non-Refundable Fees

We cannot refund the passport application fee and the execution fee. By law, we collect both fees and keep them even if a passport is not issued.

Learn more about refunds on our Refund of Expedited Passport Fee page.

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• Travel Updates

Aussie passport second most expensive in world

A graph has revealed just how expensive the Aussie passport is compared to other countries from around the world — does it surprise you?

Missing travellers rescued from Aussie outback

Aussies warned over Euro summer of chaos

Photo of men standing on rock sparks outrage

Aussies already lay claim to having one of the most powerful passports in the world — and according to new research, the second most expensive.

In three months, the cost of the Australian passport is set to increase by 15 per cent, meaning those who plan on purchasing the ten-year travel document will have to pay almost $400, up from $346.

In January, the fee increased per standard inflation price indexing that occurs each year – and will jump up again on July 1 to exactly $397.90 as the federal government puts up fees.

If you require priority processing, it’s another $252. So, if you’re planning on renewing your passport, it’s best to do so before July to avoid paying the extra $54 fee.

Compare the Market Australia revealed the Aussie travel document is the second most expensive passport in the world, based on price, years valid and power — and surprisingly, it has the second-lowest value per visa-free country – despite its relatively high ranking in the Henley Index.

According to Compare the Market Australia’s latest research, Mexico ranked first at $353.90 for its 10-year passport, while the six-year and three-year passports were fourth and ninth most expensive respectively.

The data found Australia’s passport is almost $100 more expensive than the next-most expensive passport on the list (belonging to the USA at $252.72).

For comparison, the New Zealand passport (the fifth most expensive on the list) costs $193.72.

Meanwhile, passports for the United Arab Emirates, India, and Hungary were the three cheapest on the list at $27.13, $27.70 and $31.78, respectively.

Compare the Market’s executive general manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, said the study revealed the importance of keeping your travel documents safe while overseas. “Damage, loss or theft of your passport is an unfortunate risk many people face while overseas,” Mr Taylor said.

“It is important to stay vigilant and take care of these vital documents, as even minor damage can stop you from travelling in some instances.”

And he’s not wrong. Several Aussies have been knocked back from visiting places like Bali.

One woman was turned away from her flight to Denpasar last month just hours prior to boarding after revealing she has a small tear in the spine of the document.

Another woman bound for Bali discovered water damage on the document, which ultimately led to her having to fork out hundreds of dollars more for an express replacement.

Mr Taylor warned if your passport is lost, damaged or stolen while overseas, it is important to contact the relevant authorities as fast as possible.

“[As] in some cases you could be charged or fined if you cannot present appropriate and valid identification.”

Meanwhile, with the Aussie passport fee set to increase, which works out to be just $33 over a 10-year period, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesperson said it comes with good reason.

More Coverage

“The increase to passport fees will support priority initiatives within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio, including the government’s efforts to modernise Australia’s passport systems and services,” the spokesperson said.

“It has a high level of technological sophistication, backed by rigorous anti-fraud measures, which ensures its integrity. This is a key reason why Australian passport holders currently receive visa-free access to over 100 countries.”

The one-off July 1 fee increase is set to raise $349 million over a three-year period.

A group of travellers have been rescued in the Aussie outback after becoming stranded with their vehicle in remote terrain.

A number of European hotspots have begun a controversial measure that will affect everyone planning a long-awaited soiree in the northern hemisphere sun.

A photo of three young men standing on a rock in the Queensland bush has sparked furious controversy online.

European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity

On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date. This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history, if the passport validity allows. 

According to the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals.

This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU. 

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

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How to get a multi-year Schengen visa on your Indian passport

There's good news for indian passport holders who are planning to visit europe this summer. the eu is easing the schengen visa process for frequent travellers..

Listen to Story

• Visiting Europe is getting easier for Indian passport holders
• A new 'cascade' visa scheme will allow frequent travellers to get a multi-year multiple-entry Schengen visa
• However, you need to meet certain criteria to be able to apply for this 'cascade' visa

There's good news for Indian passport holders who want to visit Europe this year on. The European Union is looking to ease Schengen visa processes for Indian tourists.