Adding 2 passports in APIS? Dual AU/US citizen flying EU->USA->Australia

[transpactraveller]

I'm not sure, but I've always wondered why Australia is so interested in my other nationality and getting my other passport details in their database. The other country does not care at all and never asks to see my Australian passport (well check-in staff do look at it to confirm I don't need a visa to travel etc, but it doesn't need to be linked up to my other passport in a government database)

 

[RealtimeY]

The US doesn't allow to use a different passport to enter at all... I'd say the Australian requirement is less onerous.

 

[transpactraveller]

This is upon departing Australia, not entering.

 

[Per_Travels]

Sorry - missed this question

Curious if you ever figured out this linking - will be wanting to do this at some point soon!

Short answer is no.
Last couple of trips to Saudi (where my visa in in my UK passport) I've put my UK passport into APIS. When I check in I then have to also show them my Australian passport to allow me to exit Australia. The slight pain/delay at the Australian end is better than the longer delay which happens on arrival in Saudi if I have my Australian passport in the system (with no visa in it)

 

[madrooster]

Hi, is this linking of a foreign passport to the Aussie one only possible during check-in by the airline staff calling BOC?

It has to be done just before a departure out of Australia.

I'm not sure, but I've always wondered why Australia is so interested in my other nationality and getting my other passport details in their database. The other country does not care at all and never asks to see my Australian passport (well check-in staff do look at it to confirm I don't need a visa to travel etc, but it doesn't need to be linked up to my other passport in a government database)

It's because we have outbound immigration smartgates. If you don't want the passports linked / don't want to give the foreign passport details to ABF, that's fine, you just have to exit on the Australian passport / deal with your destination and their requirements for Australian nationals.

 

[Diplos]

With ETIAS coming in this will now be an issue for dual EU citizens who have naming differentiations.

As an EU citizen it seems like you will not be able to get an ETIAS Waiver . So you will required to show your EU passport to verify why you don’t have an ETIAS.

To date I have never had to use my Greek passport.
That has been good because it has a varied name to my Australian passport (they used the baptismal version of my name and no middle name). In Greece they have never even queried and just allowed me to use my Aus passport . But ETIAS willl change this .

So how will this work ? One of the options would be to “link” the two passports (this is how I came across this post after doing search).

Is linking two passports (Aus and Greek) possible and can it be done before booking any flights ?
That is , can it be done by the passenger with ABF or by a travel agent ?

It is not something I would want to have to rely the check in person to do as they may not like the idea of a different name on each passport .

My understanding is that :
a. I should book flight in Australian Passport name
b. Show check in Australian passport (and also EU passport to confirm exemption from ETIAS)
c. Go through immigration with Aus passport

Is there a better way to do this in terms of booking ticket name ?

 

[anthonysimilion]

Curious if you ever figured out this linking - will be wanting to do this at some point soon!

Sharing my recent positive experience of having Aussie and US passports linked. I entered into Australia from Japan using Australian passport and using SmartGate.

Exited Australia via SYD to USA. When I tried UA online checkin using US Passport details, it said go to check in desk, as expected. Told UA Check In desk I have both passports - they called up and had them linked. After a few minutes once the link was active (presumably the system then said I was free to exit the country), the boarding pass was issued. Then used SmartGate with Aussie passport to exit.