Aus/NZ Dual Nationality - Smooth Trans-Tasman Travel

[RailFlyer]

I have dual AUS/UK citizenship but have been living in NZ for the last ~14 years and over COVID decided it was time to become a citizen there (a relatively easy process for an Australian - something that ended up being quite helpful as I had to leave NZ during COVID to visit my very sick father in the UK which may not have been quite as smooth as non-citizen), so I now have 3 passports.

Prior to COVID I traveled trans-tasman a lot for work and would always just use my Australian passport without issue. However, if I went to the UK, I always used to leave/enter NZ on my Australian passport and enter/leave the UK on my UK passport. (Same when I lived in Australia and would travel to UK). I have always done this as an older colleague with dual passports, told me ages ago that countries don't like you entering and leaving on different passports (as I assume that means they lose track of who is actually inside their borders). This approach has always worked and I have never had any problems.

So for my first trans-tasman trip post COVID (God bless Microsoft Teams!) I thought I would use the same strategy, with my NZ passport at the NZ board and AU passport at the Australian border. In all cases (except leaving NZ) the smart gates rejected me. In Australia, I put this down to having a new Australian passport, but when directed to an agent at Auckland airport at 1am this morning, he told me that the smart gates won't work unless I use the same passport at each end and said I should just travel on one passport. But while chatting to the immigration agent while existing Australian and she asked me if I had dual nationality and I said I did, she said I must leave Australia on my Australian passport (which I was doing).

Any other AU/NZ dual passport holders here who have found out which method works best and keeps them all happy?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Also have dual NZ-AU citizenship/passports.
AU seems to require enter/leave AU on the AU passport. Note says 'should" and not "must".
IIRC NZ has a place on the incoming form for "NZ citizen entering on other passport"
With my NZ data in the reservation. always need to go to AU emigration desk leaving AU. Often faster than using border force kiosks.
I enter NZ with a NZ passport, but leave on AU passport (as airline reservation data). Been told at CHC emigration several times that's OK, and do not need to leave on the NZ passport. Otherwise need to be manually processed.

Have read is a method with AU border force to link both NZ-AU passports. But not 110% sure.

AU govt--->Immigration and citizenship Website

Australian citizens entering and leaving Australia

Australian citizens should use their Australian passport to enter and leave Australia.
The Australian Border Force has more information on crossing the border.
If you have a passport from another country, you can use that after you leave Australia.
A passport is the best way to show that you are an Australian citizen. You might still be able to enter Australia if you are an Australian citizen without an Australian passport, but it will be more difficult. The airline might also stop you from boarding a plane to Australia.
Smart Traveller has more information about travelling as a dual citizen.

[off topic The AU constitution has a section for NZ to be part of Australia]

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also have dual NZ-AU citizenship/passports.
AU seems to require enter/leave AU on the AU passport. Note says 'should" and not "must".
IIRC NZ has a place on the incoming form for "NZ citizen entering on other passport"
With my NZ data in the reservation. always need to go to AU emigration desk leaving AU. Often faster than using border force kiosks.
I enter NZ with a NZ passport, but leave on AU passport (as airline reservation data). Been told at CHC emigration several times that's OK, and do not need to leave on the NZ passport. Otherwise need to be manually processed.

Have read is a method with AU border force to link both NZ-AU passports. But not 110% sure.

AU govt--->Immigration and citizenship Website



[off topic The AU constitution has a section for NZ to be part of Australia]

They will usually require your passports to be linked, if they become aware of them. This is done at check in on the first time you need to link. Once done, they stay linked for their respective validities.

I didn’t need to link them for about 5 years, until one time i had to show my UK passport at checkin for a flight to the USA. As this was scanned at checkin, but i was leaving in my aussie passport, a quick call to border force was required (after which, all ok).

I don’t know what it actually does, other than giving them more information about us.

However, last year when going back to the USA (after the initial passport linking on the previous trip), got to the barriers and could not get out on my aussie passport… agent said ‘have you got another passport… use that!’ I did, and left on the UK passport. So there you go. (i assume because checkin had accepted the UK one, but BF knew i hadn’t overstayed because it was linked to my AU passport.)

 

[flyingmachine]

This seems so strange - so the Smartgates must be linked to info provided by the airlines (that is collected at check-in)? Why would they need to do that? Just seems silly for the machines to not let an Australian out of Australia....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This seems so strange - so the Smartgates must be linked to info provided by the airlines (that is collected at check-in)? Why would they need to do that? Just seems silly for the machines to not let an Australian out of Australia....

Potentially that you have been ‘cleared’ to leave based on the passport swipe at checkin? But i suppose if the passports have been linked, why not be able to use either?

 

[flyingmachine]

Potentially that you have been ‘cleared’ to leave based on the passport swipe at checkin? But i suppose if the passports have been linked, why not be able to use either?

I guess like you said it must be something to do with checkin.
But i just wonder why the system is set up like that - thought the machines would just be an independent check to make sure you haven't overstayed etc when exiting or had right to entery when coming in.

 

[Warragul]

Potentially that you have been ‘cleared’ to leave based on the passport swipe at checkin? But i suppose if the passports have been linked, why not be able to use either?

Some time ago, Australia made it mandatory for Advance Passenger Processing (APP) data to be provided for departing travellers in addition to arrivals. One of the reasons for this was to facilitate Smartgate for departures, so the outbound flight number is known.

The issue with dual nationalities travelling on several passports came to a head then and changes were made to enable more than one travel document per traveller to be sent and processed via APP. This data is used in the Smartgate process, with databases being updated for future reference.

Australian Border Force Website

 

[kyanar]

As an aside, New Zealand allows you to apply for a citizen endorsement to be added to a foreign passport, which allows you to enter NZ with a non-NZ passport. Costs about $180.

 

[madrooster]

They will usually require your passports to be linked, if they become aware of them. This is done at check in on the first time you need to link. Once done, they stay linked for their respective validities.

I didn’t need to link them for about 5 years, until one time i had to show my UK passport at checkin for a flight to the USA. As this was scanned at checkin, but i was leaving in my aussie passport, a quick call to border force was required (after which, all ok).

I don’t know what it actually does, other than giving them more information about us.

However, last year when going back to the USA (after the initial passport linking on the previous trip), got to the barriers and could not get out on my aussie passport… agent said ‘have you got another passport… use that!’ I did, and left on the UK passport. So there you go. (i assume because checkin had accepted the UK one, but BF knew i hadn’t overstayed because it was linked to my AU passport.)

This seems so strange - so the Smartgates must be linked to info provided by the airlines (that is collected at check-in)? Why would they need to do that? Just seems silly for the machines to not let an Australian out of Australia....

Potentially that you have been ‘cleared’ to leave based on the passport swipe at checkin? But i suppose if the passports have been linked, why not be able to use either?

The correct process is to get your AUS/NZL passports linked by Aus border force.

Then for AU->NZ flights, you check in with the NZL passport and at the AU outbound smartgates you use your NZL passport (ie. passport you checked in with) and NZ inbound smartgates you use your NZL passport.

For NZ->AU flights, you check in with the AUS passport, at the NZ outbound smartgates you use your AUS passport and at the AU inbound smartgates you use your AUS passport.

 

[jakeseven7]

The correct process is to get your AUS/NZL passports linked by Aus border force.

Then for AU->NZ flights, you check in with the NZL passport and at the AU outbound smartgates you use your NZL passport (ie. passport you checked in with) and NZ inbound smartgates you use your NZL passport.

For NZ->AU flights, you check in with the AUS passport, at the NZ outbound smartgates you use your AUS passport and at the AU inbound smartgates you use your AUS passport.

Interesting. I thought you had to use your AU passport to both enter and exit the AU border if you are a dual national?

 

[madrooster]

Interesting. I thought you had to use your AU passport to both enter and exit the AU border if you are a dual national?

The linking tells the system to exit you on the AUS passport automatically. The system works seamlessly (I'm probably giving the AUS govt too much credit...).

I have done passport linking for numerous dual and even triple nationals and they all exit with their foreign passport/re-enter with their AUS passport accordingly with no issues.

 

[jakeseven7]

The linking tells the system to exit you on the AUS passport automatically. The system works seamlessly (I'm probably giving the AUS govt too much credit...).

I have done passport linking for numerous dual and even triple nationals and they all exit with their foreign passport/re-enter with their AUS passport accordingly with no issues.

Ok good to know. How does one enable this linking?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would prefer the option to link, if a passenger wants to, rather than making it mandatory.

 

[madrooster]

I would prefer the option to link, if a passenger wants to, rather than making it mandatory.

No one is forcing you to link them if you don't want to.

If you have an ESTA in say your GBR passport and are travelling directly to the USA then you don't have a choice - you must link the passports so that you can be checked in with your GBR passport otherwise you are denied uplift. You would need to have an ESTA on your AUS passport if you don't want to link your GBR passport.

Same goes for Canada and their eTA as well as NZ and their ETA (for non Aussies/Kiwis). From next year when the ETIAS and UK equivalent goes live, the same will apply to Europe/UK as well. Qatar and Singapore are APIS participants too, so it's always possible they go down similar paths at some point too.

Ok good to know. How does one enable this linking?

Check in staff can do it or if you have a good travel agent that knows the process they can also do it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No one is forcing you to link them if you don't want to.

If you have an ESTA in say your GBR passport and are travelling directly to the USA then you don't have a choice - you must link the passports so that you can be checked in with your GBR passport otherwise you are denied uplift. You would need to have an ESTA on your AUS passport if you don't want to link your GBR passport.

Same goes for Canada and their eTA as well as NZ and their ETA (for non Aussies/Kiwis). From next year when the ETIAS and UK equivalent goes live, the same will apply to Europe/UK as well. Qatar and Singapore are APIS participants too, so it's always possible they go down similar paths at some point too.



Check in staff can do it or if you have a good travel agent that knows the process they can also do it.

That’s my point. Before linking was a ‘thing’ if you had an ESTA in your UK passport you were checked in using that, then used your AU passport at the gates to leave. Now checkin will call to link your passports without choice.

Not sure why they have to be linked, unless a passenger wants them to be?

 

[madrooster]

That’s my point. Before linking was a ‘thing’ if you had an ESTA in your UK passport you were checked in using that, then used your AU passport at the gates to leave. Now checkin will call to link your passports without choice.

Not sure why they have to be linked, unless a passenger wants them to be?

There's virtually no reason to not link them. Sure I understand people want to have their right/choice to not link them (much like the anti vax movement)... but that's just making life difficult, if that's their thing.

 

[Mwenenzi]

As an aside, New Zealand allows you to apply for a citizen endorsement to be added to a foreign passport, which allows you to enter NZ with a non-NZ passport. Costs about $180.

As a NZ citizen I entered/left NZ on an AU passport for ~15 years without issue or cost. NZ passport had expired. Only due to CV19 did I renew my NZ passport. Was quick to renew. During CV19 crossed the Tasman several times.

 

[RailFlyer]

The correct process is to get your AUS/NZL passports linked by Aus border force.

Then for AU->NZ flights, you check in with the NZL passport and at the AU outbound smartgates you use your NZL passport (ie. passport you checked in with) and NZ inbound smartgates you use your NZL passport.

For NZ->AU flights, you check in with the AUS passport, at the NZ outbound smartgates you use your AUS passport and at the AU inbound smartgates you use your AUS passport.

Great thanks. I think this is exactly what I was looking for. Will try it on my next trip from NZ to AUS.

What's the chance the Qantas (likely contractor) or Air NZ check-in staff at AKL airport will know what I am talking about and be able to link them? 100%?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Great thanks. I think this is exactly what I was looking for. Will try it on my next trip from NZ to AUS.
What's the chance the Qantas (likely contractor) or Air NZ check-in staff at AKL airport will know what I am talking about and be able to link them? 100%?

From madrooster post

The correct process is to get your AUS/NZL passports linked by Aus border force.

I doubt airline staff would have authority over passports

I will be trying next time I cross the AU border to NZ

 

[RailFlyer]

From madrooster post

I doubt airline staff would have authority over passports

I will be trying next time I cross the AU border to NZ

OK - sorry I misread that. Should NZ board force be able to do it also?