Dual British and Australian passports

[flyingfan]

Bunty I had a similar issue last year, was called to Malaysia for a job interview at short notice and Oz passport had just under 6 months left. I rang to confirm whether there would be any issues with my leaving on my Oz passport, entering and exiting KL on my British etc but was advised while in theory that was OK there was no guarantee that a particularly diligent Immigration officer wouldn't prevent me from leaving Oz. result was an express fee for a new Oz passport, collected on the way to he airport!

I think the airline is more likely to have been the objector to boarding you as they have the onus of returning you to Australia should Malaysia refuse you entry due to a soon-to-expire passport. Immigration does not have the power to prevent you from leaving the country in this situation.

It was good you sorted out a new passport in time though

 

[thedrivesman]

Me and my wife are Aussie/UK dual nationals. She let her UK passport lapse before we went back to the UK last April, so we both elected to travel on the Aussie passports. No trouble encountered on stop-over at AUH (we went on Velocity redemption with EY), but arrival at MAN took ages, and would have been much faster on UK passport. During which we got grilled by immigration officer and a stamp in the passport saying "Cannot take gainful employment" - which we could of course! On exit - no we had problem, glad to see Aussies go, I suppose!
Last year, we showed UK passports on check-in at SYD, but exited and re-entered Australia on Aussie ones. Interestingly, we entered the UK on the UK one (fast queue) but left on the Aussie one - we nonly had to show it at the check-in desk at MAN and never went through ANY immigration checks at MAN or LHR to catch the flight to SYD.

 

[katiebell]

if you do not have an onward ticket (e.g. one way ticket or the return sector of a ticket) airline check in staff will want to see that you have the right to remain in the country where you alight: i.e. a passport or a visa that permits you to enter/stay in the destination country. If you have a return or onward ticket they are not so concerned unless a visitor visa is required. THey do not want to pay any penalties for bringing you to a country without hte right to enter nor do they want to be responsible for the costs of removing you. So, for example, if you are travelling on EU & Aussie passports on a return/oneway ticket to a EU destination: show the EU passport at checkin: this gives the airline the OK that they will not be fined; show the Aussie passport at emigration as the officer will look for an entry visa in a non-AU/NZ passport. ON arrival in the EU show the EU passport. Do the reverse in the opposite direction

 

[penegal]

...Then, after examining my US passport, the same official wanted to know how I got from Oz to Detroit on NorthWest, which didn't fly to Australia. I told her she could see the stamps from Hong Kong and Narita in my Oz passport. She was not amused, but fortunately a supervisor happened to be present and waved me through...

LOL, I am surprised they are that diligent. Regardless, you could have easily connected from any number of other countries just using International transit facilities.

I find that once a passport has more than a few visas and stamps they tend to care a lot less about how you got there. The main issue is whether or not you have been to Israel (especially in the mid-east).

 

[lindapsych]

Had issues with dual Australian and US passports, informed by US consulate that new rules apply and if you were born in USA you must travel into USA on your USA passport. It does not matter whether or not you have citizenship and passport of say Australia. If you are travelling into US and dont use the passport you might not always get asked but if they pick up that you have had a US passport prior they can refuse you entry on the other passport. I was really shocked to hear this, so since my two adult children and my husband were American born we had to make sure they had their US passports recently on a trip to Alaska, even though they have Australian Passports. Sure enough they were asked at the immigration point, thank goodness we had them both. I personally have British and Australian, never had a problem entering Britain or Europe on my British Passport and entering Australia on my Australian.

 

[michaely]

Like many others on this forum, I have dual nationality( UK/Aus).
Apart from the relative length of queues at EU airports, which is something of a lottery, there is a timesaving when your spouse has single nationality/passport (in my case Australian)and travelling with you, can go through the local channel, instead of lining up with "United Nations ".

 

[Deleted member]

Had issues with dual Australian and US passports, informed by US consulate that new rules apply and if you were born in USA you must travel into USA on your USA passport. It does not matter whether or not you have citizenship and passport of say Australia. If you are travelling into US and dont use the passport you might not always get asked but if they pick up that you have had a US passport prior they can refuse you entry on the other passport. I was really shocked to hear this, so since my two adult children and my husband were American born we had to make sure they had their US passports recently on a trip to Alaska, even though they have Australian Passports. Sure enough they were asked at the immigration point, thank goodness we had them both. I personally have British and Australian, never had a problem entering Britain or Europe on my British Passport and entering Australia on my Australian.

Only in America !!

 

[eastwest101]

Have dual UK and Aus passports. Having two passports does give you more optionality, maybe tax advantages, options re Israel and Middle East and freedom to travel to more difficult countries with visas where they want to take your passport/freedom away and bureaucratic sort of countries that are my pet hate. Provided you are sensible about when to use what. Good informative thread....

I didn't realise about the Saudi issue for instance, but I had to think about and use the right passport in and out of Japan as others have noted.

 

[Wainza 1]

I have both a Australian and British passport and find it great when I fly to Europe . I just show both when I leave Sydney and show my British passport when I arrive. Got to love the British passport when I arrive at Heathrow because the lines for non-British passports are crazy

 

[Will]

... after examining my US passport, the same official wanted to know how I got from Oz to Detroit on NorthWest, which didn't fly to Australia. I told her she could see the stamps from Hong Kong and Narita in my Oz passport. She was not amused, but fortunately a supervisor happened to be present and waved me through.

Of course, she would have had no legal basis to prevent you from entering the US.

 

[Will]

Had issues with dual Australian and US passports, informed by US consulate that new rules apply and if you were born in USA you must travel into USA on your USA passport. It does not matter whether or not you have citizenship and passport of say Australia. If you are travelling into US and dont use the passport you might not always get asked but if they pick up that you have had a US passport prior they can refuse you entry on the other passport. I was really shocked to hear this, so since my two adult children and my husband were American born we had to make sure they had their US passports recently on a trip to Alaska, even though they have Australian Passports. Sure enough they were asked at the immigration point, thank goodness we had them both. I personally have British and Australian, never had a problem entering Britain or Europe on my British Passport and entering Australia on my Australian.

Only in America !!

Not only in America.

"Australian citizens who hold dual or multiple nationalities should hold an Australian passport and use it to enter or leave Australia, even if they use a foreign passport overseas. The only exception is where they have been issued an Australian Declaratory visa.
Permanent residents (migrants) cannot travel on their migrant visas once they have been granted Australian citizenship. This is because the migrant visa ceases to be in effect when Australian citizenship is acquired, even though it may not yet have reached its expiry date or been physically cancelled."
Australian Immigration Fact Sheet 95. Documents Needed to Enter Australia

 

[Deleted member]

Not only in America.

"Australian citizens who hold dual or multiple nationalities should hold an Australian passport and use it to enter or leave Australia, even if they use a foreign passport overseas. The only exception is where they have been issued an Australian Declaratory visa.
Permanent residents (migrants) cannot travel on their migrant visas once they have been granted Australian citizenship. This is because the migrant visa ceases to be in effect when Australian citizenship is acquired, even though it may not yet have reached its expiry date or been physically cancelled."
Australian Immigration Fact Sheet 95. Documents Needed to Enter Australia

So if I were to naturalise myself ( as an Aussie) I MUST have an Aussie passport? Even though I have a kiwi one!


I have an NZ and (British) EU passport, I live in Oz, my citizenship is NZ , Place Of Birth is Solomon Islands ( and I don't hold citizenship there) my birth cert says " nationality as far as known, British" you are saying ( I think) that should I travel to UK I should use my British (EU) passport to enter?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Okay guys I think I have it.

Its as simple as entering and leaving each country on that countries passport, although when leaving the UK you will need to show both.

Easy enough, thank you.

When you say you show both passports, you show your Australian Passport to the checkin agent as that is the document you will use to enter Australia. When you go through outwards customs in the UK, present your UK Passport. I would only show your Australian Passport to UK Customs if they ask for it.

Similarly, for checkin I would only show them your UK Passport if they ask to see it as the Australian one should meet all the requirements.

I hold an European and a Brazilian passport and every time I leave Australia I present my European Passaport(where I have my PR) and arriving in Brazil I show my Brazilian one. On the way back every time I show my Brazilian one they ask for my visa(upon check in only) and then I show my European with my Australian visa. Never been a problem. Going to other places I normally take my European only as for most countries I don't need a visa.

On the way back I would be showing your European Passport to the checkin agent in Brazil as they need to see your Australian PR visa in it. I don't believe the checkin agent in Brazil would need to see your Brazilian Passport. I would only show your Brazilian Passport to the customs officer when you go through passport control.

I too have an Aussie and EU passport and have a trip coming up to Ecuador and Gallapagos Islands.

However, my Aussie passport will have less than 6 months validity when leaving Australia, so I was considering using the Aussie passport to leave Australia, the EU passport to enter/leave Ecuador and Galapagos, then use the Aussie passport to re-enter Australia before it expires.

Anyone forsee any problems with this?

I don't see an issue with that as you can depart/arrive Australia on your Australian Passport as long as it is valid. The crucial factor is that your British Passport meets the criteria for entry to Ecuador & Galapagos.

When checking in for your flight out of Australia a savvy airline agent might notice your Australian passport has less than 6 months on it so you can show them your EU passport then and explain your plans.

I would be showing the checkin agent the EU passport right at the beginning. There should be no reason they need to see your Australian Passport. Of course at Australian Customs you would need to present your Australian Passport.

 

[here2go]

Like many others on this forum, I have dual nationality( UK/Aus).
Apart from the relative length of queues at EU airports, which is something of a lottery, there is a timesaving when your spouse has single nationality/passport (in my case Australian)and travelling with you, can go through the local channel, instead of lining up with "United Nations ".

So michaely, when I land in MUC with the family later this year, your advice would be that I take my handwritten Irish passport from the Canberra Embassy, just in case I the EU line is quicker, even though the rest of the family are Australian only, or am I just asking for trouble?

 

[doctork]

Echoing what djh53 and lindapsych have said:

The US consulate advised me that it was not permitted for me to use an Australian passport (with visa or VWP authority) to travel to the US if I held a valid US passport. It's a pain to carry two, but I'd rather do that than be turned back. Also, my wife likes to get through Customs & Border Protection quickly by using the US nationals' line and the officers have been quizzical but accommodating at having a US national, his British wife and Australian child in the same group in the fast queue...

 

[flyingfan]

Thanks for providing your experience and expertise on this ozbeachbabe.

 

[boylero]

rather than start another thread, ladies n gents my british passport is up for renewal in April next year, I heard a rumour that to renew my passport I'll have to go through the whole regime as though I'm first time applying whereas if I go to the UK and do it, it wont be so long winded. Has anyone else heard this or can you give me your experiences?

 

[opusman]

You renew UK passports at Australia Post these days. British passports - Australia Post

Check list here for renewing an existing (not the old blue/black type) passport: http://ukinnewzealand.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/Passports/Checklist1-RenewingPassport

 

[greenfrog86]

rather than start another thread, ladies n gents my british passport is up for renewal in April next year, I heard a rumour that to renew my passport I'll have to go through the whole regime as though I'm first time applying whereas if I go to the UK and do it, it wont be so long winded. Has anyone else heard this or can you give me your experiences?

I've looked at this recently and yes if you do it here in Australia you must 'prove' you are eligible again, despite having had a valid passport for ten years... :shock:

As I'm eligible because my father was born in the UK, I have to prove my information (birth certificate etc), his details (birth certificate etc) and ALSO show that my parents were married when I was born.... *sigh*

I'm not sure if it is any easier to do this in the UK if you have circumstances such as these as you can't just show your birth certificate showing you have been a british citizen from birth like most people could who are applying in the UK.

 

[boylero]

I've looked at this recently and yes if you do it here in Australia you must 'prove' you are eligible again, despite having had a valid passport for ten years... :shock:

As I'm eligible because my father was born in the UK, I have to prove my information (birth certificate etc), his details (birth certificate etc) and ALSO show that my parents were married when I was born.... *sigh*

I'm not sure if it is any easier to do this in the UK if you have circumstances such as these as you can't just show your birth certificate showing you have been a british citizen from birth like most people could who are applying in the UK.

aha thats probably the case, I'm as you son of british parents born outside britain. I am going to delve a little more into it as I'd hate to chance my arm at doing it in england only to find out I need me Ma 'n' Pa's details when they reside in Australia also.

May just be easier to get some certified copies of all the docs prior to departure just in case