Dual citizenship and two passports

[leny]

So say you have two passports, one for the country you are leaving and one for the country you are visiting. You have a stopover ranging from 19 hours to 29 hours in Asia, and so you require to show a passport to exit and then again enter immigration.

What passport do you use where to not make it seem like there is funny business going on? Which passport nationality and number to you give to a travel agent or anyone else who asks?

 

[Andyc]

I always give airline etc. the number of the passport that I plan to use when arriving at destination country. Other than that, I'll use whichever passport is more convenient for leaving departure country or making stopovers. I've never had any problems with immigration on the regular trips where I use two passports.

 

[alect]

Where the departing country has passport control on exit, you must show the passport you entered on/that country's passport. Equally in the US when departing you need to give the airline your US passport as they swipe it and pass the info to DHS. You may also need to show your destination passport to make sure you have the right to enter the destination countryh (although the departing passport is often sufficient too - exception ofcourse is when flying to USA and APIS).

 

[Maca44]

If, for example, you have an Australian passport and a EU passport (red) you must use the Australian passport when you exit Australia and when you re-enter Australia. After I have exited Australian Immigration (when travelling to the UK/Europe) I put the AU passport in my bag and then use the red passport until my return. Even though my red passport has Australia as my place of birth you will go through a lot of questions at Immigration to prove you are an Australian Citizen returning from a trip whereas if you use your AU passport in and out, no problems.

 

[josko]

I have come unstuck myself a couple of times using my two passports. I hold an Italian EU passport as well as an Australian one and for years I used to just use my Australian passport to leave Aussieland and also to enter Italy and never had a problem with Italian immigration or customs.

More so than often the Italian officials didnt even open or stamp my passport just waved me through with out a whim.

The last couple of trips to Italy i decided to use my Italian passport in lieu of my Australian one to gain entry into Italy (of course still used my Australian one to leave this country). I figured what the heck....have never used it might as well put some creases on the pages.

Well, that was a mistake! Instead of the pleasant smile and quick wave through I was directed to customs. searched top to bottom, asked as to what duty free I had, how much money i had on me... yadda, yadda, ya! This went on for 45 minutes!

It happened again on the next trip...same damn thing.

So on my last trip (Nov 2007) I used the Aussie passport on arrival at FCO and guess what....big smile and a nice wave through immigration and customs....Did not stop at GO and out I went

Think I'll leave the Italian one at home next time!

 

[simongr]

This is going to be a "problem" for me in the coming year - I will be getting dual citizenship (UK/Oz) and applying for my APEC card which will mean that I will have to travel on my Oz passport if I want to get the benefits from that that - I was so looking forward to actually filling up a passport for the first time

 

[drron]

Just think of the problems my poor grandaughter may face.Born in the US of an aussie father and British mother!

 

[Willie]

I have THREE passports (AUS,NZ,UK) and a permanent HK ID. I know it is a w**k but then - I am entitled to them! And never had any problems whatsoever! Except financial when they all need renewing!

The most important thing is you enter a country on one passport, make sure you exit on it! And of course use the passport of the county you are arriving/leaving in from if you have one... UK for arriving/departing UK, AUS for arriving/departing AUS, NZ for arriving/departing NZ.

The upside is that Ssome countries that require visas have have cheaper ones for some passports - Mainland China charges UK considerably more for example.

Really is a bit of no brainer...

 

[tuapekastar]

Just think of the problems my poor grandaughter may face.Born in the US of an aussie father and British mother!

Just like my brother. When me and my brother and sister were young (early teens) we often travelled MEL-SIN together, sans parents. That was ok in itself but when, at SIN immigration, we handed over a UK passport (me), a US passport (brother), and an Australian passport (sister) it certainly caused some confusion and consternation. "Are you really from the same family?" was one question I recall being asked.

 

[QF WP]

Similar story for my daughter - born in Australia to a father with Australian & Irish passports and mother with Australian & English.

Now she has an Australian passport already, but when we start travelling to The Old Blighty which EU passport will she want???

 

[simongr]

Obviously the British one!

Seriously I think that the UK passport has a few advantages over a general EU one - visas to old colonies and the like.

I miss my old blue UK passport

 

[JohnK]

I have dual citizenship but have never bothered to apply for a passport from my country of birth?

I have only ever travelled on an Austalian passport and have never had any issues. Is there any advantage in having an EU passport? I was in Europe last year and did not notice any disadvantage using an Australian passport?

 

[opusman]

Is there any advantage in having an EU passport? I was in Europe last year and did not notice any disadvantage using an Australian passport?

The only real advantage is using the EU lanes for entry on arrival.

 

[Dave Noble]

There is also the consideration whether there is a legal requirement for a citizen/subject of a particular country to use a passport of that country when entering/leaving that country

Dave

 

[oz_mark]

Sometimes if something goes pair shaped while in another country, there are advantages in seeking consular help from one of your 'home' countries versus another.