Dual Citizenship

[seasickdoctor]

I m an Australian and a U.S. citizen when I travel between the 2 countries I know I am meant to leave the U.S. on my U.S. passport and enter Australia on the Australian one. However U.S. passport holders require a visa to enter Australia and Australian passport holders are not allowed to get visas - any ideas on how I do this

 

[danielc]

Hi, I am also dual US/Australian citizen. You shouldn't need to worry about any visa. Just carry both passports with you. I have made several trips back to the US without any issues. Last trip was May-Aug 2013 entering & departing LAX. Show Australia passport to exit/enter Australia and show US passport to enter/exit US.

 

[seasickdoctor]

I thought that U.S. passport holders needed visa to enter Australia. My husband needs one.

 

[danielc]

Sorry, I was addressing your circumstances which I understood to be similar to mine. Is your husband also a dual citizen? If not, his situation may be different. All I can tell you is my experience as dual citizen since 1989 and upwards of twenty journeys between the two countries: never once asked for a visa. Your Australian passport allows your (re)entry to Australia.

 

[opusman]

I thought that U.S. passport holders needed visa to enter Australia. My husband needs one.

Only if they don't have an Australian passport as well!

 

[seasickdoctor]

Sorry, I was addressing your circumstances which I understood to be similar to mine. Is your husband also a dual citizen? If not, his situation may be different. All I can tell you is my experience as dual citizen since 1989 and upwards of twenty journeys between the two countries: never once asked for a visa. Your Australian passport allows your (re)entry to Australia.

Thanks - I am glad to hear that. It was my own situation not my husband's that I was asking about. I thought that if I presented my U.S. passport when I was exiting the U.S. that I would have a problem because I do not have a visa for Australia and U.S. citizens need one. But from what you say that is not the case.

 

[Austman]

I'm dual also. When returning to Australia, at airline check-in I present my Australian passport. The airline is concerned that you won't be sent immediately back at their expense. Then if there is an exit passport check (there isn't in some countries eg UK, USA), I present the passport that I used to enter that country.

 

[NM]

If you hold an Australian passport, you are required to enter Australia using that Australian passport. Hence you do not require a Visa to enter Australia. Show your Aussie passport at check-in and when arriving into Australia.

 

[TomVexille]

Thanks - I am glad to hear that. It was my own situation not my husband's that I was asking about. I thought that if I presented my U.S. passport when I was exiting the U.S. that I would have a problem because I do not have a visa for Australia and U.S. citizens need one. But from what you say that is not the case.

You may need to show the airline your Australian passport at check-in to prove you can legally enter Australia though.

 

[seasickdoctor]

Sorry I am getting confused - do you mean that at the airline checkin in the U.S. you show your Australian passport not your U.S.or do you mean that you show them the U.S. and then if there is a question about your being able to enter Australia you show them the Australian as well

 

[Princess Fiona]

Sorry I am getting confused - do you mean that at the airline checkin in the U.S. you show your Australian passport not your U.S.or do you mean that you show them the U.S. and then if there is a question about your being able to enter Australia you show them the Australian as well

Show them the Australian Passport, keep the US one in your bag

 

[NM]

each time you depart one country, show the check-in agent the passport you intend to use upon arrival at your destination. They are checking that you are the necessary documentation for your arrival. So when departing the USA, show your Aussie passport at check-in and again upon arrival at immigration in Australia. When departing Australia going to the USA, show your USA passport at check-in, show your Australian passport at outbound Australian immigration, and show your USA passport at arrival into the USA.

 

[DrA]

I'm a dual UK/Australian citizen, but same thing applies.

Leave Australia on your Australian passport, enter the US on your US passport, leave the US on your US passport and re-enter Australia on your Australian passport. At check-in in the US, they may ask to see your Australian passport, to make sure you have right of entry, but immigration will only care about your US passport.

I regularly have to show both passports at check-in when I'm flying out of LHR, but only ever at check-in.

 

[OATEK]

There are two issues.

One is that an airline wants to know you have a valid entry document for your destination, because if you don't they will have to pay to remove you from that country. So at checkin show a passport valid for your destination (eg Checkin in US, use passport valid for destination (eg AUS).

Issue two is for immigration. When entering a country show the valid passport (eg US on arrival in US, AUS on arrival in AUS), and...

For exit immigration always use the passport you presented on the way in. This is particularly important for intermediate stays, where local authorities frown on people using different documents for entry/exit. For example if you entered US with your US passport, show it on the way out.

 

[OATEK]

P.S. I have found the Australian Customs and Immigration staff fairly accommodating. Several times I have heard them ask people if they have another passport in their bag when they see what sounds like an Aussie presenting a GB or US document.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Try & keep things simple and ensure you only hand over the passport required by the airline CSA ie the passport you will be using to enter the country of destination. Passengers often hand over both which may cause confusion particular for airlines who use contract ground handlers who may not have had as much experience as staff employed directly by the airline. The CSA doesn't not need to see what passport you are leaving the country on.

I m an Australian and a U.S. citizen when I travel between the 2 countries I know I am meant to leave the U.S. on my U.S. passport and enter Australia on the Australian one. However U.S. passport holders require a visa to enter Australia and Australian passport holders are not allowed to get visas - any ideas on how I do this

If you give the CSA you're Australian Passport when you checkin for your flight ex USA to Australia you'll be fine.

Sorry I am getting confused - do you mean that at the airline checkin in the U.S. you show your Australian passport not your U.S.or do you mean that you show them the U.S. and then if there is a question about your being able to enter Australia you show them the Australian as well

The passports that you show the checkin agent and customs are not the same. The airline CSA needs the passport you will be using to enter your country of destination to ensure you have the valid documents for entry to that country.

Eg if a dual citizen travelling on QF15 BNE/LAX you present your US Passport at checkin then when you go through outbound customs in Brisbane you give the officer your Australian Passport as you are an Australian Citizen so must depart and arrive Australia on your Australian Passport. On arrival at LAX you present your US Passport because that is the document you're using to enter the US.

In the other direction if checking in for QF16 LAX/BNE, give the airline CSA your Australian Passport as that is the document you will be using to enter Australia. There is no outbound US Customs but if there was you'd be giving them your US Passport.

P.S. I have found the Australian Customs and Immigration staff fairly accommodating. Several times I have heard them ask people if they have another passport in their bag when they see what sounds like an Aussie presenting a GB or US document.

The same applies for Customs keep it simple - when departing Australia only hand over your Aussie one - Australian Customs do not need to see your US Passport as they don't need to know what document you're using to enter the US as it's the responsibility of the transporting airline to check this information at the time of checkin.

 

[NM]

For example if you entered US with your US passport, show it on the way out.

Show it to whom? When departing the USA, there is generally no immigration processing. The only time you "show" you passport when departing the USA is at check-in, where you need to show the passport you will use for entry into the next country, and perhaps as ID for TSA security screening where any valid passport is acceptable.

Obviously this is different when departing Australia where you do have outbound immigration processing where the AU passport should be handed to the immigration officer.

 

[OATEK]

Show it to whom? When departing the USA, there is generally no immigration processing. The only time you "show" you passport when departing the USA is at check-in, where you need to show the passport you will use for entry into the next country, and perhaps as ID for TSA security screening where any valid passport is acceptable.

Obviously this is different when departing Australia where you do have outbound immigration processing where the AU passport should be handed to the immigration officer.

Yes, US doesn't take much interest. But I have been asked for it in the UK once out of about 10 departures.

Perhaps I should have phrased it, "If asked for your passport by immigration on exit, then show the passport you entered with."