Travelling with 2 passports

[RooFlyer]

I've just acquired a second (or 'concurrent') Australian passport, as I need to apply for some long lead-time visas while I continue to do my regular o/s business travel.

Does anyone know if you are visiting a number of counties, do you need to use the same passport throughout the trip (ie is it linked to the ticket) or can you mix it up?

Issues that may arise for me: Morocco puts an original entry number hand-written ito your passport. This is obviously in the 'current original' passport with the 'current original' pp number. For Morocco I'd obviously present the 'current original' passport. USA ETSA is in my 'current original' pp number and I'd be loath to change this to avoid ANY glitches with USA security. Yet I'll need to present my new passport with the new visas in it for those countries.

Anyone with tips on using 2 passports on long trips?

 

[Boris spatsky]

You can mix it up, provided you leave and exit each country on the same passport (i.e. don't enter a country on one passport and leave on another as this will inevitably cause problems).

 

[crm911]

I have a variation on this question. I have a NZ and Australian passport. Can I leave Oz for NZ with my Oz passport and land in AKL and show the NZ uruphenua (passport)?

I have previously used the NZ passport for the entire journey, but not even AU one way and NZ the other.

 

[Simo]

You can mix it up, provided you leave and exit each country on the same passport (i.e. don't enter a country on one passport and leave on another as this will inevitably cause problems).

Yep don't mix it up.

I can cause many problems.

I have a mate who has an official services passport and he had 6 months training OS with a 2 week break during the course and he did a 2 week Contiki trip and use the official passport even on the contiki trip and no probs at all, On a day trip to another country on time off went and used his Aust Passport and got asked a hundred questions about his travels as there was no trail of it being used.

 

[curiost]

You can mix it up, provided you leave and exit each country on the same passport (i.e. don't enter a country on one passport and leave on another as this will inevitably cause problems).

Right on! I have duel citizenship and this is the key. The exception is crossing the borders around Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, where you cannot swap between two even like the above. The same passport needs to leave one country to enter the next, otherwise you'll have a hard time getting into the next country due to the second passport not having the exit stamp saying you've officially left the previous country. Silly I know.

 

[samh004]

I have a variation on this question. I have a NZ and Australian passport. Can I leave Oz for NZ with my Oz passport and land in AKL and show the NZ uruphenua (passport)?

I have previously used the NZ passport for the entire journey, but not even AU one way and NZ the other.

The general rule of thumb I thought was to always use your Australian passport to enter/leave Australia, New Zealand passport to enter/leave NZ, etc... so there's no issue leaving Australia on an Australian passport and entering New Zealand on a New Zealand passport, just don't do it the other way around... that's where it gets messy (ie. using a New Zealand passport to enter or leave Australia if you hold an Australian passport)

 

[crm911]

The general rule of thumb I thought was to always use your Australian passport to enter/leave Australia, New Zealand passport to enter/leave NZ, etc... so there's no issue leaving Australia on an Australian passport and entering New Zealand on a New Zealand passport, just don't do it the other way around... that's where it gets messy (ie. using a New Zealand passport to enter or leave Australia if you hold an Australian passport)

Oh, why is that - leave and re-enter with the Kiwi passport when I also have an Aussie one? I can't recall when I last did that, but I have done it. During the 1990s I always used the Kiwi passport as it had my collection of stamps - extension of my time in the RAAF when I had a government passport and I didn't want to lose those souvenir stamps, so I used my private Kiwi passport.

Would I now encounter the visa step (the one given to almost all Kiwis who have a clean record)?

FWIW, in March I used the Aussie one to enter and leave NZ, with no questions asked in NZ. What I am trying to find out is how would they know that I have a Kiwi passport? My wife and her sister are also Kiwis but no current NZ passport.

 

[saminkaz]

Hi,
I too need to apply for a concurrent second Aussie passport and wanted to know the time it took you to apply? I will be back in Oz from the 15 Dec - 4 Jan and thought I should have enough time if I pay for the fast track service.
Thanks, Sam

 

[Deleted member]

Oh, why is that - leave and re-enter with the Kiwi passport when I also have an Aussie one? I can't recall when I last did that, but I have done it. During the 1990s I always used the Kiwi passport as it had my collection of stamps - extension of my time in the RAAF when I had a government passport and I didn't want to lose those souvenir stamps, so I used my private Kiwi passport.

Would I now encounter the visa step (the one given to almost all Kiwis who have a clean record)?

FWIW, in March I used the Aussie one to enter and leave NZ, with no questions asked in NZ. What I am trying to find out is how would they know that I have a Kiwi passport? My wife and her sister are also Kiwis but no current NZ passport.

My understanding is that if you hold Australian citizenship ( and reside here) and as such you need to act as if you had only the one.
I have NZ and British. I'm not an Australian citizen, so my NZ passport takes precedence. ( I don't need a visa in the NZ one) it's more about keeping it simple.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hi,
I too need to apply for a concurrent second Aussie passport and wanted to know the time it took you to apply? I will be back in Oz from the 15 Dec - 4 Jan and thought I should have enough time if I pay for the fast track service.
Thanks, Sam

I think it took 2 weeks with normal timing. Over Christmas I don't think that would be achievable. If you apply the first day you are here, AND point out your time limitations, it should be OK. Note that applications for concurrents are as for a first passport, not a replacement one. And you have to give them reasons why, but this isn't onerous.

 

[OATEK]

Hi,
I too need to apply for a concurrent second Aussie passport and wanted to know the time it took you to apply? I will be back in Oz from the 15 Dec - 4 Jan and thought I should have enough time if I pay for the fast track service.
Thanks, Sam

I did the online form, took it to a post office and asked for pick up from the Passport office in Sydney. Took less than 2 weeks. And yes, you can pay extra to have it expedited, and can also ask for pick up at the passport office - very smooth operation.

 

[dk4]

You can mix it up, provided you leave and exit each country on the same passport (i.e. don't enter a country on one passport and leave on another as this will inevitably cause problems).

I would add to this, that it's also important to be aware about where the immigration entry or exit data is collected, not all countries have immigration booths that collect data on arrival or exit like Australia!

For example, a European entering Europe has their data captured at check in (so when they eventually cross the border into the EU, it is often only with just a wave of their passport in front of an official's nose), and everyone leaving the USA has their data captured at check in (there are no departure immigration desks to do that task, although a few airports are trialling automated machines).

On top of this, you need to be aware that in some countries it is not legal to enter if physically holding more than one passport, even if you don't show the other(s).

So it is important to consider which passport(s) you show the check in representative. Most international check in agents know how to process dual passport holders though.