How To Travel With Two Passports If You’re A Dual Citizen
Having two passports and nationalities opens up the world of travel to the estimated 1% of the globe’s population [PDF] that has some form of dual citizenship. I should know because I’m included in that group of 60 million people; as many of you know, I carry both a Turkish and U.S. passport. That combination means dealing with fewer visas for countries around the world but can also leave you with complications if you’re not careful.
For those of you who are also dual citizens, these general guidelines can make sure neither of your nationalities causes problems for you as you hop over one international boundary after another.
Always Use The Same Passport Entering And Exiting A Country
This one seems straightforward but if you’re on a longer journey and visiting several countries with differing entry requirements for your particular nationalities, it can feel intuitive to to enter with one passport and exit with the other. I’ve made this mistake once or twice (most recently when flying out of Georgia to Ukraine) and had to charm my way out of buying an impromptu flight to Istanbul.
The reason is because countries want to keep track of foreigners entering their borders; using two passports not only makes that more difficult, but also changes the legal framework you fall under.
In general, even if the next country you are visiting would require a visa from you with passport #2, use the same passport to enter and exit a nation. The passport control officer in the country you’re leaving doesn’t care about where you’re going – only about you when you’re in their borders.
Airlines And Governments Are Different; Flash The Right Passport
The advice above is specifically for passport control – not when you check-in with the airlines. They are the ones who are going to care about whether you’ve got the rights (e.g. visa-free travel) to enter the destination. In these cases you should show airline staff the appropriate passport for where you’re going. The airline staff want to make sure you’ll be allowed entry to the country you’re flying to.
Several times prior to boarding a flight I’ve been taken aside by staff to have my documents re-examined. If there’s any question about whether you can (visa-free) enter the country you’re headed to, don’t hesitate to let them know about your dual status.
Don’t Advertise Your Dual Nationality Otherwise
Yes, says the guy who is publicly blogging about his citizenships to thousands of people right now. Broadly speaking, most governments worry about illegal immigration; which your second citizenship may actually be guilty of. Don’t tell passport control you’ve got two nationalities – even if asked. Doing so can forfeit your rights as a legal traveler. By the way, you’re not lying in this case either. No country in the world records dual citizen entries by tourists – they only see you as a single national.
I should mention also that many immigration and passport controls are tinged with a hint of racism, often biased against citizens of Third World or those who make up a significant minority in a given country. Another good reason not to mention your second citizenship and to keep your second passport inconspicuously stored in your carry-on luggage.
Which Country Sends Commandos After You In Case Of Kidnapping Varies
That is a bit of an extreme example for most people, but the basic premise is if you get in real trouble in a country, whichever passport you used to enter is the nation that’s going to bail you out. So if you’re a French-American dual citizen held hostage by genetically-engineered llamas on your trip to Ecuador you’ll know whether to expect Navy Seals or French Special Forces. (Or Superman, who doesn’t discriminate unless Lois Lane is in trouble at the same time.)
What To Do If Problems Arise
Problems aren’t likely to happen if you’re a dual citizen taking advantage of your two passports – especially if you’re cognizant about not flashing both around. Your biggest troubles are likely to be at passport control due to a second nationality – remember to stick to the one that gets you legal entry. Be firm but confident and if all else fails, get in touch with your embassy.
Thanks for the great blog.
Didn’t see it covered above but was hoping you could clarify a situation for me. My wife and I are going from the US to Australia via stopover in China in both directions. She has US/Australian citizenship. Last time she flew to Australia on her US passport and was given a lot of grief for not using her Aussie passport (it had expired at the time). I know she should normally enter Australia on the Aussie passport and exit same, but how does flying through China BOTH ways complicate things?
She has to fly on her US passport to China from the US (couldn’t arrange Australian Visa to China from USA). She has a dual entry visa already secured for China on US Passport. I assume exit China on US passport but show Australia passport to airline? Then enter/exit customs in Australia on Aussie passport, showing US passport to airline bound for China on return? Then enter/exit China on US passport? Just wasn’t sure how China would handle this since she’s passing through twice, on different passports potentially.
Thought we’d simplify it and just do all on the US passport, as Australian visa is only $20, but when registering online it asks if she has dual citizenship and wasn’t sure if we should answer? Not sure if they’d care if she arrives on US passport while she has Australian citizenship, as they didn’t care for it previously.
Any advice you can impart would be appreciated.
I assume exit China on US passport but show Australia passport to airline? Then enter/exit customs in Australia on Aussie passport, showing US passport to airline bound for China on return? < yes.
Then enter/exit China on US passport? < yes. but if you show the Australian passport (without visa) you’ll be denied entry. Use the passport wit the visa at immigration control in China.
Thought we’d simplify it and just do all on the US passport, as Australian visa is only $20, but when registering online it asks if she has dual citizenship and wasn’t sure if we should answer? < this is your best option. on the Aussie visa you should (always in general) be honest and having the Aussie citizenship they probably won’t charge you visa fee.
Hi there, how are you? Maybe u can help me I have Italian passport and A Brazilian passaport and I’m Australian permanent resident – my Australian residency is linked to my Brazilian passport! Question – im leaving australia on my brazilian passaport that has my australian residency , I’m going to brazil via Dubai and will spend a few days in Dubai! Can I enter Dubai with my Italian passport or do I have to use the Brazilian that contains my residency in audtralia? If I use the Italian I don’t have to apply for a visa if I use the Brazilian I have to apply for a visa to enter Dubai? The problem is that no one seems to know if I should use the Brazilian or If I could use the Italian?
Your help would be appreciated
To answer your first question, yes you can.
Hi there, very informative blog. I have both Canadian and New Zealand passports. I intend to spend some time in the US, as much as possible actually without applying for a work permit. As a canadian I can spent six months in the US (per year) and as a New Zealander I can spend three 3 months there without a work visa. If I were to go on two separate trips, one on each passport, spending a total of 9 months in the US within a year, would the authorities deem this suspicious and would I risk being denied entry to America?
Thank you, look forward to your response.
They might deny entry in that case; but you can – on either passport – apply for a longer term visa.
I have a question if any one has experienced this,
I am living in DUBAI on a Pakistani passport since long time and has UAE RESIDENT VISA on it, UAE does not recognized Dual Nationality and I also have UK passport, usually i will exit on Pakistani passport and go out from UAE and take another flight from different country to Europe and vice versa same..Now if i am checking on Dubai Airport on UK passport to London than Airline has no issue but soon after i face immigration where some time they ask for boarding card and also asked where are you going, so If i lie that going to Pakistan where boarding card says London, than they will have me for keeping 2 passports in my pocket etc.. LAW here are very tough. so any one is experiencing same from DUBAI/UAE airports than please share your experiences and tricks to save money for rerouting flights.and solutions.reagrds.
Sorry I can’t be of help here, maybe someone else knows more information and is willing to post it…
Hello, I’m hoping that you could also answer a question for me regarding my dual citizenship. I was born in Canada but also have a German passport. I’ve been living in Germany now for a year and a half and I entered the counrty with my German passport. I am now going to visit Canada for Christmas and would like to know if I should use my Canadian passport or my German one to enter Canada. I will only take one passport with me so it’s important I take the right one. I am worried that if I use my German passport,that they will ask me questions about how long I’ve been living in Germany and where is my canadian passport etc… But if I use my Canadian one, I am afraid they will think I was only visiting Germany and would inquire about how long I had been there for etc…..what should I do please?
A quick response would be much appreciated, I fly in a few days.
Thank you!
Take both passports but show the Canadian one in Canada.
Hi, hope you can help me..
I am traveling around the world and at the entry in Laos I intended to use my Uruguayan passport to save $5 on visa over my second passport (US). After getting the visa at Laos entrance, the immigration official asked me where was the exist stamp of my prior country visited (Vietnam) so I explained I showed my second passport where the stamp was. Bottom line he forced me to use the same passport I exited the prior country! Now I am worry I can’t use my visa free Uruguayan passport at Russia border because I will be have an exit stamp from India on my other passport (US)??
Any advise?
You can try changing your route in a country that doesn’t require a visa from either passport before entering Russia.
HI,
I’ll be very relieved if you could advise me with the best solution to my issue. I have a Mozambican passport and a Portuguese passport. I’m flying to Switzerland from south Africa, i would like to know: after entering south Africa with tha Mozambican passport to i present the same passport and the airport control? and my Portuguese passport to the airline. making in this case only using my portages passport in Europe and my Mozambican when i return to enter south Africa? this has been a very complicated issue to me. hope you can better inform me.
regards
Here’s the formula:
http://foxnomad.com/2012/11/16/the-fast-answers-to-your-questions-about-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/
Hi!
I just hosted a guy from Hong Kong.He is citizen of three countries:
UK,Hong Kong and Canada.
Anytime he flies back to Canada he conceals his Canadian citizenship ,entering Canada on either British or Hong Kong passport.
I dont quite understand why.go and figure.
I don’t either.
Merhaba Anil,
Bende de ABD ve TC pasaportlari var. Turkiye Amerikadaki bosanmayi kabul etmedigi icin pasaportlardaki soyadlari suan icin farkli. Bugune kadar sadece ABD-TC gidip geldim. Arkadas grubuyla birkac ulkeden olusan bir geziye cikmayi planliyorum. Bu gezilerde TC pasaportunu kullanacagim, ve bu gittigim ulkelere havaalani degil sinir kapisindan girecegim. ABD’ye geri dondugumde gittigim ulkeleri sorduklarinda Turk pasaportunu gosterebilir miyim? yada izlemem gereken yol nedir? Simdiden tesekkurler…
Türk pasaportunu gösterme, sadece ilk giriş ve son çıkış ülkelerini yaz. Ondan fazlasını sorarlarsa çift vatandaşlığını açıklayabilirsin.
Hi again, it seems that in the case of Turkey (or other visa free/visa on arrival country where you don’t fill forms), it is no problem to use whatever passport I want (Spanish or Bulgarian),
but what about countries where a visa is needed? I am specifically interested in Azerbaijan: when I went there I used my Spanish passport and on the visa form they asked
if I had a previous citizenship and when I ‘lost’ it. I wrote that I had a Bulgarian and I lost it in 2006 (when I got my Spanish one). At the border I was asked if I am a Spanish citizen (because my name is Bulgarian and I have been born in Bulgaria). I have heard from different people that in Azerbaijan they allow you only to have one citizenship and it seems that they think that this is applicable to everybody. Will I have a problem if I decide to travel to Azerbaijan again using my Bulgarian passport in the future?
It depends but stick with a single passport. You’re probably better off using the Spanish on in that case.
Thanks for your clarification.
It seems that having two EU passports is more a trouble than an advantage: now I am residing in Bulgaria, but I can not get a residence permit, because I am a Bulgarian citizen. And if I need to apply for a visa in Sofia with my Spanish passport, I can not, because I need a residence permit. This means that I need to go to Spain first in order to apply for a visa for a country which wants you to apply in your residence country. A little bit of an expensive Catch22.
Hi
What a great article, I’ve been looking for information like this for a long time now and I’m glad I ran into your site.
I’m wondering if you could advice me on a situation I’m in. I have a dual nationalities and to travel to the UK I can use either however with one I was allowed to stay for 6 months and when the 6 months are over you have to wait another 6 months to be able to go back in. I’ve been out of the UK for 4 months now but I want to go back to the UK. Can I use my other passport to go in?? which also allows me to go in the UK but for 3 months…
Any ideas?
Cheers
You can but they might not allow you in. I would wait the 2 months to be sure.
Thank you! I’ll take your advice and sit tight
Geez, thanks for sharing the rule n your experience. I really want to understand whatimmigration look for in passport. Do they check my last port of embarkation? I have dual nationalities. Aust/Indonesia. I am really concern when I enter Indonesia they will question where I was. I reside in Thailand with with Australian passport and only use indo passport when I enter n exit Indonesia. Any advise?
I really want to understand whatimmigration look for in passport << depends on the country, officer, special circumstances…
I am really concern when I enter Indonesia they will question where I was. << aren’t you a citizen? What’s the concern with where you’ve been?
hi, did you try use 2 passport? any problem at indonesia? i have same problem, please contact me to my email, have a lot of question need to ask, thank you
Hi, i’ve got UK-US nationality. I’m most probably being really stupid but do i use my UK passport in Heathrow and then my US one when i arrive in america and then vice versa on the way back or will i need to show my US passport at some point in heathrow before i leave the UK and then show my UK one at some point in America before i leave there? I’m so confused by all this, this is my first time traveling back to America since we moved to the UK when i was a child.
Check out the last line of this article:
http://foxnomad.com/2012/11/16/the-fast-answers-to-your-questions-about-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/
Hello Anil,
I was born in US and hold both US and Spanish passports. My US passport just recently expired, and I am schedule to fly to Mexico tomorrow. Yes, I know, I should have checked my passport expiration.
More importantly, what are the implications of traveling on my Spanish passport from Houston->Mexico and back again? I assume that on my return I will have to fill out Customs card using US passport info, and they will find out my passport is expired and wonder how I managed to get to Mexico.
Is there serious penalties that could arise from doing such a thing? Could I travel to and from Mexico on a foreign passport and eventually show US customs my expired passport so they will let me in with a slap on the wrist? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
It could cause you complications upon reentry into the US. If you have time to update your US passport I’d recommend it.
i hav bulgarian and macedonian pasport how tu travel in australia i live in itali
Check their embassy website.
Does anyone know, can I keep entering and leaving Shengan territory every 90 days and switching passports so I can stay indefinetly, or would they catch on to that? Thanks.
Sooner or later they would. Just get a long-term visa and save yourself the potential trouble.
A couple of other posts asked you similar questions but thought would ask again with regard to Japan which you may know have different rules. I have 2 passports…Australian and Irish, and I have been staying in Japan on my Irish passport …this gives me 6 months stay. I went to extend my visa and was rejected because I have been staying here too long. I have entered Japan 3 times in past year using tourist visa.
Now I have to leave. My question is if I re-enter using my Australian passport will they know that I have already used up my stay time on my Irish passport? Here in Japan they finger print everyone entering so I am worried they will cross reference that. Thanks.
I wouldn’t recommend you trying that. At least not so soon after being rejected a visa based on an overstay.
Hi again,
Do you know how a countries immigration looks at visas from 2 passports? Is the period of stay calculated by the visas in both passports or is it based on the person i.e. combination of 2 passports. I am specifically asking in regard to Japan.
PS. I wrote another post but do not see it here but you sort of answered it in other replies regarding getting more visa time using a 2nd passport.
Thanks
It really depends. Typically though they are separate, however in your case it’s likely to cause you problems.
Thank you for your reply. I have another question you might be able to help. My japanese partner and I are now thinking of getting married in Japan. Would you know if any problem getting married showing my Australian passport which does not have visitors visa, and then applying for Spouse visa using my Irish passport? It’s in my Irish passport I have the visa to change to Souse visa.
I’m afraid I can’t be of much help there, best talk to an immigration or related lawyer to find out for sure. Best of luck.
I would go for Aussie passport and start totally new application.
As I understand from your post,your irish passport is messed up.
good luck
Thank you for the article.
My question is:
two passports: US/RUS. going to Moscow form US, stopping in UK for few days. I understand from your article to enter and leave the country on same passport. yes. I would enter UK on US passport and should leave with it also. My tickets to Moscow should be on Russian passport, ok. My Russian passport in on my maiden name. Therefore, different last name. So, when I leave UK for Moscow, I am showing my US passport and Russian ticket with different last name? or how does it work in this situation. I would appreciate any help. thank you
When you leave the UK immigration you show them the US passport – show the airline at check-in the Russian one. Typically maiden name changes are overlooked however it may be an issue in your case. Do you have time to get the passport updated? At the very least bring a copy of your marriage certificate.
Thank you. Would you recommend to buy a ticket on a married last name then?
Either way there would be a discrepancy in the names no? Any time to visit or send your passport for an update at the Russian embassy?
Russian Embassy doesn’t do it here.name changes have to be done within Russia only. It is a Very big hassle and takes along time.
But thank you
Lena, did you have a chance to travel yet? I am with the same issue. Last name on my Russian passport is totally different from my US passport Last name. I did not change my name due to the marriage, but due to the US Naturalization process. I would like to travel to Russia, but not sure how. Went to the Russian consulate in NYC, but they do not know what to do if my last name was changed not due to the marriage. I called Travel agent she suggested to purchase a ticket using both names with a comma, but I am afraid I may have an issue at the immigration check for doing that. Let me know what was your experience. Thanks
I apologize up front if this has been answered already and I just didn’t “get it”.
I have dual citizenship/passports for UK & Canada. I will be travelling to Dublin, Ireland, and spending my time there and then, via land transport, in Norther Ireland (N.I. is part of the UK, whereas Dublin, Ireland is not). Only one return trip ticket (Canada to Dublin) is being purchased. The airline wants passport info up front. Which passport info should I provide? Once the outbound flight is active, I cannot change the information online, so whichever info provided would apply to the return trip (Dublin to Canada) as well as the outward bound (Canada to Dublin) trip. That’s the confusing part, the purpose of the passport info for the airline means they have ONE set of info. Is it then appropriate to provide the airline with Canadian passport info, then leave Canada with Canada passort, then enter Dublin with UK passport. If so, then do I leave Dublin showing UK passport, but enter Canada via Canadian passport. Do I have this right?
Is it then appropriate to provide the airline with Canadian passport info, then leave Canada with Canada passort, then enter Dublin with UK passport. If so, then do I leave Dublin showing UK passport, but enter Canada via Canadian passport. Do I have this right? << yes.
hi thank u for the article.. was wondering if u can clarify some things for me.. i have a dual citizenship in canada & philippines and will be travelling to 5 asian countries.. i know that to depart / return canada i should use my canadian passport.. in between the trip can i use my philippine passport to avoid having to apply for a visa to vietnam / cambodia? if yes, do i get in trouble with immigration when returning to canada? thanks for your answer in advance
in between the trip can i use my philippine passport to avoid having to apply for a visa to vietnam / cambodia? << yes
if yes, do i get in trouble with immigration when returning to canada? << probably not but check the conditions of traveling internationally with the department that handles passports.
Last thing, check with all of the country-embassies you’ll be visiting online to confirm – don’t just take my word for it.
Thank you. Turns out I have to use my UK passport anyway, as a Cdn passport only lets me stay 90 days in the Republic of Ireland. Uk is no limit.
My wife and I hold both U.S. and Italian passports. When traveling from the U.S. to Italy and back, I think I understand that we should:
1) use the U.S. passports to leave the U.S. (airlines and airport security) but then present the Italian passports upon entry to Italy
2) use the Italian passports to leave Italy and then present the U.S. passports upon arrival in the USA.
Is this correct? Also, are you aware if presenting the Italian passports upon Italian entry may result in taxes or fees being collected by the Italian government?
Thank you.
Yes and yes to #1 and 2. As far as the taxes, that I’m not sure about. Most EU countries have limitations on how much they can tax citizens living abroad. You may be exempt but check the embassy website or call them to be sure.
Thank you – this seemed to be the answer but I appreciate the confirmation. Regarding my question about taxes or fees, I now think I was referring to the tax/duty stamp on Italian passports which is supposed to be renewed annually. According to the Italian Consulate website this must be purchased if you use the passport to travel. It is possible that an Italian passport without a current duty stamp could be noticed coming into Italy. In that case, I cannot find out what would happen or if simply one might have to purchase the stamp on the spot. Any information on this would be appreciated.
I’d call the Italian embassy to see if there’s a fine and whether the amount of it is low enough to risk being caught upon arrival or exit.
I have dual citizenship – of two EU countries; The United Kingdom and The Netherlands. I came to Thailand on my Dutch passport (the UK passport was expired at the time), but want to switch to the United Kingdom passport – only 1 time and then continue using the UK passport in becoming an English teacher.
I have to do a visa run before the 17th this month. All flights to Malaysia and Singapore are fully booked.. So if I do a visa run by land to Cambodia – leave the country with the Dutch passport; will I have problems getting a Cambodian visa on my brand-new totally stamp-free English passport, enter the Kingdom of Cambodia on that – and then return to Thailand with the English passport?
I am told that in all likelihood they will try and make up an elaborate story to get as much money out of me as possible… or that it would simply be denied..
I suppose I could do 2 visa runs on the Dutch passport and then fly to Singapore and enter the country on the British one and then fly back, but that would be really time consuming and expensive..
Sounds like it will cause problems. What does the UK embassy there advise?
I phoned the British embassy and they thought it wouldn’t be a problem… I will be travelling in 10 days to Malaysia by land – which as a more develloped country should not take advantage of the situation like Laotians or Cambodians would..allegedly that is.. So I phoned the Malaysian embassy as well and they said it wouldn’t be a problem as the simple fact that I’m a British national is enough to get a visa on arrival and they wouldn’t care about how I got there or that I have two passports…
So I guess we’ll see what happens in 10 days.. I’ll report back to let you and your readers know.
Thanks, I look forward to hearing back from you. Good luck!
Made it back in one piece, though it wasn’t easy.
By land both the Thai and the Malaysians couldn’t be reasoned with and they almost left me between the two borders… I had to book another flight 1st from Penang to Kuala Lumpur and then from Kuala Lumpur back to Bangkok. I timed it with a flight coming in from England and got through passport control by playing the ignorant and distracted tourist, which was enough to make them not investigate further – although my brand new passport did raise an eyebrow.
I don’t recommend anyone doing this other than from and to your own country. I’m glad it was only a one time thing – and I’ll not do it again!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I have hard time believing Malaysian embassy would tell you one certain thing and then Malaysian border guards would tell you different story and treat you like a refugee in no man’s land between the borders.
Hi /Merhaba!
I am a dual as well , Norwegian & US. Im going to Florida for a wedding. i went to the embassy today and filled out all the papers and will get the passport in 2 weeks aprox..(havent had a passport from the US issued the last 15 years) Can i BOOK the flight with the Norwegian passport and travel with the American one? please e-mail me as well, im running out of time to book the tickets.
Merhaba Nina
I’m confused about your situation? Will you have the US passport before your flight?
Hi Anil!!!!
I am traveling to pakistan soon i have both US & pakistani PP. my question is how can i travel without a visa… I asked my embassy… They gave me 3 different answers.
1) travel on your pakistani pp and show them ur us when u enter pakistan n ask them to stamp that us.
2) travel to pakistan on paki pp n come back on US.
3) get a visa
I am worried that i will be asked for exit stamp… As some one told me they were trying to travel on two PP n they had trouble n were asked to stay there for couple days for visa n stuff.
Have you read this article? It may help answer your question:
http://foxnomad.com/2012/11/16/the-fast-answers-to-your-questions-about-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/
Hi! Good Day! I am a Dual citizen. I have US passport and Philippine passport.I got married here in the Pilippines. After that, I renewed my Philippine Passport with my married name on it but my US passport still got my single name. I’m planning to renew it in the US cause I’ll be leaving next month. Can I leave the Philippines with my renewed Philippine passport and my US passport that still got my single name? What last name should I use booking my ticket? Hope you can help me! I urgently need the answer… Thanks!
On the booking ticket use your US passport – if you can also bring a copy of the marriage certificate that might come in handy as well.
hi i have two passports Ethiopian and Finland and i would like to go Kosovo the capital city of pristine to see the national library of Kosovo outstanding place.
From addis ababa to pristine via Istanbul
1. i don’t wanna to show my Finland pp when I’m in etho or in Istanbul
2. i want to show my finish pp only when i arrive pristine in Kosovo
my question are
1. is that good idea or it’s working?
2. can police border in pristine track my trip back and know that i was using another pss when i was in Istanbul
note: my two pass has same names and date of birth
please tell me the best scenario
and also visa is on arrival according to both pp
What’s your route?
my route are
addiss ababa to istanbul istanbul to pristina the capital city of kosovo
can i use my ethio pps both addis ababa and istanbul and show my finish one when i arrive kosovo international airport only the two pps has same name and same date of birth
Hi Anil,
I have a question for you. I have a dual citizenship: South-African and Belgian. I am planning to go from Belgium to South Africa this summer (stop in Abu Dhabbi) and my questions were where do I flash which passport?
1. Checkin in Belgium: ?
2. Passport control in Belgium: ?
3. Entering South Africa = South African Passport
4. Checkin in South Africa to go back to Belgium : ?
5. Passport control: in South Africa: South African Passport
6. Arriving in Belgium: Belgian passport
How about in Abu Dhabbi (just staying there for a transfer flight) will I have to flash any passport? and if so, which one?
Thank you very much in advance!
Kind regards,
Springbok
Check this article, it should help answer most of your questions:
http://foxnomad.com/2012/11/16/the-fast-answers-to-your-questions-about-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/
Hi Anil P;
I’m wondering if you’ve come across the situation where someone has dual citizenship, with two passports but with two different names? I have a friend who wants to change his name legally in his new country and then have a passport issued in that name and use that passport almost exclusively, BUT keep his original name for his original country and passport and use it only when he goes home (the reason being his country won’t recognize/legally allow him to change his birth name). That person will not be using his original passport to enter any other country but his own (mostly), as his country needs a visa for everywhere!
Have you seen this? What problems can you anticipate? I called the passport agency of the country that would be issuing his second passport and they said they can only talk about their own, and that they would issue the passport in whatever name was on the documents they were given.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
I haven’t heard about a similar situation, I would recommend call the passport office of both countries.
Hello, My question is a bit complicated:
In 1990 I entered the US as a tourist (my country of origin is Brazil), and after my 6 months allowed stay, I remained in the US because I fell in love. In 1991, I married an illegal Honduran national living in the US for a few years. According to Brazilian laws, I was supposed to had registered my marriage with my assigned Brazilian Consulate back then, which I didn’t. I had kept my single name in the US just because all my american documents would match the Brazilian ones (changing names is Brazil is a nightmare). Also, once a Brazilian citizen registers a foreign marriage with the Brazilian Consulate, if there is a divorce performed in the US, one must go to Brazil to finish registering the original marriage with the Brazilian Courts. Only them one can hire a lawyer in Brazil to represent them in a Brazilian divorce. Only after this process can a Brazilian national be really “divorced” in both countries.
Fast forward a few years, and the US Immigration “decided” my last name should be my husband’s name as he had petition the US Immigration to legalize my status (eventually got his legal residency). And so, I have had my husband last name for over 10 years in the US and I became an American citizens 3 years ago (my american passports has my husband last name). I also have a valid Brazilian passport with my single name on it.
Brazilian law requires all its citizens to vote (or justify upon entering Brazil, why you couldn’t vote) in order to keep their civil privileges such as owning property, getting a job, retirement benefits or claiming inheritance. Not only I have’t vote since 1990, all my Brazilian issued documents are expired (my Brazilian passport was issued by the Brazilian consulate). Next year I plan to go to Brazil, the 1st time since 1990, but I didn’t want to deal with all the bureaucracy in Brazil as I will be visiting during the World Cup and government offices will be a mess to deal with way more than usual.
Another Brazilian law requires its citizens to enter the country with a Brazilian passport.
Here comes the complicated question:
Should I just pretend not to be a Brazilian citizen and apply for a visa with the Brazilian consulate as an American citizen (using my american passport that bears my husband’s last name) so I can just go in and out of Brazil without issues and skip the aggravations or should I try to deal with this mess and get my Brazilian situation straiten out with the Brazilian government? I need to have a resolution so I can pick a name to put down when I buy the air fare and if I have to deal with the Brazilian government, I am going to need a lot of time before the trip to fix this mess as the bureaucracy makes everything so complicated and slow to be resolved.
Thanks for any help I can get
I am not sure, have you talked to a lawyer about it?
Hi,
I have a Japanese and Canadian passport.
Born in Canada, moved to Japan when I was 20 and lived here ever since (9 years)…
When I visit my family in Canada, should I leave Japan with my Japanese and enter Canada with my Canadian passport? I am worried that they will find out and put me in a small room and take away either citizenship.
Is it illegal to do this? or would it be fine?
Here’s the sequence:
http://foxnomad.com/2012/11/16/the-fast-answers-to-your-questions-about-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/
Hi Anil,
nice you are discussing this theme.. you might have an idea, if or how risky this situation would be: i have two EU passports and traveled to thailand on pp1. as you surely know, in 180 days, i am allowed to get 3×30 days of stay permitted. if, after the 3rd time, i´d fly out and come back with pp2, would i get the 3×30 again on my 2nd citizenship? that way, by using both pps, i theoretically could stay in thailand as long as i want. what´s your opinion? Worth to mention is that pp2 is not only old school, so no fingerprint, but also extremely full with stamps. and there´s 1 more question.. can they deny to let u in, if you have a full passport, or do they have to find.. the spaciest place and squeeze the stamp in. i wonder.. who says, what really is full?
Greetings
If they feel you’re abusing their entry requirements and laws, they can refuse you entry. Best stick with a single passport and apply for a longer-term visa.
Just a question, I hope for the answer
I have a dual Citizen (US and Russia) Last name on my Russian passport is totally different from my US passport Last name. I did not change my name due to the marriage, but due to the US Naturalization process. I would like to travel to Russia, but not sure how. Went to the Russian consulate in NYC, but they do not know what to do if my last name was changed not due to the marriage. I called Travel agent she suggested to purchase a ticket using both names with a comma, but I am afraid I may have an issue at the immigration check for doing that. Let me know what was your experience. Thanks
Do you have a Russian government issued ID card you can take with you – plus marriage certificate? I would recommend it but please do check with the consulate as I am not certain.
This is the problem – Russian consulate was not able to explain to me what to do. They are able to make that change if my last name was changed due to the marriage in the USA, but due to the naturalization process – when I applied for the US Citizenship I requested for my last name to change they do not have a process in place. I hope if anyone replies with the similar issue.
Thanks
Great blog article.. Thank you. Just wondering if yourself or anyone might have some perals of wisdom to share… I’ve got a friend who has dual citizenship.. Japan and Australia (both exempt from needing a holiday visa application for Italy she visited… She’s entered Italy (there now) on a tourist visa entering on her Australian passport.. Allows her up to 90 days. Now, my understanding is that she would have to leave for 90 days before she can come back again for a further 90 days… If she exits with the same Australian passport, then enters again on her Japanese (a few days later, not waiting for 90 days before doing so) is this risky business?? For the record, the 2nd passport has her mother’s surname, so I’m not sure if that helps anywhere… Would be great to know.. Thanks so much.
*pearls =)
She could be denied entry based on her previous entry to Italy. Although it’s unlikely. I would recommend waiting more than a few days before reentry.
I have US and Irish citizenship. I have since 1994 traveled to Russia half a dozen times using the Irish passport, having secured a Russian visa in the Irish passport at the Russian Consulate in Ireland and other cities in Europe. Now I live in the US and want to apply for a three-year multiple entry tourist visa using my US passport. The application for US citizens asks about prior travel to Russia; I am assuming that I need to describe and wonder whether the Russian Consulate in the US may check and find out no visas were issued to me–as a US citizen. For example, I was in Russia in 2011 (with visa in Irish passport) and my US passport was issued in 2005; so the consular officer will likely wonder why there is no visa in the US passport if I traveled to Russia in 2011. Should I explain that I am a dual citizen? Should I just apply using the Irish passport? Suggestions as to best approach?
It shouldn’t be a problem to notify them of your dual citizenship if asked. It’s better than saying you haven’t been and them questioning the lack of visa in your passport.
Hi.. I’m jus little confuse here..I hope you could help me out. M travelling to US in 2 weeks time. Last time I went on indian passport with valid visa on it. But now I got australian passport… Does that mean I can’t travel on indian passport anymore ?? I haven’t applied for dual citizenship yet.. Do you think my indian passport still valid to travel I mean can I use both passports to travel to US.. Since I can stay in US for 6months stay with b2 but with entering Aussie passport I only can stay 3 months under visa waiver .. So what do you think should I leave Australia with australain passport and enter in US with indian passport with US visa on it???
It depends on the purpose of your trip and visa but you’re likely better off using your Australian passport.
Hi,
This may be slightly unrelated but i’ll ask anyway, nothing to lose
I have a US Visa till 2019 on my British passport but also have a Guyanese passport.
When I go back to Guyana, i’ll be using my Guyanese passport of course but what if I want to visit the US, how should I go about?
I mean i can always do a stopover first with my G-passport and then fly to US from there but is it possible to transfer visas from one passport to another? Or if i request another in Guyana, won’t the embassy/consulate see that I have dual-citizenship and report it or deny giving me one?
Thanks
This article has the answer you’re looking for:
http://foxnomad.com/2012/11/16/the-fast-answers-to-your-questions-about-traveling-as-a-dual-citizen/