Dual Citizens: How to Travel With Two Passports

Dual citizens belong to an exclusive club, as it is estimated that just 1% of the world’s population carries two or more passports. The main advantage of traveling with two passports is fairly obvious – you get to travel (and stay) in a wider range of countries. As a dual citizen myself (USA and EU) I have learned first hand how, with the right combination of passports, it is possible to travel extensively without the need for applying for expensive visas that can sometimes take weeks or months to process. And this, dear reader, is the greatest advantage of them all.

Common Problems and Reasons for Concern

Carrying two passports doesn’t come without its burdens and using the right passport at the right times can sometimes be a confusing process, and there are several important factors to keep in mind.  The first is whether or not the countries you hold passports for allow dual citizenship.  While most countries are fine with dual citizens, a few countries will not recognize this concept.  Saudi Arabia, for example, has been known to confiscate foreign passports from its citizens.  Other countries, such as Norway, force their naturalized citizens to renounce their other citizenships. In several Asian countries (namely South Korea and Singapore), dual citizenship is recognized only up to a certain age (typically around 21), at which point you must decide which citizenship to retain. In any event make sure you’re aware of how much time you can spend in the country you’re visiting no matter what passport you’re using and be aware of consequences if you overstay your tourist visa and tricks to get by without penalties (if possible).

How to Properly Use Each Passport

Assuming you carry passports from countries that both recognize dual citizenship, there is little to no risk of any incidents arising from your dual citizenship status when traveling as long as you use your passports correctly. As a general rule, you should enter and exit each of your citizenship countries with your corresponding passport.

For example, if you hold an EU and US passport and are taking a trip to the US, exit Europe with your EU passport.  Upon arrival in the US, show you US passport at the US immigration check.  When you return to the EU, show your US passport again upon exiting the country, and enter the EU with your EU passport.

When traveling to foreign countries, you should always enter and exit any country with the same passport.  Not doing so is a common mistake made by dual citizenship holders and can be the source of an immigration nightmare. In addition to having to explain yourself, some travelers are forced to purchase a plane ticket on the spot and ‘deport’ themselves immediately.

These are some essential travel tips I recommend you follow when on the road:

• Make two copy of the first two pages of your passports before leaving on your trip.
• Keep your passport with you while traveling to show officials at the port of entry.
• Secure your passport to your body while touring local areas.
• Leave your passport in a safe place.
• Report a lost or stolen passport immediately.

Conclusion

Many travelers are concerned about what will happen to them if immigration officials discover they are traveling with multiple passports. In a vast majority of countries, this can at worst cause a lot of confusion.  The best way to prevent any hassle is to not volunteer any information regarding your dual citizenship status, especially when dealing with domestic airlines and travel companies that do not have a lot of experience with foreign passports.

Having two or more passports is advantageous for a number of reasons.  As long as you take the necessary precautions and research the dual passport policy for the countries that you plan on traveling to, using two passports is a safe and legal way to explore the world.

About

This post was written by Francisco Perez a Business & Inbound Marketing Consultant. While it may seem unrelated, he has had the pleasure of traveling in more than 50 countries around the world, both for Business and pleasure. He is also the proud co-owner of ReverseTraveller.com

Are you a dual citizen? Do you have two passports? How do you manage them? Have you ever run into trouble because of your dual nationality? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below and this post too if you think it may help others!

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