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How to Travel with Two Passports

Can I travel into the region on a Canadian passport, then use my U.K. passport on the way out? When traveling with two passports, immigration will generally like to see your entrance stamp on the way out of a given country. So if you get stamped into a country on one passport and want to [...]

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Can I travel into the region on a Canadian passport, then use my U.K. passport on the way out?

When traveling with two passports, immigration will generally like to see your entrance stamp on the way out of a given country. So if you get stamped into a country on one passport and want to leave on another, you will sometimes be requested to show the entrance stamp that was put into the first passport.

Though your case is different than most people as far as the visa situation goes, as you are eligible for a UK passport. As you intend to have your new UK passport mailed to you subsequent to your arrival in the European Union on your Canadian passport, you will have no problems with staying anywhere in the EU for as long as you want. After you receive your UK passport, you will then have proof of being an EU citizen. This means that you can stay in Italy — or any other EU country — for as long as you please.

My recommendation is that you stay in Europe for as long as you want, and when you leave, simply show your UK passport. You should not be questioned, but if you are, just take out your Canadian passport, show the entrance stamp, and explain the situation.

When you receive the UK passport, you will have the full rights of an EU citizen, and should have no problems moving through immigration in the European Union.

As far as showing your passports to airlines and immigration at the airports, it is my impression that you can show either one to either party. Showing your passport to the airlines when you check is simply a matter of proving your identity, when showing your passport to immigration it is to make sure that you have an OK status to leave the country and be stamped out. If you are flying back home to Canada then it would probably be wise to show your Canadian passport to the airlines and the British passport to immigration.

I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, or feel as if this information should be updated, please comment below.

Walk Slow,

Wade

Hello, I live and travel off of the proceeds from this website, so if you like or use this information, please consider making a donation. Thank you.  I am a real person who is trying to make a living off of this website, I am not a paid employee, robot, or some other mechanized beast of burden. It sometimes takes a lot of time to answer these travel questions . . . Thank you.

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Original question about traveling with more than one passport

Question about traveling with more than one passport:

I will be traveling to Greece this September on a Canadian passport. I will be staying in Greece for 90 days, then traveling to Italy for 2 weeks. This means that I will be overstaying in the Schengen area by 2 weeks.

However, I am also eligible for a U.K. passport. I won’t be able to get it before I leave (1 month) but I can get my family to mail it to me while I am in Greece. If I obtain my U.K. passport while I am in Greece, can I use it when leaving the country? That way, I could have my 90 days in Greece, then be eligible for another 90 days in Italy.

Basically I am asking if I can travel into the region on a Canadian passport, then use my U.K. passport on the way out. When I return to Canada, can I use the U.K. passport? And if I use it for the flight, does that mean I have to go through immigration on that passport? Or can I use my Canadian one…

Sorry if this is a bit confusing!



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Filed under: Europe, Schengen Visas, Travel Documents, Travel Help, Visas

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3692 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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72 comments… add one

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  • paul August 11, 2009, 6:34 pm

    It is OK. Greece or anu other EU country will not stemp your EU passport. So if you will use UK passport once you will receive it it will be OK. EU is going easy on Canadian passport holders, except UK. In the UK you will get 100% more questions from immigration oficials presenting canadian passport than from US immigration oficials in the same situations. Do not panic!

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    • admin August 13, 2009, 10:50 am

      Yes, Paul is 100% correct. Your UK passport will not ever be stamped.

      Wade

      Link Reply
  • Florence Italy Travel August 18, 2009, 8:12 am

    I really liked your blog!

    Link Reply
  • Philip August 31, 2009, 8:46 pm

    I am doing some travelling soon throughout the EU (backpacking, etc.), but will not be staying more than 90 days. I have both a Canadian and UK (red) passport, hence my question is, since I’m there with a UK passport, do I need a VISA for my duration spent there?

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    • Wade | Vagabondjourney.com September 1, 2009, 8:49 am

      Only use your UK passport. In this situation your Canadian passport is an impertinence. You are a UK citizen, you will not be stamped in or out of Europe. Leave your Canadian passport at home if you want — it means nothing.

      Wade

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  • Philip August 31, 2009, 9:03 pm

    and by “VISA” I mean travel visa (not the credit card)

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  • oscar October 24, 2009, 8:55 am

    Dear fellow and more experienced travelers,

    I have a question related to traveling with two passports. I hold Canadian and Panamanian passports. I have never used my Panamanian because it was always better to use the Canadian. I just spent 3 months in Italy (using my Canadian) and I’m in the UK right now. I am planning to travel to France for another 90 days to learn French. Given that Panama citizens do not require a visa for staying in the Schengen for under 90 days, do you think its ok to use my Panamanian passport when entering France, even if there are no previous stamps on it? Most likely I would have to show them my Canadian passport which says I just spent 90 days in the EU. What would happen in this scenario?

    Many thanks for your insight.

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    • eduardo April 8, 2011, 6:32 am

      Hi Oscar,
      Tambien soy de Panama, y tengo casi la misma situacion ahora y no se como hacer.
      I have two passports (US/ Panama) and only used the US passport for the schengen entry.
      I want to leave Berlin before my 90 days are up (less than two weeks) and go to the UK to avoid an overstay. But I want to return using my Panamanian passport, which also doesn’t have any stamps as of yet. This could also bring along the scenario in which I’d have to show my US passport which says I’ve already spent 90 days in the EU.
      I’ve been trying to find if anyone has actually gone through this and come out unscathed…? What happened Oscar?

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  • Kami October 25, 2009, 8:07 am

    Hi, i have a two passports ( Pakistani and British), soon i am travelling to Pakistan. If i use my British Passport to travel to pakistan then i need to get a visa prior to my travelling. i am thinking of using my Pakistani passport to travel to Pakistan and on the way back to the UK i will use my British Passport. Is it Possible as this way i can save money on the Visa. Please Help..
    Thank You

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    • richard yong April 24, 2010, 1:26 am

      you will be questioned by pakistani immigration where you try to leave the country to UK since you do not have a UK visa in your pakistani Passport

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  • World Tour Travel December 30, 2010, 8:42 pm

    So if we still travel in one continent, e.g. european country passport and we travel in one on european country, the we don’t need our passport to be stamped?

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  • kajal January 7, 2011, 7:30 am

    thanks for the info
    your article helped me a lot
    passport application form

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  • Stefanie August 9, 2011, 2:29 pm

    Ok so I am studying abroad in Italy for a semester and I am both an American and an Italian citizen. My plan was to use both passports. When I leave America, use my American passport while boarding the plane and when I arrive in Italy, use my Italian passport for customs and all that. And on the way back I will leave using my Italian passport and enter America as an American. Does that work? Can I keep switching like that?

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    • Wade Shepard August 15, 2011, 7:01 pm

      Yup, this is how to use two passports. When entering a country that you have a passport for there are often requirements that state that you MUST use the correlating passport. In this case, when you go to Italy you have to use your Italian passport and when you return to the US you must use your American one.

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  • Chris August 15, 2011, 3:48 pm

    Hi,

    I am a dual citizen of the United States and the Philippines and am traveling South America. I am in Argentina now and used my US passport to get in Argentina from the US as US citizens do not need a visa to come here, and Filipinos need do. I plan to visit Brazil next and because of the ‘reciprocity of treatment’ rule, US citizens need to get a visa to get in Brazil, while Philippine passport holders are exempted (the few times a Philippine passport is not useless!). My question is – Can I use my Philippine passport to get in Brazil even if my Philippine passport was not stamped in the country of origin (in this case Argentina)? I’m assuming my US passport is the one that needs an exit stamp from Argentina. Thanks for your help.

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    • Wade Shepard August 15, 2011, 6:57 pm

      This is tricky. Try to just show your Philippines passport. If they need to see the exit stamps, show them the American one. With a little explanation, it is my impression that you should be able to work it out at the border.

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    • Marc September 26, 2013, 7:50 pm

      Hey Chris (or Wade),

      Did you ever make this trip? I have the exact same circumstances, except I’d be exiting Colombia on my US Passport and entering Brazil on my Filipino. From there I’d be exiting Brazil on my Filipino passport and entering Argentina on my US passport, as I’ve already paid the reciprocity fee for US citizens.

      I tried to do this over land in Bolivia and they refused to let me into the country on my Filipino passport. I’m assuming this is because they wanted my $135 USD, but Brazil doesn’t have a Visa on Arrival and I’d risk not being let on the flight in Colombia.

      Please let me know if you were able to give this a try.

      Thanks!
      Marc

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  • Arsalan Qureshi August 25, 2011, 11:51 am

    Hello..I am a Pakistani residing in Saudi Arabia and I plan to travel to dubai. The problem is ive renewed my passport but have not updated the iqama information on the new one. It is to be noted that my old passport is valid for 4 months and ive gotten my exit re entry visa. How should i go about it? Would i be able to travel and which passport should i present to the Saudi authority and which one to the UAE authority? Would it be questionable if I get my old passport stamped by saudi authority when im going out of KSA and getting my new passport stamped for entry in UAE?
    Your help in this regard would be appreciated. Thanks

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  • I.I August 26, 2011, 8:54 am

    I have a Malaysian passport , and just recently receive my new Irish passport . I am currently living in UK , where I have an indefinite leave to remain , with my Irish citizenship. I came in with my Malaysian passport .
    So can I travel out of England with an Irish passport , then enter Malaysia with my Malaysian passport .
    Subsequently , travel out of Malaysia with my Malaysian passport and return back with an Irish passport to enter UK ??

    Thanx

    Link Reply
  • Chris September 3, 2011, 8:14 pm

    Great website, I have a quick question. I hold duel Swiss and American citizenship. I have lived all my life in the United States. Say I was traveling to Colombia or Paraguay, I am aware that I have to use my American passport when I leave America but when I arrive in Colombia or Paraguay can I enter using my Swiss passport? Thanks for the help.

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  • Zobia September 23, 2011, 4:59 pm

    HI ,
    Iam glad I found this hopefully I will have an answer to my question from here , please answer as soon as possible since iam travelling on the 28th of september. My daughter ( almost 2) entered into the US with a foreign Passport , now she a US citizen . She has 2 passport the US passport does not have A Saudi visa on it but her foreign passport does and I dont know which one I should use . Should I use the Foreign passport while exiting the US or the new US passport and what about when I reach Saudi Arabia as the new US passport does not have Visa on it I should use foreign passport with the visa on it? I really dont know what to do Help . I called the passport centre they told me she could travel with both passports.

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  • gonz October 17, 2011, 12:26 pm

    hello,

    I hold an Argentinean and Spanish passport.
    About 7 years ago, i entered the US and stayed ilegally for about 4 years.
    Now I live in the UK. I would like to travel for holidays to the US, using my spanish passport.
    Do you think I will have any problems?

    Thanks.

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    • Wade Shepard October 18, 2011, 6:37 am

      This would probably be alright just so you weren’t formally deported or registered as an overstayer.

      Link Reply
  • Alessandra B April 13, 2012, 7:26 pm

    Hi Wade,
    I have a Canadian and Italian passport, I’d like to go to Brazil soon, but the process to get a visa as a Canadian citizen takes time and paperwork. I know Italian passport holders can enter Brazil without a visa. My question is what do I do about the layovers. There are no direct flights from Montreal to Rio or San Paulo. The flight I’m considering is Montreal to Atlanta; Atlanta to Rio then to return, San Paulo to Detroit; Detroit to Montreal. Can I use my Canadian passport to go to Atlanta and then from Atlanta use my Italian passport to get to Rio?

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    • Wade Shepard April 13, 2012, 7:48 pm

      This is fine. Just make sure you exit Brazil with the Italian one and use the Canadian one when you return home.

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  • Fahda April 24, 2012, 6:38 am

    Hi

    I currently live in the UK as a student and I came into the UK with the student visa in my Saudi passport. However, I want to travel to the US with my American passport. Would there be any problems because I entered the UK with my student visa using my Saudi passport? Do I have to carry both passports with me?
    This would also be the first time I actually use my American passport.
    I’ve tried to contact both American and British embassies, but would like to get extra info on the matter and in hope that I could travel to the US from the UK using my American passport for the summer and travel back to the UK with my American passport or Saudi passport with my student visa?

    Many thanks.

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    • Wade Shepard April 24, 2012, 8:53 pm

      Yes, bring both. You must enter the USA on your US passport, and probably exit the UK with your Saudi one as that has your entrance stamp and visa in it. When you enter the USA you are 100%, fully completely a citizen of the USA. Do not show or tell immigration that you are also a Saudi Citizen unless specifically asked. Only show your US passport unless the other one is specifically demanded.The USA does not encourage duel citizenship, they merely tolerate it. When returning to the UK exit the USA on your US passport and enter the UK on your Saudi one.

      Why in the world did you get your UK student visa put in your Saudi passport? What advantage does that serve?

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  • Miranda May 7, 2012, 3:29 pm

    Hi,

    My family have both US and UK passports. My children have started school in the UK. In January 2012, they left the US and entered the UK on just their UK passports. At all stages of immigration they showed both passports. When speaking to UK immigration, they told me, where ever we are residing, that is the passport we should be using! If we are living in the US we should be using our US passports all the time and since the kids were now residing in the UK they should be using their UK passports to travel.

    Now I have read that they should have left the US on their US passports and entered the UK on their UK passports. My kids will be travelling back to the US for 6 weeks. If they leave the UK on their UK passports and enter on their US passports there is no record of them leaving the US. The kids are travelling on their own and I don’t want any problems at immigration. What should they be doing?

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    • Wade Shepard May 7, 2012, 9:56 pm

      Only show the passport of the country your entering. If you enter the UK only show the UK passport, if the US only show the US one. Never show both unless specifically requested to do so. Countries like the US only grudgingly accept duel citizenship, it’s not something they encourage. Their is no rule stating that you need to show both passports. Don’t worry about how they exited the US with their UK passports, this should have have any impact on anything. Just next time make sure they know that they are full fledged citizens of the US and the UK and they should ONLY show the passport of the country they’re entering — do not show both. If traveling to other countries they have a choice of what passport to use, but this works more smoothly if they regularly use one or the other for this purpose.

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      • Miranda May 7, 2012, 10:26 pm

        Thank you,
        I’ve just been told the kids should exit from the UK on their US passports to avoid having to fill out the ESTA form to get clearance to fly to the US. I’m going to have the kids travel from the UK on their US passports. They will enter and leave the US on their US passports and then enter the UK on their UK passport when they start back at school.

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        • Wade Shepard May 8, 2012, 2:22 am

          It’s best to buy the air ticket with the US passport, show the airlines and airport security the US passport and show UK exit immigration the UK passport. If they only show the US passport they are going to also show a visa — which they shouldn’t have. If they ask to see both passports at UK exit immigration show them both.

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          • Miranda May 8, 2012, 11:14 am

            Not sure what visa you’re talking about in their US passport, since they didn’t use their US passport to leave the US or enter the UK?

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            • Wade Shepard May 8, 2012, 11:20 am

              Exactly. If they go through exit immigration in the UK with their US passport the immigration official is going to look for a visa which isn’t going to be there. This is why they should show their UK passport when exit the UK and go through the line for UK nationals.

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              • Wade Shepard May 8, 2012, 11:44 am

                As an additional note, the UK only intermittently does exit immigration checks. But I would have them be ready anyway. In this case, being UK citizens but checked into the flight as Americans, perhaps showing both passports would not hurt.

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  • Fahda May 8, 2012, 12:59 am

    Hi,

    Many thanks for your reply.
    So, I should exit the UK using my Saudi passport?
    The problem is that when I boughy my ticket to travel to the US I bought it using my name as it is spelled in the US passport. There is a minor spelling difference. So, what do I do when I’m at the passport control at the departure gate? Should I change the spelling as it is on the Saudi passport or leave it and they wont ask to see my boarding pass? But, I think they would ask to see it when stamping the passport.
    Also if I exit the UK on my Saudi passport wouldnt they ask for a visa?

    Thank you,
    Fahda

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    • Wade Shepard May 8, 2012, 2:17 am

      Show the US passport to the airlines and to airport security, the Saudi one to exit immigration. When you arrive in the USA use your US passport. Why would you ever choose to use a Saudi passport over your US one anyway?

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      • Fahda May 8, 2012, 11:49 am

        I had to use my Saudi passport because I’m here on a scholarship from my workplace in Saudi Arabia to study in the UK. In order for my paperwork to have been processed I had to use my Saudi passport.

        So, I’ll just show the my US passport at the airline check-in and than at the immigration I’ll show them my Saudi passport. Wouldn’t they ask to see a visa and how it is I am going to travel to the states when I show them my Saudi passport?

        Many thanks for your time.

        Link Reply
  • Miranda May 8, 2012, 12:00 pm

    That’s what I’m thinking. I entered the UK last January on my US passport with the kids, and showed immigration my UK passport as well – since I was accompanying the kids travelling on their UK passports through the UK nationals line. All they said was how lucky we were!

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  • lily sun May 14, 2012, 1:53 pm

    Hey Wade, sort of an urgent question and you seem to be a worldly traveler so here it goes.

    I’m a dual citizenship holder – US and Taiwan, and have been living in China for some time. Entered China with my Taiwanese passport and now need to leave with my Taiwanese passport to head back to the US. Upon arrival in the US, I will show my US passport at immigration entry.

    Two questions. 1. Will use my US passport for airline check in, but when I whip out my Taiwanese passport at immigration exit control, will there be some red flag that goes off because the airline registered a different passport? 2. Using my Taiwanese passport that has no visa for US travel, will they likely stop/confront the issue or do they only care about making sure I’m leaving China on proper terms? And if they do raise issue, should it be as easy as just letting them know that I have dual citizenship and I’m using my US passport upon arrival? Many thanks! Lily

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    • Wade Shepard May 14, 2012, 9:22 pm

      Just use both passports when exiting.

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  • may July 28, 2012, 2:01 pm

    i hold to passport Saudi and Canadian there is a slight difference in the last name. is it possible for me to go into Bahrain with my Saudi passport bored the plain and then when i get off the plain in Dubai use my Canadian passport and continue using it for the rest of my journey.

    Also can i book my flight out of Bahrain without using my Saudi last name that have on my passport and just use the name on my Canadian passport.

    i will be travailing soon and your answer would be very helpful.

    Thank you in advance

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    • Wade Shepard July 28, 2012, 9:13 pm

      This should be fine. Just be prepared to show the Saudi one in case you’re questioned.

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  • may July 29, 2012, 2:39 am

    what are the chances of me being questioned… another thing as a Canadian i would need a visa for Bahrain but like i said my Canadian pp is empty what should i do about that ??

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    • Wade Shepard July 29, 2012, 8:30 am

      If you want to use your Canadian passport then you need to get a visa. If you can enter without a prearranged visa with your Saudi passport then this would probably be a better option.

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  • may July 29, 2012, 2:08 pm

    if i enter the country by land with my saudi and only present my Canadian passport when exiting would that be an issue …. i really dont know what to do

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    • Wade Shepard July 29, 2012, 8:20 pm

      Why are you obsessing over this so much? This is simple. You generally must exit the country with the passport that you entered with. So enter Bahrain with your Saudi passport, exit with it, then when you want to start using your Canadian passport use it. If you’re asked where your exit stamp is from the previous country just show the Saudi passport. This is not difficult.

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  • may July 29, 2012, 8:40 pm

    no giving reason … as i mentioned before i have never used both at the same time.

    thank your for your help

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  • Larry Carbone July 30, 2012, 1:01 pm

    From what I’m reading here, I think I know the answer. I am an American, who also holds Irish citizenship n passport. I will be traveling to Brazil in a few weeks, where Americans need a visa but EU citizens do not.
    My plan: show American passport to get onto the plane in San Fran, but use the Irish one to enter Brazil. Use the Irish passport to leave Brazil, but then re-enter USA with my American passport. If American authorities are looking for a brazil-stamped passport, only then do I show then my Irish passport and explain.
    That’s your advice?
    THANKS

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    • Wade Shepard July 30, 2012, 7:43 pm

      Yes, this is the way to do it.

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  • HoneyBunny August 1, 2012, 8:07 pm

    I have dual nationality German and American. I am currently in Thailand on my American PP, and for work reasons I now have to switch to my German PP. I plan to exit Thailand on my American PP (stamp out) and once I land in Macau present my German PP and (stamp in).

    Is this possible?

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    • Wade Shepard August 1, 2012, 8:10 pm

      I believe this question has already been answered. Please read the article and the comments above.

      Link Reply
      • HoneyBunny August 1, 2012, 10:37 pm

        I did read the article and comments above, but I still don’t understand how this works. 🙁 Larry’s comment is understandable, but I am not leaving from the States. I have very limited time off of work, and getting this done within a couple days is very stressful. I am currently working as an English teacher on my US PP in BKK, but have recently been offered a new job, but they want German PP holder. This is the only way I will be able to get my new work permit going. I will need to return to Thailand hopefully with my German PP active. I only have 4 days to get all this done. I don’t want to make any mistakes for I am on a very limited budget, and if I don’t get it right the first time it could get extremely expensive.

        Please can you elaborate on if what I’m planning is right.

        1. Buy the ticket on my German PP in BKK
        2. Show my German PP upon check in at BKK airport.
        3. Stamp out on my US PP at BKK Immigration. Show them both PP’s?
        4. Stamp in with my German PP in Macau.
        5. Stamp out on my German PP in Macau
        6. Return to BKK and stamp in on my German PP.

        Thanks Wade

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        • Wade Shepard August 2, 2012, 2:43 am

          Sure, this should work.

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  • tan213 August 13, 2012, 5:29 am

    hi , I have been recently granted british citizenship and so far I have not applied for british passport . I have a valid pakistani passport with indefinite leave to stay in UK. I now want to travle to pakistan on my pakistani passport as it will take atleast 6 weeks to get my british passport
    thanks

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    • Wade Shepard August 13, 2012, 6:10 am

      It’s not clear what your question is. If your Pakistani passport is still valid you can travel on it, but I would advise waiting for the few weeks until you get your British one.

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  • pat October 19, 2012, 10:15 am

    I love the message board.. keep up the good work. I have Italian and American passports. I travel on my italian passport on most trips, but I usually leave from italy and return to italy on most trips. If I were to apply for a russian visa, with my italian passport, could I apply for it from the States? I know the process is to drop off your passport at the russian consulate, but I wasnt sure if they would let me have the visa put in my italian passport or would force me to use the USA passport.

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  • Francis December 9, 2012, 1:07 pm

    hi im a filipino citizen , and i recently found out that i am.eligible for an irish passport coz my mom.was born in ireland.. so i applied for an irish passport and now.i will be flying to.ireland soon, do I need to.show both philippine and.irish passport when i exit the philippines? so that i can have an exit stamps for both? coz when.i go back to.the philippines i dony want to pay for a fine for overstaying . Wgich passport shoulf i give them.to.exit the philippines? pls help”

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  • Miks December 20, 2012, 7:40 am

    Hey Wade, Excellent effort on this website, I have a concern which I hope you can clarify. I have both Pakistani and Canadian Passports and will be travelling to China via Thailand. Previously I got both Thai and Chinese visas on the Pakistani which worked just fine. Now I do not have time to get the Thai visa, however will be transiting through Thailand. So i plan on entering Thailand on my Canadian passport (visa free for Canadians), and then entering China on my Pakistani pp. On the way back i will also transit through Thailand so will again show my Canadian pp. Is it worth the risk or should I just try and get both visas on the Pakistani. Thanks

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    • Wade Shepard December 20, 2012, 8:25 am

      There is no risk. It is generally OK to use two passports if you have them.

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  • Mohinder December 26, 2012, 7:12 pm

    I have U.K and Canadian passport. I am travelling to India through London Heathrow and we have 7 hours before we get the next flight to Delhi, India. We would like to exit the airport for few hours; I have an indian visa 0n my Canadian passport, can I use my u.k passport to exit and re-enter heathrow airport?

    I would like to use my u.k. passport after landing since I will avoid the long lines of non-UK passport holders.

    Mo

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    • Wade Shepard December 26, 2012, 7:40 pm

      You have to use your UK passport when coming into the UK. It’s probably illegal not to.

      What I don’t get is why there are so many questions about this here. A passport is not like a visa. A passport shows that you are a citizen of the country whose name is printed on it. If you have a UK passport and you arrive in London, you are home — and the same goes for whatever other country you have a passport for. There is no “What passport should I use” type of decision, if you have a passport that’s printed with the name of the country you’re coming into you are not a visitor, not matter if you have a passport from another country as well.

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  • Cassandra January 8, 2013, 11:11 am

    I am a Canadian with a (soon to be) Greek passport. I am waiting for my Greek passport to be sent to me. I have been in France for almost 90 days on my Canadian passport. I’ve learned that I cannot be in the Schengen zone for more than 90 days in a 180 day period without the proper visa. Would I need to go back to Canada? Or can I just go out of the Schegen zone until I receive my Greek passport and re-enter France with my Greek passport. And can I apply for a long-stay VISA in France or must it be in Canada.

    Thank you and sorry if this is confusing to follow. 🙂

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    • Wade Shepard January 8, 2013, 7:50 pm

      Just wait for your Greek passport — if you’re sure it’s coming. Once you have the passport nothing else matters.

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  • solodyosbasta January 15, 2013, 1:32 pm

    I have a dual citizenship privilege: US and Philippines. I’m planning to go for a backpacking trip this February to South east Asia. I’m leaving the US using my US passport but would want to use my Philippine passport when I get to Vietnam airport? Is there going to be problem? Base on my research Philippine passport holders don’t need a visa to enter Vietnam but US citizens do. So to exempt myself for paying visa fees for Vietnam, I plan to use the Philippine passport entering the country. Pls let me know if I’m gonna have problems getting in and going out of the country from Vietnam.

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    • Wade Shepard January 15, 2013, 7:31 pm

      Show both passports at check in, or else you will need to show a visa.

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  • peterdiehlcpa January 16, 2013, 12:37 pm

    I have been travelling between Ireland and the US for the past 15 years on both a US and Irish passport. Upon arriving at NYs JFK the immigration officer reviewed every page of my US passport. She was looking for an Irish 90 day visa stamp on my US passport. She then asked why I did not have a 90 via stamp on my us passport. I told her that I also hold an Irish passport. She eventually allowed me to pass. I was a bit surprised since this was the first time this was ever an issue. She did no ask me to produce my Irish passport. If she had would I have been legally obligated to produce it?

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    • Wade Shepard January 16, 2013, 8:20 pm

      Why wouldn’t you want to produce it? What’s the advantage of not showing it? If it came to a legal matter I do not think that you would be required to show your other passport, but, generally speaking, US immigration can give you some pretty big hassles if you don’t do what they request. In all honesty though, the immigration inspector was probably just made a little curious as to why you did not have stamps from the country you just came from and needed an explanation.

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  • CharlzInchargeConnor March 18, 2013, 11:28 am

    I have Dual Citizenship us/uk but i will be traveling mostly on my uk when entering back in the us do you think i will have problems coming in without my us passport. I know that I have other means to show my citizenship but it’s not against the law for me to do so.

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  • Hasin Merali September 4, 2013, 5:41 am

    I have an kenyan passport and an italian passport
    I wish to travel to Italy for a holiday, which passport should i use?
    The visa process for a kenyan passport is too long
    Please advise if it is ok to use the Italian passport to travel and come back.
    Regards

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    • Wade Shepard September 4, 2013, 6:42 am

      If have a passport for a country you’re going to you’re a citizen and do not need a visa and only need to show that passport.

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  • Anna Kitada October 29, 2015, 2:38 pm

    I am an Australian citizen and I am in UK on tier 2 work visa, which is in my Australian passport. I recently had to apply for Russian visa using my Australian passport from London, and I have not received the passport back. Meanwhile I need to go to Netherlands for work. I also hold Japanese passport.

    My question is, can I go to Netherlands using my Japanese passport and return to UK on it? As Japanese passport holder I do not require visas for short stay in neither of these countries. I will have travel itinerary out of UK (the elusive Russia trip), so I don’t think I will be denied entry into the country. I am taking a trip to Japan in January so I don’t think I will even overstay on my Japanese passport as such, as I will be stamped into Japan by early January.

    My main concern is that for a period of November to January, technically both Japanese and Australian myself would be in UK. It’s not like Heathrow has exit stamps anyway so I don’t think it’s an issue and I will receive an entry stamp into Japan, but I would hate to think few years time I get deported because Japanese self overstayed and worked in UK when I have perfectly good UK visa on my Australian passport to do so.

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