Lee is travelling to the USA with a dual passport and wants to know the best approach to minimise his time at the airport.
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Q. Lee
I am hoping to visit the USA next year. While I can/should use my Aussie passport to leave Australia, if I want to avoid the longer wait and standing up when I arrive, I’d rather enter with my US passport (especially with the tighter, more suspicious Trump Government). I would then do the opposite returning.
However, that means that I will have an Aussie passport showing that I left Australia, but never landed anywhere when I return to Australia. The opposite would be that I arrive in the US with the US passport, not having left any place to arrive in the USA!
The last time I did the trip, I believe that’s what I did, and showed both passports at all airports. What do you think?
A. Having dual citizenship is a great bonus for a traveller, but there are important protocols that you should know and follow.
Dual citizens should always use the same passport to enter and exit a country. According to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smart Traveller service, all Australians, including dual nationals, should leave and enter Australia on their Australian passport.
If you are entering the USA, you can use your US passport – but you should then also use it when you are leaving that country.
International airlines have a legal obligation to ensure passengers have appropriate documentation for Australia – and for Australian citizens that means a passport. So, ensure that you always carry both passports with you when you travel.
If you are travelling to countries other than the USA, you can choose whichever passport you think is best to use in that country. Do some research to find out what visa fees might apply to each nationality, or if there are any likely difficulties or restrictions that might apply, and choose accordingly.
Be aware that if you encounter any difficulties while travelling outside the countries for which you hold citizenship, the passport you have entered the country on will determine who you should turn to for any consular advice or assistance.
More information: www.smartraveller.gov.au
Have you encountered any passport problems when you have been travelling?
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