Dual citizen - which passport to use for multi country trip?

Posted by darkazuria@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 24 comments

Hi, Just became a dual citizen and a bit confused with the passport situation. I am currently travelling in China and will be flying to South Korea before heading back home to the UK. (I'm both a French and British citizen) I used my French passport to enter China, as it didn't require a tourist visa. If I use my French passport to fly to Korea, should I use my British passport when checking in to go back to the UK? (Don't think it will work with my french passport as they'll ask for an ETA). I'll have to make sure to show the same passport at border control in Korea for the stamp. But will they not be confused about flying in and out with different passport?

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24 Comments

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Dismal_Science_TX@reddit

I just left China for Korea yesterday! I also entered China on my EU passport because of the visa exemption. I anticipated switching to my non-EU passport when traveling to Korea, but I had to stick with the same passport I entered China with. Maybe ask at check-in if you can use a different passport with the airline. From my experience yesterday, customs pulls up your flight information with the passport you check in with. They verify your entry dates. That would not have been possible if I had changed passports. I used my EU passport at Korean immigration since that is the one the airline had. Not sure if I could have switched it up then. It was too complicated so I just stuck with the one.

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darkazuria@reddit (OP)

Did you leave Korea? If so what passport did you use then and for check in for the flight out?

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Timinime@reddit

It’s simple - leave using the passport your arrived on. I once accidentally gave the wrong passport while departing and the immigration officers freaked out, because there was no record of me entering / being in the country. It was fine once I gave them the ‘right’ one.

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FigFun860@reddit

I have a US and EU passport. Travel on the US passport. Btw leaving the US (as a citizen) on a different passport is a FELONY.

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SuisStamp@reddit

>Btw leaving the US (as a citizen) on a different passport is a FELONY. The U.S doesn't have exit controls.

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ibitmylip@reddit

what about having to include your passport information on your flight booking? i’ve always been a little wary of leaving on the U.S. passport and disembarking with another passport

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Kartoon67@reddit

They do though for Canadian and Mexican borders if you travel by roads.

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Odd_Pop3299@reddit

not really. When you drive to Canada from the US you don't interact with CBP at all. You talk to CBSA only.

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Kartoon67@reddit

Ahhh yes you're correct...

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Odd_Pop3299@reddit

it's not a felony lmao

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FigFun860@reddit

Sure is

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Bokbreath@reddit

The penalties were removed in 1970's ... It remains illegal however there is no associated penalty - and so far (can't speak about the current scotus) there is a strong precedence for a citizen's right to re-enter the US with or without documents.

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Odd_Pop3299@reddit

you must have trouble understanding what felony means

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chrwc@reddit

No idea. I only have one paspport. I'm just a poor boy. Just from a colony. No love from the old country.

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Bigfoot-Germany@reddit

Between eg EU and USA you would need to use different passports when eg leaving the EU (departure immigration) then from checking in and from entering the US. Usually the passport that makes travel easy. Just make sure you don't enter on one (us passport holders may not enter the US with a non US passport) and leave on another one.... To avoid "open visas" and overstays and they don't know your left.

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Hutcho12@reddit

Just enter an exit a country on the same passport. It’s not complex.

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temmoku@reddit

If you are entering a country where you are a citizen, you almost always need to use the passport for that country. Airlines require your passport to be sure you will be able to enter your destination country and have any required visas. However, it is still up to that country to decide to let you in or not. Complications occur with countries that need to see your passport when exiting and when you need to travel on one passport for part of the trip but another passport for another part. If you are a dual US-Australian citizen flying from Australia to the US, for example, you would book your ticket with your US passport. In theory you would show your Australian passport to leave, but the automatic gates will only recognise the US one you used for ticketing. I usually go through with the US one then ask a border control agent if they need to see my Australian one. They haven't cared so far. You may need to swap passports en route. Probably similar to your Korea situation but you don't want to fly into Europe on one passport then leave on another because then il will look like you have overstayed your visa on the one you flew in with. So with 3rd countries, in general you fly in and out on the same one. If you are flying into another country and using a different passport, you kind of swap in mid air. Flying through Europe to the US, fly in and out of Europe on the same passport. When in doubt, be above board and fan out all your different passports to let them chose

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LazyKoalaty@reddit

Checking in and border control should be different desks where you can present different passports, or both if needed.

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Gesha24@reddit

You generally show your passport to airlines and to customs. Airlines just need to verify you will be able to enter the destination country (if you can't - they have to take you back at their expense, they don't want it). For customs, you always want to leave with the same passport you have entered. If you don't - you may have a lengthy conversation with the officials, you don't want it. If you are entering your native country - you need to enter with the passport of that country. Generally I'd enter the EU with an EU passport as well. Other than that - you can choose which passport to use for entrance.

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KarenJH2@reddit

I have both Australia and US passports. In Australia they require both. In the US they only care about the US passport.

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dogwoodcat@reddit

You can use the French passport at Korea exit control and the UK one when you arrive, that doesn't matter at all.

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darkazuria@reddit (OP)

Would it be done using the British one for the flight you reckon? And show the french one as border control in korea

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Odd_Pop3299@reddit

nope. When in doubt just present both passports at the check-in counter

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DifferentWindow1436@reddit

When you go back to the UK, you would use your UK passport. You are meant to use your passport of that country when entering as a citizen. If the Korea leg concerns you, just enter and leave on the UK passport.