To anyone, the idea of dual citizenship is often welcomed. There is always a country – different from our nationality that we admire a great deal.
Also, there are people who naturally have dual citizenship either as a result of their parent’s nationality or their residence and birth. This qualifies the individual for a second passport which comes with numerous benefits.
However, owning two passports and traveling with them can be as challenging as it is fun. The reason for this is that there is very little information like https://www.onlinevisa.com/news/traveling-with-two-passports/, which provides credible information on the subject.
In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about traveling with two passports and the tips to consider before embarking on your journey with your second passport in hand.
What to Expect When Travelling with 2 Passports
One of the most significant advantages of traveling with two passports is the convenience of traveling to multiple countries visa-free or at reduced visa costs. Apart from the visa fee, owning certain passports gives you the leverage to stay in some countries for longer.
However, there are times when traveling with two passports can be challenging, depending on the country you are traveling to, and the nationality of your second passport. The smart thing to do is to always use the best passport required for a trip, but there are times when you need to travel with both passports in your possession.
When traveling with two passports, you may be faced with numerous challenges, which include; prolonged security checks, searches, and paperwork. For many countries, owning two passports automatically raises an eyebrow at the borders. Especially when there is a diplomatic row between the said country and the other country whose passport you bear.
Also, you may be subjected to multiple taxes and payments requirements at the point of entry – fees and levies you never knew existed – and were only required because of the other passport in your possession.
In some countries such as Israel, it is a crime not to declare your dual nationality and present both passports – which must be valid at the point of entry. Interestingly, the officials are even stricter if you are an Israeli citizen entering the country with your second passport.
Lastly, there is the challenge of reduced prestige. You should be aware that just the way holding a second passport from some countries can immediately earn you prestige, it can also affect it.
How to Determine the Right Passport to Present
As a dual citizen, you need to make sure you are entering a country with the ‘most acceptable’ passport by that country in your possession. For example, it is advisable that an Israeli citizen who has dual citizenship to present his second passport when visiting a country like Saudi Arabia.
Before embarking on a journey, you need to carry out double research about that country compared to someone who has a single nationality. To good place to start is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_citizenship_law
You should also know that although it is often advised to travel with both passports, you do not have to flash the second passport at the point of entry, except f requested – or mandatory.
To be on the safer side, if you are a dual citizen, always try to enter your country of nationality with its own passport and other countries with a passport from a country they have close ties with. When you do this, you have more minor issues at the port of entry.
But when airline gate agents ask to see your passport, remember the reason they are doing so is to verify that you are actually allowed to go to the country that you bought your ticket to travel to; mistakes can cost airlines hefty fines. When you’re booking a ticket, the passport information you enter should correspond to the passport with which you plan to enter your destination country. Airlines share their passenger manifests with the immigration authorities of the destination country, which is another good reason that the passport you show on arrival should match up with the one you showed at the gate.
Conclusion
In our world today, traveling with two passports should not pose many challenges, but it is advisable that you have both passports in your possession. One reason why this is important is so that immigration officers do not get the impression that you have a secondary motive that influenced your decision to travel without your second passport.
So, even if you would not be required to present it, always have your second passport in your possession. Also, make sure you are entering a country with the best of the two passports, for that journey, in your possession.