Today, Americans are also widely maintained citizenship with passports from another country and a second country.
I was born in the United States and am a U.S. citizen. However, because my parents were dual citizens when I was born, they also passed on Italian citizenship to me.
It was an honor to have rights in both countries, but it was a little confusing when I started traveling internationally with two passports.
Which passport to use when the question is a subtle answer.
That’s how it crashes.
Leave the United States and go to another country
When you leave the United States, you will show your U.S. passport and have a potential second passport, but – which is very important – never at the same time or at the same time on your trip. Never hand over these two passports to security or customs/immigrants and expect them to tell you what to do. That’s asking a question. You need to understand the process, which will make sense after you have gone through it a few times.
hint: If you are not sure about the travel process, please consult the U.S. State Department and regional consulates in another country before your next trip.
When leaving the United States, display your U.S. passport (or real ID) in the Transportation Security Management Filter.
Next, you will have to show your passport when boarding the US flight to your destination country. This passport must be:
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- One you legally need to use into the country. (For example, as an EU citizen, I have to use my Italian passport to enter any EU country and Schengen region.)
- The one that is most beneficial to you. In other words, if you do not have a legal obligation to use one passport on another, you can decide which passport to use based on the privileges it provides. For example, if I were leaving Los Angeles for Bangkok, I would like to see if there is any benefit to using a US or Italian passport. This may mean no (or lower) visa fees or longer legal stays.
As a US and Italian dual passport holder, I showed my Italian passport to the airline’s gate agent when I boarded a flight to Italy or any EU or Schengen country.
You want to make sure the airline’s list lists the same passport information for your plan to display customs/immigrants when you land.
As an Italian with EU citizenship, I will avoid European travel information and authorization system fees once Europe is in effect. As long as I enter the EU with an Italian passport, it won’t work. However, Etias will apply to my husband traveling on a US passport.
Related: Everything you need to know about the “visa” requirements for EU Etias
hint: Some airlines do not allow you to save two passports in your online profile. (American Airlines, I’m watching you.) Before boarding an international flight, I often have to connect to another American portal from my doorstep in the United States. In these cases, I put my U.S. passport in the airline app for the first U.S.-based leg and then go to the Admiral Club or the U.S. Customer Service Center at the next airport to have them update their passport information related to my Italian passport ticket. Any door agent can also update your ticket’s passport information.
Arrive in the EU (or any country)
When you land in the EU, show your EU passport to the Border Patrol and when you arrive at the airport, you are leaving the country. If you are traveling alone, you can use electronic doors. Otherwise, you will need to go to the agency with your travel companion using your U.S. passport.
(If you are not heading to the EU, remember to show you the passport used to board the outbound plane after you arrive in your destination country.)
Exit abroad
Once your foreign stay is over, return to the airport and conduct customs and immigration through the same passport you have entered. If you enter an EU passport, please use the EU passport for any exit customs process. If you enter a U.S. passport, please show it to the U.S. passport when you exit immigration.
The next step is very important. always Show your U.S. passport when boarding the plane and show your U.S. passport to the Border Patrol (or at the Global Entrance) upon arrival
Should you always travel with two passports?
Yes. You always need to re-enter the U.S. with your U.S. passport, so you need it when traveling abroad. Also, if you need help in another country, you want both passports to enter the embassies in both countries. When things go wrong thousands of miles, all the help you want to get.
Can you also use TSA Precheck as a dual citizen?
Yes. I have loaded a known traveler number in my airline account, so my boarding pass always includes the TSA Precheck logo.
Bottom line
When traveling with dual citizenship, which passport is shown comes down to where you are during the trip. Show your passport to prove that you have the right to be where you are going.
TSA in the United States doesn’t care about the passport you use for your flight. That’s not the agency’s concern. It will only use which one it will be displayed to TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. And, by law, if you are a U.S. citizen, you must leave (screened through the TSA) and re-enter the country (enter through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or Global).
This can be confusing, but that’s how to use passports from two different countries when traveling.
