How to Cross Borders If You Have A Second Passport

September 30, 2022 | | Blog |

Many questions come up when obtaining second citizenship, including how to travel with 2 passports, which passport to use where, and which passport has to be presented while crossing an international border.

It can get a little confusing because the passport needs to be produced multiple times: once in your home country at the airline desk and once at the immigration counter, and once in another country after arrival.

It’s important to Present the Correct Passport.

There is nothing to be concerned about if you keep a few key points in mind; traveling with one or more passports is fairly common and millions of individuals do it every day.

Whether you are from a nation that allows dual citizenship or not will determine whether you are able to travel internationally using two passports.

1. Dual Citizenship Allowed

You can fly straight from your home country to another country with a second passport without transiting if your country permits dual citizenship. For instance, dual citizenship is allowed in Nigeria, which enables Nigerian residents holding passports from Grenada or Dominica to travel directly from Nigeria to the UK without passing via a neutral country. Nigerians cannot, however, go to the UK or Russia using their Nigerian passports.

2. Dual Citizenship NOT Allowed

If you cannot carry two passports and your country prohibits dual citizenship, things become complicated. In that situation, you shouldn’t reveal two passports because doing so is against the law.

If you go through a neutral third nation, such as Dubai, Istanbul, Hong Kong, etc., where you may exchange passports, the usage of a dual passport will work well. For the third nation you are utilizing for transit, you need to have a visa, residency permit, etc.

You must abide by the following rules, and using the right passport is important:

  • For instance, dual national Indian citizens must use their Indian passports to enter and exit India. Citizens of other countries must also use the same passport.
  • Those nations that prohibit dual citizenship, travel, or the use of multiple passports: To leave the nation, you must instead provide a visa or residency permit. It is preferable if you have a visa, resident permit, or permanent residence card for the country you are visiting because certain nations (like China and India) have exit checks.
  • You must also register the appropriate passport with the airlines: Before boarding, airlines manually check data related to passports and visas. Another major reason why the passport you provide at arrival should match the one you presented at the gate is that airlines do communicate their passenger list with the immigration officials of the country to which you are traveling.

You should also be aware of:

  • It is possible for immigration authorities to learn about the passports of other countries since modern passports include biometric data that provides high security.
  • Regardless of how many countries you have, the place of birth remains the same.
  • Consular assistance should be sought if you lose your passport from a Commonwealth nation. You can ask a Commonwealth nation for urgent help if the embassy or consulate is not open.
  • Some nations, including Russia and South Africa, demand notification when a person acquires dual citizenship in another nation.

Countries where you can obtain a second passport

Naturalization is the conventional process for obtaining new citizenship. You must have a job, accommodation, a decent reputation, have lived in the nation for a considerable amount of time, and be well-versed in its history. Some nations that are looking for international investment provide quicker and more practical methods. Different regions of the world have similar programmes in operation.

Investors can obtain:

  • Maltese citizenship. The naturalization process for excellent services through direct investment is the shortest method to obtain a passport. The process to become a citizen of Malta takes 12 to 36 months.
  • Portuguese citizenship. If you participate in the investor residence programme and invest €280,000 in real estate, you can acquire it in 5 years.
  • Citizenship in the Caribbean. In about three to five months, you may become a citizen of the Caribbean by making an investment of $100,000 to $400,000.
  • Vanuatu citizenship. The programme with the fastest processing times and the minimum investment starts at $130,000.
  • Turkish citizenship.Turkish real estate investments are popular among investors. A property or properties worth a total of $400,000 must be bought.

Contact FlyingColour Immigration for professional guidance on citizenship/residency programmes and which nation is best for you. We provide assistance with global residency, citizenship, and investment migration programmes. For more information, contact our experts at +971 529933135, send an email at op2@flyingcolour.com, or visit our website at https://flyingcolourimmigration.com/