Have dual citizenship? How to use 2 passports when traveling internationally

It's fairly common these days for an American to also hold citizenship with another country — and the second country's passport, too.

I was born in the U.S. and am an American citizen. However, because my parents were dual citizens at the time of my birth, they also passed Italian citizenship on to me.

It's a privilege to have rights in two countries, but it was a bit confusing when I started traveling internationally with both passports.

Which passport to use when is a question with a nuanced answer.

Here's how it breaks down.

Leaving the US for another country

When you depart the U.S., you'll show your U.S. passport and potentially your second passport, but — and this is incredibly important — never at the same time or at the same point in travel. Never hand both passports to security or customs/immigration and expect them to tell you what to do. That's asking for a problem. You need to understand the process, which will make sense after you've gone through it a few times.

Tip: If the travel processes are unclear to you, consult the U.S. State Department and the regional consulate of the other country of which you hold citizenship before you depart on your next trip.

When leaving the U.S., show your U.S. passport (or Real ID) in the Transportation Security Administration screening line.

You'll next have to show a passport when boarding your flight from the U.S. to your destination country. This passport must be either:

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1. One that you are legally required to use to enter said country. (For example, as a citizen of the European Union, I must enter any EU country and the Schengen Area using my Italian passport.)
2. The one that is most beneficial to you. In other words, if you aren't legally obligated to use one passport over the other, you can decide which to use based on the privileges it provides. For example, if I am departing Los Angeles for Bangkok, I would look to see if there is a benefit to using my U.S. or Italian passport. That might mean no (or a lower) visa fee or a longer legal stay.

As a dual U.S. and Italian passport holder, I show my Italian passport to the airline's gate agent when boarding my flight to Italy or any EU or Schengen Area country.

You want to ensure that the airline's manifest lists the same passport information you plan to show customs/immigration when you land.

As an Italian with EU citizenship, I will avoid the European Travel Information and Authorization System fee once it goes into effect in Europe. It won't apply to me as long as I enter the EU with my Italian passport. ETIAS, however, will apply to my husband traveling on his U.S. passport.

Related: Everything you need to know about the EU's ETIAS 'visa' requirements

Tip: Some airlines don't allow you to save two passports in your online profile. (I'm looking at you, American Airlines.) I often have to connect from my home gateway in the U.S. to another U.S. gateway before boarding my international flight. In those instances, I load my U.S. passport in the airline app for the first U.S.-based leg, and then I go to the Admirals Club or to American's customer service center at the next airport and have them update the passport information associated with my ticket to my Italian passport. Any gate agent can also update your ticket's passport information.

Arriving in the EU (or any country)

When you land in the EU, show your EU passport to border patrol and the same when arriving at the airport for your departure from that country. If you're traveling alone, you can use the e-gates. Otherwise, you'll need to go to an agent with your travel companions using U.S. passports.

(If you're not traveling to the EU, just remember to show the passport you used to board the outbound aircraft once you arrive in your destination country.)

Exiting the foreign country

Once your foreign stay ends, return to the airport and go through customs and immigration with the same passport you used to enter. If you entered on your EU passport, go through any exit customs process using your EU passport. If you entered on your U.S. passport, show your U.S. passport at exit immigration.

This next step is very important. Always show your U.S. passport when boarding the plane back home, and show your U.S. passport to border patrol (or at the Global Entry kiosk) upon arrival to the U.S.

Should you always travel with both passports?

Yes. You always need to reenter the U.S. with your U.S. passport, so you need it when traveling overseas. Also, if you ever need assistance while in a different country, you want both passports to access the embassies of both countries. When things go wrong thousands of miles from home, you want all the help you can get.

Can you still use TSA PreCheck as a dual citizen?

Yes. I've loaded my Known Traveler Number in my airline accounts so my boarding passes always include the TSA PreCheck logo.

My favorite travel wallet for two passports

If you just received a second passport due to another country recognizing your citizenship, you may want to invest in a travel wallet that holds both. Here's my favorite:

Polare's dual passport wallet with an RFID-blocking bifold cover: The leather feels good quality, and I can fit both of my passports along with my Global Entry card. There is additional space for other IDs or credit cards, plus a pocket for cash or paper boarding passes. The bifold zips all the way around, giving me the security that nothing will fall out when I toss it in my purse or backpack. The price fluctuates a bit on this wallet, but I paid about $45.

Bottom line

When traveling with dual citizenship, showing which passport comes down to where you are in the travel process. Show the passport that proves you have the right to be where you are going.

The TSA in the U.S. doesn't care what passport you use for the flight. That's not the agency's concern. It only cares about which one you use when you show it to TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. And, by law, if you're a U.S. citizen, you must use your U.S. passport to leave (via TSA screening) and reenter this country (via the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or Global Entry).

It can be confusing, but that's how to use passports from two different countries when traveling.