Travelling on two passports?

[sammyvasa]

I am going to Europe next month and was wondering what the rules were regarding traveling on two passports.

My residency card for Singapore references my Aussie passport but I would like to use my GB passport for Europe as easier in the airports etc.

However, I will have to have my Aussie passport for re-entry to Singapore.
Has anyone done this? Can I do it? Do they check my Aussie passport when I come back home (Singapore) to see where I have been (i.e. entry stamps to another country?)

Thanks in advance for your help

[jpatokal]

I am going to Europe next month and was wondering what the rules were regarding traveling on two passports.

My residency card for Singapore references my Aussie passport but I would like to use my GB passport for Europe as easier in the airports etc.

However, I will have to have my Aussie passport for re-entry to Singapore.
Has anyone done this? Can I do it? Do they check my Aussie passport when I come back home (Singapore) to see where I have been (i.e. entry stamps to another country?)

Zero problems: as long as you're not a Sg citizen yourself, Singapore doesn't care about how many citizenships you have. Use the Oz passport for entering Singapore and use the GB passport for entering the EU.

[sammyvasa]

Thanks

[Vaucluse]

Incorrect, jpatokal.

You may face problems as some immigration officers and offices require to see your exit stamp before letting you in.

I recently exited Malaysia on passport #1 and entered Thailand on passport #2 . . . no problem.

Upon re-entering Malaysia with passport #1 I was pulled aside and asked where my last country of visit was due to the lack of an immigration stamp.

A bit of explaining and showing of passport #2 with the stamps intact had them let me pass.
Reasoning for this was, though it is not illegal to have two passports (in some countries), immigration has to be able to track your movements . . . all in the name of security.

So, do so as you have a good point about easier entry into Europe, but be prepared to spend some time explaining yourself.

[Strong Eagle]

Incorrect, jpatokal.

You may face problems as some immigration officers and offices require to see your exit stamp before letting you in.

I recently exited Malaysia on passport #1 and entered Thailand on passport #2 . . . no problem.

Upon re-entering Malaysia with passport #1 I was pulled aside and asked where my last country of visit was due to the lack of an immigration stamp.

A bit of explaining and showing of passport #2 with the stamps intact had them let me pass.
Reasoning for this was, though it is not illegal to have two passports (in some countries), immigration has to be able to track your movements . . . all in the name of security.

So, do so as you have a good point about easier entry into Europe, but be prepared to spend some time explaining yourself.

I think whether there is an issue or not depends upon whether the passport you are using is issued by that country.

I usually travel on my US passport. No problems in going to Malaysia as it has my work permit stamped in it. Tried to use my British passport... they would not let me in since my British passport had no stamps in it indicating I could return to Singapore.

If you are on EP, you can only have one passport stamped with your work permit. If you are a PR you can have multiple passports stamped with a re-entry permit.

I don't think you will have any problem exiting on an Aussie passport (no stamp is made in your passport when you leave). You just return with the same passport... again, no stamp is made by Singapore. When I travel to the US, I get zero stamps in my US passport, none by Singapore, none by the US. So stamp checking is not a problem.

You should be able to use your UK passport with no re-entry or work permit stamps to get in inasmuch as you are a citizen but a quick call to the embassy would verify.

[ScoobyDoes]

Tried to use my British passport... they would not let me in since my British passport had no stamps in it indicating I could return to Singapore.

Odd, i have two valid UK passports. My older one, with EP and a new one since the old one has no space for more stamps. I now only use the old one to leave and re-enter Singapore with the EP and the new one everywhere else, including driving over to JB as i did twice last week.

I have a SG registered car, a UK Passport with no reference in it what so ever to Singapore and....... no problem so far.


OP, as far as i've seen when entering Europe on a UK passport they really only check to see if a) the passport is real and b) the photo matches your face. Other than that it is a quick scan and through you go.

When leaving Europe though, at the airline check-in counter you might need to show both your UK passport and your Oz one depending on a) which one you used to book your flights and b) which has your EP because, strangely, even since we can get Tourist Visas on Arrival many airline counters check for my EP like it must be referred to in my ticket booking or it lists my residency as SG in the system.

For Immigration leaving Europe, again just your UK passport will be enough because the checks have already been done by the airline to see if you are cleared for entry and the destination.

[louy]

I do it all the time, I use UK passport whenever I im Europe. My Singaporean stamp thing is in that passport.

Whenever I enter HK, I use my HKID. So whenever I go between HK and SG, I dont get a stamp either side and can not prove my means of stamps where I have been or come from.

[Vaucluse]

I think whether there is an issue or not depends upon whether the passport you are using is issued by that country.

A valid point . . . neither of my passports is Malaysian nor Thai . . .

[jpatokal]

Incorrect, jpatokal.

You appear to define "problems" as "getting asked questions in immigration". I define "problems" as "being denied entry".

You may face problems as some immigration officers and offices require to see your exit stamp before letting you in.

YMMV, but I travel a hell of a lot, on two passports, and have never had an immigration officer question me about exit stamps or lack thereof... although that's probably in part because I try to avoid switching passports midway through any trip unless I have to.

[ksl]

You must leave the Country with the passport you used to enter that Country with, you cannot enter on one and leave with the other. Or Live in Singapore and use the second passport to visit neighbouring Countries, it is illegal.

The law states you must use the passport you entered Singapore with, to leave Singapore.

To enter a neighbouring Country you would need a visa or proof of residence, and that may not be in the new passport, so it has to be updated with a re-entry permit

[Vaucluse]

Incorrect, jpatokal.

You appear to define "problems" as "getting asked questions in immigration". I define "problems" as "being denied entry".

You may face problems as some immigration officers and offices require to see your exit stamp before letting you in.

YMMV, but I travel a hell of a lot, on two passports, and have never had an immigration officer question me about exit stamps or lack thereof... although that's probably in part because I try to avoid switching passports midway through any trip unless I have to.

Problems start when you are pulled aside regarding the use of multiple passports. That was my point . . . and what is yours?

I'm pleased to hear that you travel a lot, my estimation of you has just increased immensely. Kudos. No, really.

I should start travelling, been living in with my parents too long, I guess.

I guess you answer your own question by mentioning that you only use one passport for your travels.

[jpatokal]

Problems start when you are pulled aside regarding the use of multiple passports. That was my point . . . and what is yours?

My point was that, for the OP's case, there are no problems unless you dig your own hole, and in no country that I know of is it actually illegal or in any way forbidden to own multiple passports (of foreign countries).

Now, the OP was asking about travel between Europe and Sing on GB/Oz passports. European countries wave you right through if you have a GB passport, without checking if you have a matching Sing stamp; and in Singapore, if you have residence status here, you'll be waved through as soon as the machine has gone "beep" to validate your passport. Do you disagree?

I'm pleased to hear that you travel a lot, my estimation of you has just increased immensely. Kudos. No, really. I should start travelling, been living in with my parents too long, I guess.

Gotta resort to sarcasm when you've lost the argument, eh?

I guess you answer your own question by mentioning that you only use one passport for your travels.

Try reading again. I travel with two passports, but while I try to avoid switching them halfway through, I do swap them when necessary.

[ScoobyDoes]

You must leave the Country with the passport you used to enter that Country with, you cannot enter on one and leave with the other. Or Live in Singapore and use the second passport to visit neighbouring Countries, it is illegal.

Why is it up to SG to declare what passport is illegal to use when entering another (even neighbouring) country? When you leave SG immigration their jurisdiction is over

The law states you must use the passport you entered Singapore with, to leave Singapore.

Fair Enough.

To enter a neighbouring Country you would need a visa or proof of residence, and that may not be in the new passport, so it has to be updated with a re-entry permit

You mean a visa or proof of residence in SG? Again, I don't think so. You only need to show means of being able to leave or live in the destination country.......even if immigration can be bothered to ask. Hence, I suppose, I managed to get into Malaysia twice so far and Indonesia a few times using the passport without any reference to SG.

[Strong Eagle]

You mean a visa or proof of residence in SG? Again, I don't think so. You only need to show means of being able to leave or live in the destination country.......even if immigration can be bothered to ask. Hence, I suppose, I managed to get into Malaysia twice so far and Indonesia a few times using the passport without any reference to SG.

That is not the information I got, via phone questions, and reality.

From the British High Commission: You would generally not be able to use your UK passport to enter other EU countries without something in the passport showing where you came FROM. Thus, it will be necessary to have a re-entry permit stamped in the passport.

At the Malaysia checkpoint: Tries to use my UK passport without a re-entry permit in it. Was denied... exactly the same reason... need to know where I came from... even though I had just crossed the causeway. with a re-entry permit, no problem.

[Vaucluse]

te]
Gotta resort to sarcasm when you've lost the argument, eh?

Oh dear, I didn't realise this was a contest and you are petty enough to see it as a matter of winning or losing.

Ok, here you go, just for your ego:

You win. You da man!