David Bonellie
Last updated: March 20, 2023
The citizenship by investment industry leaves investors wondering how best to use their new citizenship and passport. How do they practically exit and enter countries? What if I have visas in one of my passports instead of the other? Which passport number do I give airlines? My new passport has visa-free access to my home country. Which passport do I use on arrival?
At times there may be confusion for the investors. However, the experts at Global Residence Index can help in any scenario. Traveling with dual citizenship is ultimately a fantastic opportunity for investors to enjoy.
Traveling with two passports can offer several benefits, such as visa-free travel and easier access to countries with strained political relations. Two passports make it an appealing option for frequent travelers and those looking to expand their travel possibilities.
Investors who have used one of the citizenship by investment programs enjoy these benefits within a few months of starting the process.
Although having two passports can be advantageous, there are also some limitations. Understanding these limitations can help you make an informed decision about how to best travel with two passports.
Next, look at a realistic examples of a dual citizen traveling with two passports.
An existing US citizen is using Maltas Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) to receive a European passport. After becoming a citizen, the investor wants to travel to Europe from the US. Their existing passport has visa-free travel to Europe. How does this person best use their dual citizenship?
When booking their ticket online, it does not matter which passport you use. The airline only needs to check that you are who you say you are. They need to check that you have legal access to Europe. In this instance, either passport would suffice. When going through immigration on the US side, exit using the US passport. Then, when arriving in Europe, it is best to use the Maltese passport. There are separate EU immigration gates which improve the experience of moving through the airport without hindrance. When leaving Europe, it is best to exit immigration on your passport from Malta and arrive in the US showing your US passport.
A South African citizen invests in Antigua and Barbuda’s University of the West Indies (UWI) fund for himself and five family members to receive citizenship. The family then obtains a Golden Visa in Greece in their South African passport by investing in real estate. The dual citizens decide to travel to the UK. The family will return to South Africa for two weeks before traveling to Greece for the summer.
When leaving South Africa, you must show their Antiguan passport to the airline as this passport allows them visa-free access to the UK. As you go through immigration, you need to use their South African passport. You must legally show your South African passport when going through immigration in South Africa. Even though Antigua is the only Caribbean investment passport with visa-free access to South Africa. The Commonwealth requires that dual citizens arrive in their home country on their home passports. Citizens may be fined if they do not abide by this legal requirement.
The long and short question is to leave and arrive in your home country and use your home country passport. When arriving in countries where your passport has visa-free access, you must show this passport. If you have visa-free access on one passport but are a citizen or resident of another country, in the case of the EU, use your European passport or passport with your residence permit (Golden Visa).
Global Residence Indexes’ strategic outlook will help you understand all scenarios for traveling as a dual citizen. By following some of the steps above, investors traveling with two passports can improve their global mobility experience.
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