How to Cross Borders with Multiple Citizenships?

A new status in another country means new rights, privileges, and slightly different rules for crossing the border. Not all residents fully understand how to use two passports simultaneously when entering/leaving the country. What to do if you have a passport of your native country + a residence permit of another country? What to show to customs officials? What to confirm? How to be? 

So many subtleties and questions can confuse, because the documents when crossing the territories of several countries must be shown repeatedly: when passing control in your country before departure - at the airline counter and when passing passport control. Then - in the country of arrival after landing. How to do it correctly?

Stop panic! The specialists of the migration agency GARANT.IN have prepared a material where we have tried to answer in detail all the queries of our clients.  

General rules for crossing the EU border

The procedure of crossing the EU border is regulated by the Schengen Borders Code. Since the European Union unites several dozen countries and a single economic space, there is a rule - without problems crossing the border of one of the EU countries, further travel goes without hesitation.

To properly pass border control, you need to have with you:

• Passport. The visitor's main identity document. It is necessary to have an unexpired passport.
• Entry permit. Visa or other documents granting the owner the right to cross the border.
• Medical insurance. It is desirable to obtain a health insurance policy in advance. For holders of a residence permit or passport, the minimum amount of coverage starts at 30,000 €.
• Proof of financial stability. This is not a mandatory item, but in some cases a foreign citizen may be asked to show a certificate from the bank, confirming solvency. 

Entry/exit of a resident with two passports

Holders of two passports should remember to show the same passport when entering and leaving the country. Did you enter the country with an Italian passport? Then you must use it to exit the country. 

Buying tickets with dual citizenship is easier - you can buy a ticket using either document. If you decide to buy a seat on one ticket, and in the country of destination you decide to cross the border on the second, then at check-in you will have to show both passports.

Below we will consider how to cross the border with two passports in different situations.

Which passport to show at the airline counter

In this case, the resident shows a second passport - of an EU country.

Usually together with the ticket the passenger shows a visa. It is an authorization to enter the European Union. In this case, the passport of one of the countries or the EU residence permit card will be the entry permit. If the country of visit is part of the Schengen area, it is also a Schengen permit.

Passengers cannot refuse to show their passports to airline staff. Since the carrier is fully responsible for boarding passengers with valid documents. The airline needs to make sure that the passenger will pass the border control upon arrival. If something goes wrong and the visitor is turned around at the border control, the airline will be forced to take the passenger back at its own expense. Therefore, it is in the interests of the carrier to minimize its risks.

What passport to show at passport control when leaving/leaving the Russian Federation

Citizens of the Russian Federation must leave the country with their passport. Even if you are asked to show a visa, the passenger is not obliged to do so. Only the boarding pass must be attached to the passport. 
Passport control officers are not authorized to check - whether the visitor has permission to enter another country.

Which passport should be presented at the passport control when entering the EU? 

When entering any EU country, you must present your EU passport at the control.

Citizens of the European Union do not need a visa to enter and pass the passport control, you can pass the control in the corridor for EU citizens. 

When traveling within the EU countries and crossing internal borders of the European Union it is enough to use the passport of the European country. You may not think about a foreign passport until you return to the Russian Federation.

Which passport to show when entering the Russian Federation

When entering the territory of the Russian Federation, you must show your Russian passport at the passport control. Border guards do not care what document the passenger traveled in Europe with. The European passport can be hidden and not shown until the new trip. In the Russian Federation, it is possible not to show it. It is worth mentioning separately the case when it is necessary to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs about obtaining a second citizenship. In other cases, there is no need to show the second passport to anyone.

How to properly cross the border with a residence permit card

Since the residence permit card essentially replaces the visa, when entering another country, it is necessary to present it together with the main passport. The residence permit of some countries allows citizens of the Russian Federation to visit certain states under a simplified scheme.

What you need to remember when crossing the border with two passports:

• The same passport must be shown when entering and leaving the country.
• You can buy air tickets with any passport.
• When leaving the Russian Federation, it is not necessary to show a second passport - there is no detention or fine for this.
• A residence permit card is essentially an analog of a visa or other permit. It must be supported by a passport.

The most common questions about crossing the border

In this section, we will try to briefly answer popular questions of our clients.

How to cross the border with two passports to a person under 18 years of age?

Underage travelers must travel accompanied by adults - parents or other adults, with permission from parents or legal guardians. A minor visitor must have a personal European-style passport.

If a traveler holds two passports, can he be denied entry into the country in the absence of a visa?

If the visitor has a second passport from one of the EU countries, he can freely cross the border. Even if there is no authorization in his resident passport.

What additional documents are required for a person who holds two passports?

EU citizens only need to have the passport of the European country when passing through border control.

If you are in a difficult situation and do not know how to properly pass customs inspection or cross the border in your case, our lawyers are ready to help. They will advise the client in detail and tell him how to act, depending on the situation. If you need assistance in obtaining a new status or passport from another country, we are also ready to help. You need a request from the client, and our specialists will promptly create several working solutions and start to implement them.