Two U.K. Passports - Entry & Exit on same ones
Jan 8, 2019, 12:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 7
Two U.K. Passports - Entry & Exit on same ones
I have two U.K. passports for visa applications etc and I always ensure that I exit and entry countries on the same one. I tend to carry both just for safety and I’ve always wondered if it matters if I come back to the U.K. and use the opposite one to come back in on than the one I left on.
I intentionally don’t, as I assume that it signifies that I am back in the country, but does it really matter?
Just one of those things that I think about whilst in the passport queue! The only references I could find online were for dual nationalities rather than two UK passports.
Many Thanks
I intentionally don’t, as I assume that it signifies that I am back in the country, but does it really matter?
Just one of those things that I think about whilst in the passport queue! The only references I could find online were for dual nationalities rather than two UK passports.
Many Thanks
Jan 8, 2019, 12:59 am
#2
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,927
Arriving in to the UK it would be irrelevant, but you should always enter and leave a foreign country on the same passport used to enter to avoid difficulties on future visits to that country.
Jan 8, 2019, 1:18 am
#3
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Glasgow and Asia
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 510
I've done this a few times. I just grab the first passport in my bag (yes I do carry both some times).
What Tobias-UK highlights is the KEY point. If you exit a foreign country make sure you use the passport of entry (even if that country doesn't require a Visa).
Entering the UK? It doesn't matter which one you use, even if you used passport A to exit (say china) when you get to the UK you can use Passport B to come in.
What Tobias-UK highlights is the KEY point. If you exit a foreign country make sure you use the passport of entry (even if that country doesn't require a Visa).
Entering the UK? It doesn't matter which one you use, even if you used passport A to exit (say china) when you get to the UK you can use Passport B to come in.
Jan 8, 2019, 1:33 am
#5
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,821
This isn't a UK issue actually: At least for the time being it won't matter anywhere in the EEA or Switzerland since Freedom of Movement is the overlying concept and the passport, any EEA+ passport or ID card, will prove eligibility. Therefore this is a more frequent issue for those countries that issue ID cards and people end up grabbing different documents. Some EU countries are wary of this since they don't allow people to leave their country if (e.g.) traffic fines aren't paid and get miffed if people use different paperwork to avoid their responsibilities. The situation from 30 March should become clearer in the next week, but if the UK does become fully Third Country at some point then there will be a requirement to use one passport since we would only be allowed 90 visa-free days in the EU per moving 180 day period.
Your passport isn't normally physically checked by the authorities on departure from the Common Travel area however, and the data supplied by airlines isn't tracked for 99.99% of people, so the question doesn't really arise.
Your passport isn't normally physically checked by the authorities on departure from the Common Travel area however, and the data supplied by airlines isn't tracked for 99.99% of people, so the question doesn't really arise.
Jan 8, 2019, 2:46 am
#7
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,235
I have two U.K. passports for visa applications etc and I always ensure that I exit and entry countries on the same one. I tend to carry both just for safety and I’ve always wondered if it matters if I come back to the U.K. and use the opposite one to come back in on than the one I left on.
Jan 8, 2019, 3:04 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 7
I guess in my mind, it is in case the worst should happen whilst away and I manage to lose one. As I said though, in reality I keep them both in the same pocket in my bag thus kind of defeating that logic!
Also with different visas in different ones, I would hate to arrive at check in with the wrong one!
Also with different visas in different ones, I would hate to arrive at check in with the wrong one!
Jan 8, 2019, 5:16 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
As mentioned by CWS, nobody really leaves the UK "on" any passport so the question doesn't really arise.
However the UK is the only country that definitely knows the holder of both UK passports is actually the same person, as opposed to two people who happen to have the same details. So even if the UK had exit passport control, the immigration officer would not see any issue with whichever passport you used, whereas other countries may record passport numbers on their immigration systems which could lead to a data mismatch.
Furthermore as a British citizen you have the right to enter and remain in the UK. Presentation of any valid (and in some circumstances invalid) passport is evidence of your citizenship and thus suffices for entry.
However the UK is the only country that definitely knows the holder of both UK passports is actually the same person, as opposed to two people who happen to have the same details. So even if the UK had exit passport control, the immigration officer would not see any issue with whichever passport you used, whereas other countries may record passport numbers on their immigration systems which could lead to a data mismatch.
Furthermore as a British citizen you have the right to enter and remain in the UK. Presentation of any valid (and in some circumstances invalid) passport is evidence of your citizenship and thus suffices for entry.
Jan 8, 2019, 5:45 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 33
The UK does track who leaves the UK; they do it electronically rather than physically. Airlines, ferries, and train operators are required to capture passport data for each passenger and then provide this to the UK government.