Traveling as a dual citizen

[akuno_hime_1412]

Hello,

I have obtained my Finnish citizenship and passport not long ago and was going to travel for the first time in many years. I have a question regarding which passport should be used when traveling?

For example if I’m traveling to my non-EU country at birth, I should show my Finnish passport at border control in Finland when I’m exiting, but which passport should I use to book ticket with and show at check-in counter? Should it still be the Finnish one or the one that grant me the right to entry, e.g. my home country passport?

Thank you in advance.

[betelgeuse]

Hello,

I have obtained my Finnish citizenship and passport not long ago and was going to travel for the first time in many years. I have a question regarding which passport should be used when traveling?

For example if I’m traveling to my non-EU country at birth, I should show my Finnish passport at border control in Finland when I’m exiting, but which passport should I use to book ticket with and show at check-in counter? Should it still be the Finnish one or the one that grant me the right to entry, e.g. my home country passport?

Often no passport information is needed to create the booking. At check-in you should give the passport based on the destination country.

[akuno_hime_1412]

Thank you betelgeuse,

I booked the ticket without specifying my passport number. As I’m trying to do the online check-in, the airline asked for passport info such as number, issuing authority, expiry date etc, so I’m confused if i put my non-Finnish passport number there and proceed to border control with a Finnish passport to exit, will it create a discrepancy anyhow. I have always travel with only one passport so this has gotten a bit confusing

[betelgeuse]

I booked the ticket without specifying my passport number. As I’m trying to do the online check-in, the airline asked for passport info such as number, issuing authority, expiry date etc, so I’m confused if i put my non-Finnish passport number there and proceed to border control with a Finnish passport to exit, will it create a discrepancy anyhow. I have always travel with only one passport so this has gotten a bit confusing

Dual citizens are a regular occurance for border control. In Finland you can just use the machines and they will let a Finnish passport holder through.

[choxobooze]

Hello,

I have obtained my Finnish citizenship and passport not long ago and was going to travel for the first time in many years. I have a question regarding which passport should be used when traveling?

For example if I’m traveling to my non-EU country at birth, I should show my Finnish passport at border control in Finland when I’m exiting, but which passport should I use to book ticket with and show at check-in counter? Should it still be the Finnish one or the one that grant me the right to entry, e.g. my home country passport?

Thank you in advance.

You should also check if you have still retained your original citizenship, because often (not all countries I think?) when they get naturalized or get a new citizenship , their old citizenship gets revoked automatically.

[victoragb]

I am looking for a family trip to Finland. Can someone help me with some suggestions and advice!

[betelgeuse]

You should use your Finnish passport when booking your ticket and at the check-in counter. It keeps things simple and ensures all your travel documents match. When you arrive in your non-EU country, switch to your home country passport for entry.
Using the Finnish passport for travel and check-in helps avoid confusion and potential airline issues. But always carry both passports with you, just in case.

This does not work, for example, when travelling to the United States. As a dual citizen of the United States one does not use ESTA to enter. Thus one needs to present the US passport in order to check-in. There's no catch all rule.

[riku2]

As a dual citizen of the United States one does not use ESTA to enter.

A similar scheme to ESTA will soon apply when entering Schengen (ETIAS) and entering the UK (ETA). So a dual british/finnish citizen would be best to use the UK passport to enter the UK and Finnish passport to enter Finland. You will probably be denied boarding if you try otherwise (eg a Finnish passport at the checkin desk / online check in to enter the UK and you haven't paid for an ETA).

[browndude]

I use the Finnish passport to travel to most places and have only use the non-EU passport only if necessary. I do carry both passports most of the time and if asked, declare that I am a dual citizen. As someone else said, if you have a US passport then you are by law required to use it to enter the US.