Traveling to Spain from the US with Irish and US passports [duplicate]
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My daughter is traveling to Spain from the US. She wants to stay longer than 90 days. She holds passports for both Ireland and the US. Which passport should she use to book her flight? It appears that she needs to use her Irish passport for the flight but her US passport for leaving and entering the US.
Best Answer
It doesn't matter from a legal perspective which passport she uses to book her flight. The main concern is practical: what strategy will cause the least hassle? Unfortunately, the answer to that may depend on the airline in question; I've found that different airlines have slightly different assumptions and requirements built into their systems.
I would provide the airline with the Irish passport details and let them think of her as an Irish citizen until she checks in for the flight to the US, for which she will need to use her US passport. If at any point the airline asks about her immigration status in the US, though, she should say she's a US citizen and show her US passport if asked.
I've used this strategy with a few EU-based airlines, and they've never asked about my US immigration status on departure, so I've never had to show my US passport before checking in for my return flight. I have seen indications that some airlines might ask about this, though, so she should be prepared.
To the Spanish border authorities, or indeed any EU border authorities, she should show her Irish passport.
To US CBP officers, she should show her US passport.
When she flies out of the US, it is not necessary for her to use her US passport at the TSA security checkpoint. She can show her Irish passport or even a US driver's license.
There's nothing illegal or improper about holding both passports, so she should not worry about showing the "wrong" one at any point. If she does, she can simply show the right one to remedy the situation.
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Can you travel with a copy of your passport?
Can you use a photocopy of a passport to travel? No, a photocopy is not the same as a passport, and therefore is not a valid travel document. You will not be allowed to travel using a photocopy to anywhere that requires a valid U.S. passport.What happens if you lose your passport in a foreign country?
What Should a U.S. Citizen Do if his/her Passport is Lost or Stolen Abroad? You will have to replace the passport before returning to the United States. Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. Contact information for U.S. embassies and consulates is also available in our country information pages.Can I travel to Spain with an expired U.S. passport?
Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. You must have sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.How long do you need on your passport to travel to Spain from Ireland?
The passport will always need to be valid three months beyond the expected stay in the country. Before booking a trip, not just to Spain but to any country within the Schengen Area, it is a good idea to check the passport validity.Traveling with two passports - I almost got arrested | Jure Sanguinis Italian Dual Citizenship
More answers regarding traveling to Spain from the US with Irish and US passports [duplicate]
Answer 2
Showing only the US passport to EU border officials can create an appearance of overstay if she gets an entry stamp without matching exit stamp within 90 days. She cannot actually overstay, no matter what passport she showed, as long as she is an EU citizen.
This appearance might matter to third countries which look at her passport during subsequent visa applications, but those applications would presumably mention her Irish citizenship.
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