Advertisement

Travel news For Members

What are the passport rules for dual-nationals travelling between the UK and Norway?

The Local Norway
The Local Norway - [email protected]
What are the passport rules for dual-nationals travelling between the UK and Norway?
Here are the rules for travelling between the UK and Norway as a dual national following Brexit. Pictured is a stamped passport. Photo by ConvertKit on Unsplash

People who have more than one citizenship often hold multiple passports, so what are the rules when travelling between the UK and Norway? Here's what you should know.

Advertisement

For many readers of The Local, gaining citizenship of the country where they live helps them to feel more settled - but there are also travel benefits, including avoiding the long 'non EU' queue when coming back into Norway from a trip abroad.

But this week the problems associated with travelling while holding dual citizenship came to light, leaving many people wondering what they should know when they are entering different countries.

Put simply - which passport should you use? And do you have to carry both with you?

Advertisement

Financial Times journalist Chris Giles tweeted that the UK Border Force "detained" his dual-national daughter while she was travelling from France into the UK with her German passport - and not her British one. 

He went on to say that UK border guards released his daughter. According to Giles, the border staff said she should have had both passports with her "and asked why she was travelling on her German one".

Advertisement

 

The rules on dual-nationality have not changed, but now that the UK is not in the EU, there are strict rules on non-Brits who enter the country (and vice-versa) which has made it trickier for travel.

For instance, UK nationals receive a stamp in their passport when entering Schengen member states because they are only allowed to stay up to 90 days within an 180 period (unless they have a visa or residency card).

READ ALSO: Brexit: EU asks border police not to stamp passports of British residents 

People coming from the EEA to the UK can generally visit as a tourist for up to six months without a visa - but are not allowed to carry out any work while there.

So which passport should you show?

The first thing to be aware of is there are no specific rules on travelling with more than one passport. 

Travellers can choose to use whichever passport they prefer when going to a country. 

But one thing to note is that it's worth using the passport that is best suited to your destination when travelling there. Each country has its own set of immigration and visa rules that you'll need to research closely.

It could be that one passport is better suited for your trip - and you may be able to avoid visa requirements.  

Advertisement

In the case of the UK, many people are still getting to grips with the different rules that apply because it's not in the EU anymore.

A question submitted to the Secretary of State for the Home Department in September 2021 provided some insight into this issue. 

The question from Labour's Paul Blomfield asked what steps the UK government "is taking to enable dual UK and EU citizens to travel to the UK on an EU member state passport without having to further prove their UK citizenship?"

The Conservatives Kevin Foster said: "Border Force Officers examine all arriving passengers to establish whether they are British citizens, whether they require leave to enter or if they are exempt from immigration control.

"Where the passenger claims to be British, but does not hold any evidence of British citizenship, the officer will conduct all relevant checks to satisfy themselves the passenger is British.

"When dual nationals who are eligible to use e-gates travel to the UK, they will enter via the e-gates without being examined by an immigration officer.

"We recommend all dual nationals, including EU citizens, travel on their British passport or with evidence or their British citizenship to minimise any potential delay at the border or when commencing their journey."

The Local contacted the UK Home Office to ask if there was any official advice. 

A spokesman said: "An individual can present whichever passport they desire to enter the UK, however they will be subject to the entry requirements associated with the nationality of the passport they present."

Advertisement

They said anyone who is looking for more information should check out guidance on entering the UK and on dual nationality.

In short, if you present a Norwegian passport on entry to the UK you will be treated the same as any other Norwegian citizen - which can include being quizzed about your reasons for visiting the UK - as border guards have no way of knowing that you are a dual-national. 

Do I have to carry both passports?

There's no rule requiring you to have both passports, but you won't get the benefits of a British passport (entry into the UK without questions) if you don't show it.

Likewise if you are a Norwegian-British dual national and you enter Norway on your UK passport you may have your passport stamped.

Should I think about anything else?

An important thing to remember is that if you apply for a visa and register your passport details, the same passport has to be used to enter the country. 

It could also make sense to travel with both passports, just in case. 

However, note that some countries - like the US - require that US nationals use a US passport to enter and leave the States even if they are dual nationals. 

In general, it's best to use the same passport you entered a country with to depart.

The rules and systems are different depending on the country. But many countries require people to show their passport when leaving - and they will either stamp or scan the passport - this is how authorities know that a foreign visitor hasn't overstayed their time in the country. 

So if your passport is checked as you leave the UK, you should show the one you arrived with, just to ensure there is a record of you arriving and leaving.

However as you enter France/Germany/other EU destination, you can show your EU passport in order to maximise the travel benefits of freedom of movement.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

steven_454846 2022/09/01 18:32
You mentioned above that "The first thing to be aware of is there are no specific rules on travelling with more than one passport. Travellers can choose to use whichever passport they prefer when going to a country." However, many countries require you to enter with the passport of that country if you are a citizen of that country. E.g. from this official US government site: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html "U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States."
  • Emma Pearson 2022/09/02 08:26
    Hi Steven, yeah we mention the US rule further down in the article - but this is focusing on travel between the UK and EU for dual UK/EU nationals

See Also