A second passport is a travel tool, and like any tool it needs to be used properly. These tips are for everyday travel with two passports. The official sources of each part are listed at the end, checked on 24 October 2026.
One passport for each trip
- Use one passport to enter and leave each country. The passport you entered on is the one you leave on.
- Book the ticket with the same passport you will board and enter the destination with; the passport details are recorded in the airline booking.
- If a country has issued your visa in one passport, travel on that passport.
Which passport for which destination
- Before each trip, check the destination's entry rule for both passports and choose the easier one.
- Rules change. For example, in December 2024 the Council of the European Union ended the visa exemption for Vanuatu nationals.
- For the country of your original citizenship, you usually have to enter on that country's passport. Ask about that country's rule.
Europe: the EES and ETIAS
- Since 10 April 2026 the EES records the entries and exits of non-European nationals at all external Schengen borders. Your days of stay are counted automatically.
- ETIAS, the pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals, has not started yet. Once it starts, the authorisation is linked to the passport you applied with.
- The 90 days in any 180-day rule is for the whole Schengen area.
Validity
- Many countries require a passport with at least six months' validity; the UAE, for example, for a tourist visa.
- Put both passports' expiry dates in your calendar and start renewal early.
- The Dominica passport is valid for up to ten years for adults and five years for children under 16.
Family
- When travelling with children, check each child's passport separately; children's passports are usually valid for less time.
- If one parent is not travelling, some countries ask for the other parent's written consent.
Keeping documents safe
- Keep copies and scans of both passports separately.
- If a passport is lost or stolen, report it at once to the local police and ask the issuing authority or that country's mission what to do.
This article is general information and not legal advice. Decisions on entry always rest with the border officers.
Sources
- European Commission, main differences between the EES and ETIAS — https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/main-differences-between-ees-and-etias-what-travellers-need-know-2026-04-28_en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Council of the European Union, "Vanuatu: Council ends visa exemption" (12 December 2024) — https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/12/12/vanuatu-council-ends-visa-exemption/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- CBIU Dominica, FAQ (passport validity) — https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/faqs/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- GDRFA Dubai, issuance of a single-entry tourist visa (six months' passport validity) — https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/f9e586fe-0642-11ec-0320-0050569629e8 (checked on 24 October 2026)