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Passport Question - Dual US/German Citizen Traveling to Italy

Posted by on

Hello -

I am a dual US/German citizen and am a little confused as to which passport to show where for an upcoming trip to Europe. My trip starts in Italy but ends in Germany. Based on some Google research and past experience going between just the US and Germany, I was planning to show my German passport at airline check-in in the United States as well as at passport control to get into Italy and leave Germany while using the American passport at airline check-in on the way back into the States plus at passport control once I'm back home. Is that what other dual US/EU citizens would do when traveling to an EU country where they aren't a citizen? Will my German passport be stamped when entering Italy because I will be arriving from the United States? Or will I have to worry about the "dichiarazione di presenza" people arriving from Schengen countries have to fill out once I get to my hostel?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

Posted by
9268 posts

My daughter has dual citizenship. She takes both passports because they will ask where her residency permit is in her American passport (not needed because she is also German) or when she entered Europe.
It doesn't take any extra time. Just have both of them ready to show. You are supposed to use your American pass when leaving or entering the US, but you will still need to show your German pass. It is a lot easier than it sounds.
You won't get a stamp in your German passport when you go to Italy. Use your German passport while traveling in the EU.

Posted by
10711 posts

We're duals and use our US passports for both leaving the States and entering the EU. Once in a while we use our EU identification cards or passports to get into the EU lines if they are shorter, but we always have the border controller stamp our US passports at the airport of entry, no matter what, in order to be able to re-enter the US smoothly.

As Jo says, use the EU passport or ID card when traveling internally, by plane, for example. Or, I usually leave my US passport in the room and just carry my French ID card when out and about. Here in the States, I pack away my EU cards and carry my US license.

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