Flying to Germany from USA as Dual Citizen, passport use?

score:6

Accepted answer

I think you have the basics right. In your case, both passports could let you enter Germany but the US also has a rule that US citizens must use their US passport to enter the country (I think European countries, including Germany, are much less concerned about that).

Since the US uses airline data to replace exit immigration and checks passenger manifests (APIS) of incoming aircraft, I would guess that using your US passport to book the ticket might be required to avoid problems.

You can always show both passports to the airline staff (although they might not even ask for it as US citizens don't need visas to enter Germany) and use your German passport for the German passport check (although I am not even sure that using the local passport is required there), even if the ticket was booked on the US passport.

Finally, under EU law, relatives (spouse and dependents under the age of 21) who are not EU citizens should only undergo a ‘minimum check’ (i.e. checking the validity of their documents and establishing their identity but not asking questions about purpose, financial means, etc. see article 7 of the Schengen Borders Code) and can use the EU/EEC citizens lane (article 9) if they are travelling with you. But since you are travelling to your country of citizenship (and not to another EU country), you are not formally exercising your rights to free movement within the EU and the rules could theoretically be different.

Upvote:2

Here is what I found works best

  1. Book flights with US passports. US is very picky, Germany is not
  2. Check in with US passport (both sides)
  3. Exit and enter the US with US passport (you MUST do this, it's a legal requirement)
  4. In Germany use whatever immigration line is shorter :-)

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