bcworld

Yes it is true - they advise that you leave and enter Australia using your Australian passport however there is no rule which says you have to. Leaving without an Aussie passport would definitely be simpler than arrving without one though, hence what I said above about needing one to get back in.

canadaeh

I think there is general a rule:

As an Australian citizen you must always leave and enter Australia on an Australian passport.

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/current/travel/

So I think it’s expected that you follow it, you can usually get through without it, but think that’s designed more for people who have an emergency/lost passport, anyone else will just look like a fool and have to wait a while.

I don't understand why someone wouldnt get the passport anyway, it doesnt cost that much... not as much as the UK one anyway!

bcworld

Whereas smarttraveller.gov.au says:

Australian citizens who are dual nationals are advised to leave and return to Australia on their Australian passport.

...good example of joined up govt there!

I have an Aussie friend dual national who lives in the UK...he seems to have a thing for winding up customs officers by presenting the wrong passport...sometimes they give him a hard time sometimes not...never been unable to travel though.

Pomster

When we became citizens, I was due to go overseas for work about 2 weeks later. Panicky call to DIMIA & they told me that I would probably be refused to board the flight for Aus (depending on carrier and their perceived risk of fines for carrying passenger without entry docs)- even if I could show former visa.
DIMIA said that the systems would show visa in my UK paasport as expired and therefore not valid.....so easier to get second passport.

iolande

I wonder what would happen if you carried a British passport and an Australian citizenship certificate

As I've always understood it - International law (convention?) says that a country must be responsible for their own citizens and can't deny them entry - so just not having an Australian passport at the border wouldn't be enough for them to turn you away. Perhaps I am wrong. Can someone enlighten me?

On the other hand, you may end up in a detention centre in the middle of the desert with all the other illegals whilst they determine your case . . .

bcworld

It's already been covered above.

You can enter without an Australian passport providing immigration can be satisfied that you are an Australian citizen...this may take some time so you are likely to be inconvenienced at worst.

What is a more likely scenario is that the airline (or whatever mode of transport) may deny you boarding for the journey to Australia if they are not happy that you are an Aus citizen or hold a valid visa.

flair002

how much does an aussie passport cost by the way....???? is it so much so expensive that we take all this hassle.. i am just a PR but anxiously wanna know the price :-)

canadaeh

Child: $104
Adult: $208

https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/Queries/Fees.aspx

comet555

So for us, a family of 2 adult and 2 kids it'll cost $624. That's a decent amount to fork out at once. The upside is that they're good for 10 years (in Canada it's only 5, although they're cheaper). We're doing our application next week so I'm well aware of the cost!

Plus you've got to factor in the citizenship application which was $260 per adult, so $520 for that. We paid ours in June so at least they're spaced out a bit!

iolande

What I was getting at is what the position of a country is regarding their own citizens is as far as allowing/denying entry under international law. Just a curious thought I had.

paularn

I'm finding this thread interesting and informative....thanks!

I'm a Canadian who became an Australian citizen in June. I did not realize that my current PR visa would become invalid.

Guess I better get my Aussie passport.

comet555

Us too! We did our Ceremony is Sept, so we've been filling out the forms this week.

Welcome to BE by the way! There are a few of us Canadians on here

luchi

Generally great responses..thanks. ...we still have valid UK passports and not sure when we will be returning to Oz...sick mum in UK..could be a year or two..hence thinking about travelling in UK passport and when we return get Oz passport in UK before leave - as will have no visa in UK passport any more .....save money too!! Another bubs on the way..so looking after the money!!

But glad and lucky and be an Aussie Citizen....so good luck to you all out there going on the same journey..its worth it!!

PoppetUK

We are in a similar situation.

We may have to travel back to the UK. Family of 5. I was under the impression from a couple of folks that it's much better also for govt agencies in both countries to enter on the correct passports.

For example if we end up living back in the UK for a period and enter on Australian passports we then have to go through the hassle of showing how we entered as "British citizens".

My daughters UK passport is just about to expire so she'd need a new UK one. Bub number 3 needs his first passport. So I am not sure now if I will need to get 5 Australian and 2 British ones. All I can think about is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ either way. With a bad winter for work and and new bub and the baby bonus about to finish I don't like to part with the money - I could do with the house selling so I can finance the passports!

louie

This article may be relevant to some of you. Not sure when this is supposed to be coming in - the article was in the paper in April or May 2009.