How do I (legitimately) hold two passports?

December 6, 2006 9:56 PM

Israeli-stamp-on-my-passport-filter: Is there any way in Canada to legitimately (or illegitimately) hold two passports for the purpose of traveling between countries without diplomatic relations?

I'll be going back to the Middle East this May, and I'm looking to travel as hassle-free as possible. Practically, that means having a clean passport - I'll be applying for a new one, and I'll have it before I leave. But I'd like to get to Israel also, and I know that they'll give me a hard time if I have nothing but Egyptian, Lebanese, Jordanian, and Syrian stamps.

So how do I do this? There must be other people in my situation - journalists, etc. - who don't have access to diplomatic passports but still travel across borders regularly. Is the only alternative just asking nicely each time for the border person not to stamp me? This is just asking for trouble at the Israeli crossings.

Remember, we're dealing with Canadian passport rules here.

Thanks for the help, international Me-Fites.

posted by awenner to travel & transportation (17 comments total)

If you explain your situation at the border in Israel, you can request that they not stamp your passport. Typically, they will pull you aside and ask you a few questions, but it's a fairly common request for people looking to travel around in the Middle East.
posted by limon at 10:11 PM on December 6, 2006

I expect to ask them not to stamp my passport, but that can lead to 8-hour stays in waiting rooms that can be quite ... invasive. It's happened to my friends, and I'd like to avoid it.
posted by awenner at 10:14 PM on December 6, 2006

Could you perhaps "lose" your passport and have it replaced by your embassy in Tel Aviv? I'm not sure how difficult -- or expensive -- it would be.
posted by nathan_teske at 10:22 PM on December 6, 2006

The few times I have crossed a border in Israel (very obviously on pure tourist trip), the guards on both sides put my stamps on separate slips of paper, not on the passport pages. I didn't even ask. This was in Aug 2000 and before, though, so things are probably different now, but just offering a data point. They may expect to be asked, at certain crossings. Check up-to-date editions of tourist books (eg Lonely Planet) to see if they mention some crossings being more understanding about this than others.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:29 PM on December 6, 2006

I was in Israel this summer and asked not to have my passport stamped (twice; I left Israel for Jordan, then crossed the border back), and had nearly no trouble. One ornery customs guard made me wait for half an hour on my way back from Jordan, but for no apparent reason that I could see. The no-stamp thing is routine, though it could be that I had an easier time because I have an extremely Jewish name.
posted by soviet sleepover at 10:38 PM on December 6, 2006

Nathan: I'm currently in Canada, and there's no reason to "lose" my passport - I can apply for a new one, and even if I lost the old one it would be immediately invalidated.

As for border hassles, it's different having stamps from countries that don't recognize Israel. Israel is a lot less inclined to be nice to touristy folks if they're arriving by way of Syria.

In my case, I'll most likely be writing for a newspaper, which doesn't grant any special privileges, and on the contrary might make me look particularly suspicious. I won't be in Israel long enough for them to issue me a press pass.

My question is about the feasibility of holding two passports, and what people in similar situations have done.
posted by awenner at 11:11 PM on December 6, 2006

awenner: You can probably have multiple passports issued that are simultaneously valid. I have known people with multiple Dutch passports for precisely this reason. You should contact whoever handles passports in Canada.
posted by atrazine at 11:16 PM on December 6, 2006

According to Wikipedia, The UK & The US will also issue multiple passports if you can explain why you need them, but I can't find anything online about Canada.
posted by atrazine at 11:22 PM on December 6, 2006

I have several European friends with multiple passports for precisely this purpose. Check with your consulate and explain the situation and they should accommodate you.

FYI: having stamps from Egypt or Jordan will not be a problem when you enter Israel, nor will your Israeli stamps cause problems when you go the other way. Tourist traffic between the countries is frequent and (fairly) normalized. Syria and Lebanon might get you pulled aside at Israeli customs, but again, I know people who've traveled from those countries without difficulty. Having Israeli stamps in Syria and Lebanon, though...that's probably another story altogether.

Good luck.
posted by felix betachat at 11:49 PM on December 6, 2006

awenner - I meant 'lose' it while in Israel, assuming that's the last stop on your trip.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:00 AM on December 7, 2006

what felix said
posted by matteo at 3:31 AM on December 7, 2006

I can think of a moment when you would most certainly not want multiple passports. That is the moment you appear suspicious enough to trigger a search of all your stuff.

I was searched in Russia in 1995 and it was the most miserable part of my travel experience. I know nothing about the privacy afforded in full searches at Israeli borders, but let me tell you that the guards in Russia pulled everything out of my bag, unfolded everything, dumped it on the floor, opened containers, music, my coin purse. And they asked a lot of questions that made me so glad for translation.

I was 13, traveling with a group of 13 year olds and a handful of chaperones. All American. Thankfully, I had nothing to hide.

If you do go through with getting an additional passport, have a rock solid plan for what you do when Israel - or Syria - finds your "spare." Especially these days, they're likely to instantly be more suspicious than if they'd just seen a stamp.
posted by bilabial at 4:24 AM on December 7, 2006

Oh, and don't forget about the random border searches based on, well, nothing.
posted by bilabial at 4:25 AM on December 7, 2006

If you were born somewhere other than Canada you might be able to legitimately get passports from that country as well. I hear that some people living in the US but born in Italy, or perhaps even with parents who were born in Italy, have Italian passports as well. However, I am not sure of my sources.
posted by caddis at 4:58 AM on December 7, 2006

I have read in a brochure at the Canadian passport office that it is possible to hold two Canadian passports in certain circumstances. The brochure didn't explain what the circumstances were.

If you explain your situation at the border in Israel, you can request that they not stamp your passport.

My brother made this request and was denied.

If you were born somewhere other than Canada you might be able to legitimately get passports from that country as well.

Be aware that the passport you use when entering the country is the only citizenship which that country has to recognize. e.g. If you enter with an Italian passport and find yourself in trouble with the law, you can be denied consular access to the Canadian consulate/embassy (but not the Italian)
posted by winston at 7:08 AM on December 7, 2006

Seems like some folks are answering the more common question (how do I get into Arab countries with an Israeli stamp on my passport?) instead of the question you actually asked (how do I get into Israel with stamps from Arab countries on my passport?).

The reason that people are answering the first question is that some countries (e.g. Lebanon) will not let you in with an Israeli stamp...which is why Israel is willing to stamp a separate piece of paper instead of your passport. Israel, on the other hand, does not bar people on the basis of passport stamps or travel records.

In other words...what felix betachat said.
posted by equipoise at 9:46 AM on December 7, 2006

Saying that you lost the passport is pretty much the absolute worst possible thing to do. (Just think of what security measures are implemented in this post 9/11 world to prevent terrorism).

Passport Canada will issue a 2nd passport for travel in Arab countries when you have an Israel stamp or vice versa.
posted by newatom at 9:47 PM on December 7, 2006