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I am a dual South African / US citizen, living in the US.

I want to travel to Brazil but avoid having to get a visa as I would have to do as a US citizen. As a South African, a visa is not required.

Can I leave the US on my US passport (which is required by law) and then enter Brazil on my South African passport?

I imagine the steps would be as follows:

  • Check in to the flight using my SA passport (possibly having to show the airline my US passport as well to prove they won't have to fly me back).
  • Go through passport control with my US passport
  • Enter Brazil on my South African passport
  • Leave Brazil on my South African passport (while showing the airline the US passport to prove they won't have to fly me back)
  • Enter the US on my US passport.

Should I expect to encounter any problems if I do this?

user20388
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1 Answers1

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Yes, I have done this twice for the same reason (but with an Israeli passport).

  1. Check into the flight with your SA passport
  2. There is no passport control on the way out of the US
  3. Enter Brazil on your SA passport
  4. Check into the return flight showing your US passport
  5. Exit Brazil on your SA passport
  6. Enter the US on your US passport

Sometimes the airline will ask to see your second passport. This is not a problem; they deal with dual-nationals all the time.

Joel Spolsky
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