The European Union's new Entry and Exit System (EES) has changed the way travelers cross borders. For those with dual citizenship or traveling with family members of different nationalities, the procedure requires attention to avoid queues and bureaucracy.
Which passport to use
If you have an Italian passport or a passport from any other European Union country, always use it to enter Italy or Portugal. The EES system does not apply to citizens of the EU or the Schengen Area. By presenting your European passport, you can use the EU citizens' queue and are exempt from further biometric data collection.
Rules for US and UK citizens
American citizens with dual nationality should use their US passport only to enter and leave US territory. For the remainder of the trip, the use of an Italian passport is legal and recommended. The United Kingdom follows the same rule: British nationals with European citizenship They must use their EU passport at the Italian border.
Practical travel procedure
The recommendation is to carry both documents throughout the journey. When leaving your country of origin (Brazil, for example), present your local passport. Upon arrival in Italy, present your national passport. Italian passportIt is not necessary to show both documents to border officials unless specifically requested.
An important point to note for those leaving Brazil: if the traveler chooses to use their Italian passport for check-in and departure from Brazilian territory, it is mandatory to also present the original identity card (RG).
Couples and family members with different passports
Family members who only have Italian residency but not EU citizenship are exempt from the EES fee. However, they must prove this status with original residency documents. These passengers cannot use the automatic gates and must go to the manual service counters.
Queues and airports
In practice, couples in different immigration situations may have to use different queues. Although the Schengen Borders Code suggests that family members of Europeans can use the EU queue, its application varies at each Italian airport. Be prepared to follow specific instructions from ground staff at each arrival location.
