Traveling to America with dual U.S./Japanese national child

My son has US and Japanese passports, and his US passport has my last name while his Japanese passport has my wife’s. We’re planning to travel back to the US in September, but I’m not sure which passport to use to book his tickets. If I use his Japanese passport, will he need ESTA (visa) to get into the U.S.? If I use his American passport, will that cause any issues when leaving Japan? Also, which passport should I present to authorities both here, and in the US? Or should I always just show both?

5 comments
  1. Hi! When you leave Japan use the child’s Japanese passport at check-in and immigration. They both need to verify that the child doesn’t need ESTA. When you arrive in the US use the child’s US passport. When you leave the US, use the child’s Japanese passport at check-in. You can use either US or Japanese passport to get through security checkpoints. When you arrive in Japan, use the Japanese passport at immigration.

  2. It’s illegal for a US citizen to enter the United States as anything but a US citizen. Same for Japan.

    You use the US passport when you enter the US and the Japanese passport when you enter Japan. If they ask about visa stamps, you tell the immigration official that the child has dual citizenship and two passports. They may ask to see it, usually not.

    Three kids, all adults now. All still have dual citizenship, and go back and forth all the time.

  3. Book tickets to US with US passport.

    At airport check in, show US passport.

    At security gate before Xray and metal detectors, show US passport and ticket if they ask for it.

    At the border control, those guys behind large square booths, show JP passport. They don’t ask to see the ticket so they won’t know or even care the names don’t match. No need to show or mention US passport.

    In the USA show US passport for getting in and out.

    Upon returning to Japan, show JP passport.

  4. FYI next time you get the Japanese issued you can request to add your name. It will appear as TANAKA (SMITH)

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