As a frequent global traveler, you might find yourself in a situation where you have several upcoming trips and at least one of them requires a mail-in visa. You’re worried that when you send in your passport for a visa, it might not be back in time for a different trip. With the advent of electronic visas for many countries, this is less of a problem than it used to be, but it can still be an issue. What’s the solution? For US citizens, you have the option to get a second passport. It’s not common knowledge, but it’s definitely possible.
You can apply for a second passport for two reasons:
- You have timing issues with upcoming trips and visa requirements.
- You are traveling to one country that might deny you a visa because your passport has a stamp or visa from another country (e.g. Israel and some middle eastern countries).
The U.S. State Department website describes the requirements and process very clearly. Basically, you need to start by proving you have a potential issue (such as showing your airline reservations for two different trips). In other words, you can’t do this because you might need it some day. You need to demonstrate a need.
Your second passport will be a normal full-fledged passport. (I used to have one.) The only difference is that it’s only good for 4 years. If you get a second passport, you’ll need to think about travel websites (like TSA precheck and airlines) that need your passport to make sure you have the right one for each trip.
If you fear a timing crunch with getting a visa, it’s nice to know this is an available option.
