Travelling abroad on a different passport

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hello,

I have dual nationality (both non-EU) and a B Permit. The passport I normally show at the Swiss border on entry/exit is in the process of being renewed. If I want to fly to a non-Schengen country on the other passport, is this going to cause issues at the Swiss border? I'm worried there could be an issue with my passport not matching the nationality shown on the permit. Is there someone I could contact to check?

Thanks in advance!

2
I have never shown my permit at the border, it is not a travel document.

3
I thought the point of a non-EU showing the permit at exit and entry to CH was to prove that the individual had not overstayed the Shengen visitor time allowance?

I always showed my permit with my passport. I traveled abroad whilst the C permit was being processed. When I arrived home, the border police kicked up quite a fuss because the B had expired and I didn't have the C with me. They could see in the computer that the C had been issued during my time abroad, but they still wanted to be jerks about it and even said they didn't have to let me into the country.

If OP only shows a passport, and it wasn't even the one he/she entered on, how does that work?

4
You are supposed to, important if you are non-EU.

5
It’s only the Schengen border. Not intra-Schengen.

6
In the day the Gemeinde stamped my passport when I registered so I could just show that, maybe they do not do that anymore?

7
Yes, that will cause a problem if you attempt to cross the external Schengen border in Switzerland or anywhere else.

I'm in the same boat (two non-EU nationalities), I'm currently giving up the one that I was living in CH until now so I had to change it in the permit and anywhere else.

There was no shortage of Migrationsamt people telling me at every step that it's very important at the border that the nationalities in the passport and in the permit match.

Which kind of sucks in your case because they cannot even stamp a D visa in your other passport, because in their system you're not living in Switzerland with that other nationality. You can apply to change it but it takes about a month and a half at least (data point from Kt. Zurich, Jan-Feb 2023).

8
Hi,

I have tried it many times and nothing happened, even tried it while leaving from Austria, and Poland. And it was absolutely fine.

Even once here while leaving from Zurich, the passport officer kept looking at my passport picture and was sceptical because it was kinda dark and unclear. So I gave her my other passport and she scanned both and it was kinda funny and it also went really fine.

Based on my knowledge, Schengen residency is linked to you personally, regardless of your nationality.

Please bear in mind that I have a a C-Permit, I am not sure that it would be different with a B or an L. I also asked twice at the passport control here in Zurich and they said it doesn't matter because you have a C. So maybe check with your permit.

9
So interestingly I've received two opposite answers:

I called the Migrationsamt and they said the passport has to match the B Permit otherwise I won't be allowed to travel. Then I spoke to information office for customs regulations and they said the B permit is tied to a person not a nationality and therefore it's fine to travel on the other passport.

Not sure what to believe now!

10
I’d believe immigration.

Do you have a photocopy of your other passport you could have with you? Does your other nationality require a visa to enter Schengen?

11
Yes I've got a photocopy, maybe that would help. And I don't need a visa for Schengen on either passport.

12
Then you’ll be fine. If immigration question the mis-match in nationality, show them the photocopy and explain it’s being renewed.