# Would you exchange your passport for one from another country? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262 "2021-03-19T22:41:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/41 "2021-03-21T20:58:18Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > Are you allowed to go to Iceland and ask for a passport, if you’re not an Icelander? I would do that if I could - except… [https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/iceland-volcano-erupts-after-weeks-of-se-idUSRTXAN746](https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/iceland-volcano-erupts-after-weeks-of-se-idUSRTXAN746) ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/42 "2021-03-21T21:23:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I doubt they can even tell someone is Canadian but instead just assume they’re American. My sister and brother-in-law make sure they say “eh” often, show the maple leaf on luggage, wear a maple-leaf shirt, and carry some Canadian currency (except here in the US). But you’re right, it’s difficult to tell Canadians and Americans apart by the way they talk, even for native English speakers. > **[Flag of Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Canada#/media/File:Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg)** > > The National Flag of Canada (French: Drapeau national du Canada), often simply referred to as the Canadian flag or, unofficially, as the maple leaf flag or l'Unifolié (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}French: \[l‿ynifɔlje\]; lit. 'the one-leafed'), consists of a red field with a white square at its centre in the ratio of 1∶2∶1, in w... ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/43 "2021-03-21T21:32:29Z")
And the OP, despite returning to the thread, has still not specified whther he wanted to talk about exchanging citizenship and all that entails, or simply which passport would be best / most versatile for travel. > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > I’ve collected the documents necessary to prove my grandfather was Scottish, just in case Scotland becomes independent and re-joins the EU (though it may never happen, or not in my lifetime). Please explain a bit more about this idea that the citizenship or ethnicity of one’s grandfather confers some rights to Scottish or other UK or EU citizenship or passport. I might advantageously fit into a similar cubbyhole in those regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/44 "2021-03-21T21:36:07Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > I doubt they can even tell someone is Canadian but instead just assume they’re American. > > My sister and brother-in-law make sure they say “eh” often, show the maple leaf on luggage, wear a maple-leaf shirt, and carry some Canadian currency (except here in the US). But you’re right, it’s difficult to tell Canadians and Americans apart by the way they talk, even for native English speakers. You do know that there’s nothing to stop you from adding a bunch of ehs to your speech, putting a maple leaf on your luggage and asking the waiter if they have poutine? ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/45 "2021-03-21T21:36:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > And the OP, despite returning to the thread, has still not specified whther he wanted to talk about exchanging citizenship and all that entails, or simply which passport would be best / most versatile for travel. Mostly the former. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/46 "2021-03-21T21:39:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You do know that there’s nothing to stop you from adding a bunch of ehs to your speech, putting a maple leaf on your luggage and asking the waiter if they have poutine? You don’t think I haven’t tried this? On the other hand, I’ve tipped in US currency in Canada, especially for drinks at a bar, and the bartenders don’t seem to mind. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/47 "2021-03-21T22:10:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’d consider trading for German, Netherlands, Danish, Irish, Icelandic, probably other EU nations All you all know Iceland is not part of the EU, right? > [@Kimera757](#): > > Are you allowed to go to Iceland and ask for a passport, if you’re not an Icelander? Why would a random foreigner be eligible for Icelandic citizenship? You want to be Icelandic, you have to reside there for about 7 years first. As far as the original question goes, how about a UN diplomatic passport? What’s better, sitting at home watching TV and drinking beer, or volunteering for the World Food Programme? ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/48 "2021-03-21T22:19:59Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > What’s better, sitting at home watching TV and drinking beer, or volunteering for the World Food Programme? What’s better is me sitting in front of my wood stove, drinking beer, reading SD posts, and asking how I can volunteer for the World Food Programme. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/49 "2021-03-21T22:37:05Z")
Heh. Some people know someone who knows someone in the organization and are pulled into it that way. You can also see what kinds of things people are doing on sites like [https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings](https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings) > **[United Nations Volunteers programme](https://www.unv.org/)** > > The United Nations Volunteers programme is a United Nations organization that open volunteer opportunities and mobilize volunteers in 150 countries [http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html](http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html) [http://aidjobs.org/](http://aidjobs.org/) ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/50 "2021-03-21T22:55:31Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Heh. Some people know someone who knows someone in the organization and are pulled into it that way. Not sure what you meant by that. I already have a job. I was hoping for more info on the World Food Program. The [unv.org](http://unv.org) link didn’t help much. Nobody should go hungry. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/51 "2021-03-21T23:10:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > asking the waiter if they have poutine? Poutine is awesome, once, especially with Bandon cheese curds. Poutine is originally from Quebec. Asking for poutine in western Canada might not necessarily be a good idea; some see it as a parody of Canadian cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/52 "2021-03-21T23:21:51Z")
I was thinking you’d be asking Parisian waitpeople for poutine, to prove your essential Canadianness. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/53 "2021-03-21T23:25:33Z")
Ok that made me tear-up. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/54 "2021-03-21T23:37:33Z")
I meant, if your buddy is already an aid or relief worker then you are that much more likely to hear about and apply for positions that could use your experience and skills. If they have no idea who you are, it’s not that clear they will get you up to speed and useful, etc. if you are just going to go home after a couple of weeks. The first link was actually the WFP career page. Here is the specific link re. volunteering: > **[Volunteers | World Food Programme](https://www.wfp.org/careers/volunteers)** > > Volunteer with WFP and help us achieve Zero Hunger Volunteering with the World Food Programme (WFP) means helping millions of people around the world. Our volunteers make a difference every day, contributing their expertise and experience to add... Obviously people volunteer from everything from 2-3 weeks to taking up aid work as a full-time career. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/55 "2021-03-22T00:07:31Z")
Also, ( I know someone with a UN passport), they don’t issue UN passports to volunteers. You have to work with them a long time and in a major capacity to get one! (AND you may be surprised to learn they DO NOT have a nationality/ethnicity listed, for the bearer!) ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/56 "2021-03-22T00:08:50Z")
I have two anyway, USA and UK. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/57 "2021-03-22T06:08:52Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Please explain a bit more about this idea that the citizenship or ethnicity of one’s grandfather confers some rights to Scottish or other UK or EU citizenship or passport. I’m working on the assumption that, if there were to be an independent Scotland, it would adopt the principle that one grandparent born in Scotland is a basis for an application for citizenship, which I believe is currently the position in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. But I may be wrong and you’ll need to do your own research. > I was thinking you’d be asking Parisian waitpeople for poutine, to prove your essential Canadianness. Almost any French person would think that was opening a discussion about Russian politics. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2021, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/58 "2021-03-22T16:11:39Z")
I would trade my Australian nationality for U.S.A nationality right now without a second thought. In an era of global unrest (wars?) I might trade for a N.Z nationality. I could trade for Canadian nationality in a pinch, but not sure how I would handle the winters. The final outsider would be Mexico because Spanish wouldn’t be too hard to learn, it’s 85% gestures anyway. That’s probably it, I think. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/59 "2021-03-23T02:42:38Z")
**Would you exchange your passport for one from another country?** Ummm, okay… but why? Do you have the chance to do it? Does anyone here? Why are you asking this? I could rely on my heritage and get a Swiss passport\*… without giving up my American one. So no “exchanging” would happen. \*I don’t really have a good reason to, though. Although the cover’s a big plus… [![](https://www.swisscommunity.org/fileadmin/_migrated/news_uploads/46372_07.jpg) ](https://www.swisscommunity.org/fileadmin/_migrated/news_uploads/46372_07.jpg) eta: Ok, went back and reread everything. So the OP did come back and say their question was “mostly” NOT about passports, but about giving up your nationality and taking on another one. Which is rarely a possibility. So, OP, are you really asking if we’d give up our citizenship? ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262/60 "2021-03-23T02:49:16Z")
> [@digs](#): > > So, OP, are you really asking if we’d give up our citizenship? Yes, mostly. I was also interested in which passports allow the least restrictions on travel. Yeah, the Swiss passport has a cool cover. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-exchange-your-passport-for-one-from-another-country/938262.md?page=4)