Travel Question of the Day: Simon Calder on the advantages of having two UK passports

Q I heard you have two UK passports. Is it legal, and – if so - how do you get a second?

Name withheld

A Anyone who has legitimate reason to need a second UK passport can get one, though you will have to provide some proof of why you want it. The most common reason is for business travellers who frequently visit parts of the world that require visas. For example, it took me two weeks recently to get a visa for China, but I was able to make a trip to Europe using my other passport.

Alternatively, you might want a second passport because of evidence of your travel history. was thrown out of Honduras because of a Cuban stamp, was denied a visa for Lebanon because it was clear from a Jordanian entry stamp that I had visited Israel.

Ideally, though, a second passport from a different country is ideal – you may find that visas are not required, or are at any rate cheaper. And in parts of the world where the UK is not a favoured nation, being Irish/Australian/Greek can be a distinct advantage.

Every day, our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles readers' questions. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder