New Aussie exposes what changed when he finally got his Australain passport and how he was treated better: ‘Same man, different treatment’
Australian Kenyan-born citizen Tom Shiyoya says he was treated very differently at airports after replacing his Kenyan passport with an Australian one. His account highlights how passport nationality can affect travellers’ access and the scrutiny they face.
Shiyoya recalled spending almost six hours undergoing checks, scans and questioning on arrival in Dubai with his Kenyan passport; he said a later visit with his Australian passport was much quicker. He described feeling proud of his Kenyan roots and grateful for the opportunities Australian citizenship brings. Other travellers online shared similar experiences, including people with dual citizenship.
- Tom Shiyoya says airport treatment changed with his passport.
- He spent nearly six hours clearing immigration in Dubai.
- Other dual citizens described similar experiences.
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Passports show which country a traveller is travelling under and can affect visa requirements, border checks and how quickly they pass through an airport. Travellers may face different procedures depending on their nationality and the destination.
Tom Shiyoya was born in Kenya and later became an Australian citizen, so he has ties to both countries. His account compares his experience travelling to Dubai with a Kenyan passport and later with an Australian one.
The comparison has prompted discussion about how nationality can shape travel experiences, including the checks people face. Shiyoya says he remains proud of his Kenyan roots while valuing the opportunities Australian citizenship brings.