A passport stamp is an inked impression in a
passport
A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the perso ...
typically made by rubber stamp upon entering or exiting a territory.
Passport stamps may occasionally take the form of sticker stamps, such as entry stamps from
Japan. Depending on nationality, a visitor may not receive a stamp at all (unless specifically requested), such as an
EU or
EFTA
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The organization operates in parallel with the European U ...
citizen travelling to an
EU or EFTA country,
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the ...
,
[https://www.parlament.al/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ligj-71.pdf ] or
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
.
[http://www.mvr.gov.mk/Upload/Documents/ZAKON%20ZA%20GRANI%5ENA%20KONTROLA.pdf ] Most countries issue exit stamps in addition to entry stamps. A few countries issue only entry stamps, including
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...
,
El Salvador
El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
, the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
.
Argentina,
Australia,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
,
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
,
Macau
Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...
,
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
and
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
do not stamp passports upon entry nor exit. These countries or regions issue landing slips instead, with the exception of Australia who do not issue any form of physical evidence of entry. Argentina and Singapore sends digital entry receipts containing conditions of entry via email.
Visas
Visa most commonly refers to:
* Visa Inc., a US multinational financial and payment cards company
** Visa Debit card issued by the above company
** Visa Electron, a debit card
** Visa Plus, an interbank network
*Travel visa, a document that allo ...
may also take the form of passport stamps.
Because there is no national authority,
Antarctica
Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest co ...
does not have a passport stamp. However, the various bases there may provide souvenir ones on request.
Use

Border control officials often place stamps in passports as part of their immigration control or customs procedures. This endorsement can serve many different purposes. In the United Kingdom the immigration stamp in the passport includes the formal "
leave to enter Leave to enter is permission for entry to the United Kingdom granted by British immigration officers.
According to the Immigration Rules, a person who is not a British citizen, an Irish citizen or a Commonwealth citizen with the right of abode in ...
" granted on entry to the country to a person who is subject to immigration control. Alternatively, the stamps activate and/or acknowledge the continuing leave conferred by the individual's entry clearance. Other authorities, such as those in
Schengen
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and j ...
member states, simply stamp a passport with a date stamp that does not indicate any duration and this stamp is taken to mean either that the person is deemed to have permission to remain for 90 days within a 180-day period or an alternative period as shown on their visa, whichever is shorter. In Japan, the passport entry sticker also contains a
QR code
A QR code (an initialism for quick response code) is a type of Barcode#Matrix (2D) barcodes, matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) invented in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso#Denso Wave, Denso Wave. A barcode is a machine-readable optic ...
that allows the immigration official to electronically collect information related to that entry.
Most countries have different stamps for arrivals and departures to make it easier for officers to quickly identify the movements of the person concerned. The colour of the ink or the style of stamp may also provide such information.
Depending on the immigration authority, such stamps are also affixed on other documents that a traveller has to present such as their landing card, boarding card, etc.
In many cases passengers on
cruise ship
Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports-of-call, where passengers may go on Tourism, tours know ...
s do not receive passport stamps because the entire vessel has been cleared into port. It is often possible to get a souvenir stamp, although this requires finding the immigration office by the dock. In many cases officials are used to such requests and will cooperate. Also, as noted below, some of the smallest European countries will give a stamp on request, either at their border or tourist office charging, at most, a nominal fee.
Overview of passport stamps of countries
Asia
Armenia
File:Armenia (Ayrum) entry stamp 01.png, Armenian entry stamp issued at Ayrum
Ayrum ( hy, Այրում), is a town and urban community in the Tavush Province of Armenia, located at a road distance of northeast of the capital Yerevan and north of the provincial capital Ijevan. It is situated on the shores of Debed r ...
railway border with Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to t ...
in a Polish passport
A Polish passport ( pl, paszport) is an international travel document issued to nationals of Poland, and may also serve as proof of Polish citizenship. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as indication of Polish ci ...
File:Armenia (Ayrum) exit stamp.png, Armenian exit stamp issued at Ayrum railway border with Georgia in a Polish passport
Azerbaijan
File:Entry stamp.png, Azerbaijani entry stamp issued by Azerbaijani Coast Guard
Azerbaijani may refer to:
* Something of, or related to Azerbaijan
* Azerbaijanis
* Azerbaijani language
See also
* Azerbaijan (disambiguation)
* Azeri (disambiguation)
* Azerbaijani cuisine
* Culture of Azerbaijan
The culture of Azerbaijan ...
upon arrival by sea
File:Exit stamp.png, Azerbaijani exit stamp issued at Shikhly road on the border with Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to t ...
Bangladesh
Bangladesh stamps all travellers' passports upon both entry and exit. Handwritten scroll numbers on the stamp make it easier to track a person's complete journey – a Bangladeshi leaving Bangladesh would receive a scroll number upon exit; upon entry, the scroll number would be used to access related journey information of the traveller. The same is the case for foreigners, except that the scroll number is given on entry and then used on exit.
The stamps are always in black except the date, which is in red. The stamps feature an arrow at the top left corner, pointing left to denote departure, or pointing right for arrival together with a cartoon of the mode of transport at the top right corner.
Entry stamps are rectangular and exit stamps are oval, exit make it visually easier to trace movements.
File:Entry and exit stamps of Bangladesh.jpg, upright=0.8, Entry and exit stamps issued at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport ( bn, হযরত শাহ্জালাল আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর, Romanized: ''Hôzrôt Shahjalal Antôrjatik Bimanbôndôr'') ( formerly VGZR) is th ...
in a Bangladeshi passport
The passport of Bangladesh is an ICAO compliant, machine-readable and biometric e-passport issued for the purpose of travel to foreign countries by the passport holder. Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to issue e-passports for al ...
File:Bangladeshi visa.JPG, upright=0.8, Bangladeshi visa in a United States passport
United States passports are passports issued to citizens and nationals of the United States of America. They are issued exclusively by the U.S. Department of State. Besides passports (in booklet form), limited-use passport cards are issued ...
Bahrain
File:Bahrain entry stamp.jpg, upright=0.8, Entry stamp issued at Bahrain International Airport
Bahrain International Airport ( ar, مطار البحرين الدولي, ''maṭār al-Baḥrayn al-dwalī'') is the international airport of Bahrain. Located on Muharraq Island, adjacent to the capital Manama, it serves as the hub for the n ...
File:Bahrain exit stamp.jpg, upright=0.8, Exit stamp issued at Bahrain International Airport
Cambodia
File:Cambodian Immigration Entry & Exit Stamp in 2022.jpg, alt=, New entry and exit stamp for visa-free visitor issued at Phnom Penh International Airport in the year 2022 in a Singapore passport.
File:Cambodia bavet passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Bavet land border crossing, Cambodia-Vietnam border
File:Cambodia exit stamp.png, Exit stamp issued at Siem Reap International Airport
Siem Reap International Airport ( km, អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប; french: Aéroport international de Siem Reap) is an international airport serving Siem Reap, a popular tourist destinat ...
File:Visa cambodia Manfred Werner.jpg, Pre-sticker visas together with older type of passport stamps at Siem Reap International Airport
China (PRC)
All stamps are applied in red ink. Entry stamps are oval while exit stamps are rectangular. The stamps bear the date and point of entry/exit (in Chinese), as well as an identification code running along the border of the stamps. There is no English on the stamps, except for the "CHINA" written on the stamps. Chinese
border control
Border control refers to measures taken by governments to monitor and regulate the movement of people, animals, and goods across land, air, and maritime borders. While border control is typically associated with international borders, it a ...
officer also stamps the passenger's
boarding pass
A boarding pass or boarding card is a document provided by an airline during airport check-in, giving a passenger permission to enter the restricted area of an airport (also known as the airside portion of the airport) and to board the airp ...
upon departure with the same stamp that is used for departure.
File:China Immigration Stramps Beijing.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport is one of two international airports serving Beijing, the other one being Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). It is located northeast of Beijing's city center, in an exclave of Chaoyang District ...
in a Republic of Korea passport
The Republic of Korea passport ( ko, 대한민국 여권, Daehan Minguk yeogwon), commonly referred to as the South Korean passport, is issued to a South Korean citizen to facilitate their international travel. Like any other passport, South Ko ...
File:Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport entry stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is one of two international airports serving Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province, the other one being Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), and a major air hub. Located about southwes ...
in a Chinese passport
The People's Republic of China Passport (), commonly referred to as the Chinese passport, is a passport issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the purpose of international travel, and entitles its bearer to the protecti ...
File:Dongguan passport stamp.jpg, Old entry and exit stamps issued at Dongguan
Dongguan (; ) is a prefecture-level city in central Guangdong Province, China. An important industrial city in the Pearl River Delta, Dongguan borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the north, Huizhou to the northeast, Shenzhen to the ...
in a Chinese passport
(Noted that there were no English on stamps)
File:Fuzhou stamps.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Fuzhou Changle International Airport
Fuzhou Changle International Airport is an international airport serving Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, China. The airport was inaugurated on 23 June 1997, after being approved to start constructing in 1992. The current handling cap ...
in a Thai passport
File:Guangzhou stamps.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is the major airport of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in Southern China. Both airport codes were inherited from the former Baiyun Airport, and the IATA code is derived from Guangzhou's historical romani ...
in a Thai passport
File:Xijiulong rujing.jpg, Entry stamp issued at juxtaposed controls
Juxtaposed controls (in french: link=no, bureaux à contrôles nationaux juxtaposés, or ; in nl, link=no, kantoren waar de nationale controles van beide landen naast elkaar geschieden) are a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, th ...
at Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station
West Kowloon station (abbreviated WEK), also known as Hong Kong West Kowloon, is the southern terminus of and the only station on the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link (HSR). The station co ...
File:201901 Xijiulong Mainland Port Exit Stamp.jpg, Exit stamp issued at juxtaposed controls at Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station in a Chinese passport
File:China Visa Stamp.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is one of two international airports serving Shanghai and a major aviation hub of East Asia. Pudong Airport serves both international flights and a smaller number of domestic fights, while the city's oth ...
in an Italian passport
An Italian passport is issued upon request to an Italian nationality law, Italian citizen for the purpose of international travel. It is valid for 10, 5 or 3 years, depending on the applicant's age. Its Biometric passports, biometric version ha ...
Georgia
File:Georgia (Gardabani) exit stamp.png, Georgian exit stamp issued at Gardabani
Gardabani ( ka, გარდაბანი) is a city of 11,650 residents (2021) in the southern Georgian region of Kvemo Kartli and is the administrative centre of the Gardabani Municipality. It is located southeast of capital Tbilisi and fro ...
railway border with Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
in a Polish passport
File:Georgia (Sadakhlo) Entry and Exit Stamp.jpg, Georgian entry and exit stamps issued at Sadakhlo
Sadakhlo ( Georgian: სადახლო, az, Sadaxlı) is a village in Georgia located in the southern part of country in the administrative territory of Marneuli Municipality (Kvemo Kartli Region) at the border with Armenia. The village is a ...
border in an Iranian passport
Iranian passports, also known as Persian passports, are issued to nationals of Iran for the purpose of international travel. The passport serves as a proof of Iranian citizenship. The Iranian passports are burgundy, with the Iranian emblem emblaz ...
File:Georgia (Tbilisi) entry stamp.png, Georgian entry stamp issued at Tbilisi Airport in a Polish passport
Hong Kong
The
Hong Kong Immigration Department
The Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong. After the People's Republic of China assumed sovereignty of the territory in July 1997, Hong Kong's immigration system remained ...
used to stamp the passports of visitors entering and leaving Hong Kong (residents using their
Hong Kong Identity Card did not receive a stamp). Just prior to and after the 1997
transfer of sovereignty from the
UK to the
People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, sli ...
, arrival and departure stamps were identical at all ports of entry.
For the next 15 years or so, the ink colour of the stamp differentiated the
administrative division
Administrative division, administrative unit,Article 3(1). country subdivision, administrative region, subnational entity, constituent state, as well as many similar terms, are generic names for geographical areas into which a particular, ind ...
of the point of entry:
* Stamps issued within
Hong Kong Island (
Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal Control Point, by either sea or air) were in purple ink.
* Stamps issued within
Islands District
The Islands District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is part of the New Territories. It had a population of 170,900 in 2018.
Hong Kong consists of a peninsula and 263 islands. The Islands District consists of some twenty large an ...
(
Hong Kong International Airport Control Point by air) were in black ink.
* Stamps issued within
Kowloon (
Hung Hom Control Point by trains,
Ocean Terminal Control Point and
China Ferry Terminal Control Point by sea) were in green ink.
* Stamps issued within
New Territories
The New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory, and contains around half of the population of Hong Kong. Historically, it ...
(
Sha Tau Kok Control Point
Sha Tau Kok Control Point () is a land immigration control point of Hong Kong, located in Sha Tau Kok, North District, New Territories, Hong Kong, along the border between mainland China and Hong Kong.
Opening
Sha Tau Kok was the second cross-b ...
,
Man Kam To Control Point
Man Kam To Control Point () is a border control point in Man Kam To, New Territories, Hong Kong, within the Closed Area on the border with China. It was the first vehicular clearance border crossing in Hong Kong. Its counterpart across the b ...
,
Lo Wu Control Point
Lo Wu Control Point () is a Hong Kong immigration control point in Lo Wu, New Territories. It sits within the Frontier Closed Area that runs along the border with mainland China. Its counterpart across the border is the Luohu Port in Shenzhe ...
,
Lok Ma Chau Control Point
Lok Ma Chau Control Point () is an immigration control point in Lok Ma Chau, Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong, which is on the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. It opened in 1989 as the third road crossing between th ...
,
Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point Lok or LOK may refer to:
Places
* Lok, Serbia, a village
* Lok, Levice District, Slovakia, a village
* Lok, Pakistan, a village
* Loka (pronounced Lok): a plane of existence in Dharma
People Surname Lok (English origin)
* Anne Locke, Lock or ...
and
Shenzhen Bay Control Point
Shenzhen (; ; ; ), also historically known as Sham Chun, is a major sub-provincial city and one of the special economic zones of China. The city is located on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern provi ...
by land,
Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal Control Point by sea) were in red ink.
Currently,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
's
e-Channels are situated at all border crossing points. A person who holds a
Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) inserts the card into a slot to enter the first eGate and then has their thumbprint scanned to pass through the second eGate. The Frequent Visitor program was further expanded to nationals of the following countries.
Such arrangements are reciprocal and eligible
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. Note that: The passport is referred to both as the HKSAR Passport and the Hong Kong Speci ...
holders may also enrol for the respective automated border clearance schemes under these countries:
*
Republic of Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
enrolled under Smart Entry Service (SES) scheme (Since 16 December 2013)
*
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
(Since 22 September 2014)
*
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
(Since 1 November 2014)
*
Australia (Since 20 June 2016)
*
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
(Since 15 September 2018)
File:Hong Kong Immigration Entry and Exit Stamp in year 1996.jpg, alt=, Former Entry and Exit Stamp issued in the year 1996 at Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport in an Indonesian passport
File:Hong Kong passport stamps.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is Hong Kong's main airport, built on reclaimed land on the island of Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong. The airport is also referred to as Chek Lap Kok International Airport or ''Chek Lap Kok Airport'', to distingu ...
and the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal
The Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal is a ferry terminal and heliport, centrally located in Hong Kong. It is also known as the Macau Ferry Terminal, the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier or the Shun Tak Heliport, and has an ICAO code of VHSS.
The t ...
in an Italian passport
An Italian passport is issued upon request to an Italian nationality law, Italian citizen for the purpose of international travel. It is valid for 10, 5 or 3 years, depending on the applicant's age. Its Biometric passports, biometric version ha ...
File:Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal entry stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal in a Thai passport
File:Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal exit stamp.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal in a Thai passport
File:Hong Kong land border.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Hong Kong International Airport and Lo Wu Control Point
Lo Wu Control Point () is a Hong Kong immigration control point in Lo Wu, New Territories. It sits within the Frontier Closed Area that runs along the border with mainland China. Its counterpart across the border is the Luohu Port in Shenzhe ...
in a Thai passport; noted that there were no Bauhinia
''Bauhinia'' () is a large genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Cercidoideae and tribe Bauhinieae, in the large flowering plant family Fabaceae, with a pantropical distribution. The genus was named after the Bauhin brothers Gaspard and ...
on stamps and exit stamps were oval
File:Hong Kong landing slip.jpg, Landing slip replacing existent passport stamps, (being unable to present the landing slip on departure does not affect a traveller's ability to clear immigration)
File:Entry stamp of British Hong Kong.jpg, Entry stamp for pre-handover Hong Kong on an American passport
India
India uses the differentiation in passport stamp colours – entry in blue, exit in red – to quickly trace a passenger's movements. The stamp can be rectangular, circular or oval.
File:BOM En.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is an international airport serving Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). It is the second busiest airport in the country in terms of total and international passenger traffic a ...
in an Indian passport
An Indian passport is a passport issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India to Indian citizens for the purpose of international travel. It enables the bearer to travel internationally and serves as proof of Indian cit ...
File:India passport entry stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport is the primary international airport serving Delhi, the capital of India, and the National Capital Region (NCR). The airport, spread over an area of , is situated in Palam, Delhi, southwest of the New De ...
to a citizen of Germany
File:DEL ExO.JPG, Exit stamp in an Indian passport issued at Indira Gandhi International Airport
File:India e-Visa.jpg, An Indian e-Visa issued at Indira Gandhi International Airport in a Romanian passport
Romanian passport is an international travel document issued to nationals of Romania, and may also serve as proof of Romanian citizenship. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as indication of Romanian citizenship, ...
File:India e-Tourist Visa Entry Stamp.jpg, An Indian e-Tourist Visa issued at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is an international airport located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, serving the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and is the aviation hub for eastern and northeastern India. It is located approximate ...
, Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...
Indonesia
Entry stamp is only issued to the holder of Indonesian travel documents, while other nationalities will instead receive an entry sticker affixed to the passport showing the duration limit of their stay. Exit stamp is still normally issued to all travellers departing from Indonesia.
File:Indonesia Immigration Entry and Exit Stamp for Indonesian Citizen.jpg, alt=, Former Exit and Entry Stamp in the year 1996 in an Indonesian passport
File:Indonesia Immigration Entry sticker and Exit Stamp in year 2022.jpg, alt=, Entry sticker and Exit Stamp in year 2022, issued at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK)
File:IndonesiaStampPHPassport.jpg, Entry and Exit stamps issued at Kualanamu International Airport
Kualanamu International Airport ( id, Bandar Udara Internasional Kualanamu) (often spelled as Kuala Namu and informally abbreviated KNIA) is an international airport serving Medan, Indonesia, and other parts of North Sumatra. It is located in ...
in a Philippine passport
File:Ngurah Rai International Airport.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Ngurah Rai International Airport
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport ( id, Bandar Udara Internasional I Gusti Ngurah Rai) , is the main airport in Bali, located 13 km south of Denpasar. Ngurah Rai is the second busiest airport in Indonesia after Soekarno–Hatta Int ...
and Juanda International Airport
Juanda International Airport (JIA) ( id, Bandar Udara Internasional Juanda) , is an international airport located in Sedati, Sidoarjo. It is now the third busiest airport in Indonesia (after Soekarno-Hatta and Ngurah Rai airport). This ai ...
in a Thai passport
Iran
Iran applies an oval shaped stamp with blue ink for entry and a square shaped stamp with red ink for exit. All dates written on the stamps are in the Solar Hijri calendar, and it is written in
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
.
File:Iran exit stamp at IKIA.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Imam Khomeini International Airport
Imam Khomeini International Airport is the primary international airport of Tehran, the capital city of Iran, located southwest of Tehran, near the localities of Robat Karim and Eslamshahr and spread over an area of of land. Along with Mehr ...
in an Iranian passport
Iranian passports, also known as Persian passports, are issued to nationals of Iran for the purpose of international travel. The passport serves as a proof of Iranian citizenship. The Iranian passports are burgundy, with the Iranian emblem emblaz ...
File:Iranian Entry Stamp Isfahan Airport.jpg, upright=0.8, Entry stamp issued at Isfahan International Airport
Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بینالمللی شهید بهشتی اصفهان) is an international airport serving the city of Isfahan, Iran.
Overview
The airport is named in honor of Shahid Behesht ...
in an Iranian passport
File:Former Mehrabad Airport Exit Stamp.jpg, upright=0.8, Former exit stamp issued at Mehrabad International Airport in an older Iranian passport.
Iraq
Iraq passport stamps differ depending upon whether the checkpoint is located in
Kurdistan Region
Kurdistan Region ( ku, هەرێمی کوردستان, translit=Herêmî Kurdistan; ar, إقليم كردستان), abbr. KRI, is an autonomous region in Iraq comprising the four Kurdish-majority governorates of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok ...
, or the rest of Iraq.
File:Iraq Entry Passport Stamp (Air).jpg, upright=0.8, Entry stamp issued at Baghdad International Airport
Baghdad International Airport , previously Saddam International Airport ( ar, مطار بغداد الدولي, Maṭār Baġdād ad-Dawaliyy) is Iraq's largest international airport, located in a suburb about west of downtown Baghdad in the ...
File:Ibrahim entrance.png, upright=0.8, Entry stamp issued at Ibrahim Khalil border crossing
Ibrahim Khalil ( ku, دەروازەی ئیبراھیم خەلیل, ar, منفذ إبراهيم الخليل الدولي) is a Iraq–Turkey border, border crossing point between Turkey and Iraq. It is also called the Habur Border or Frontier Ga ...
(border with Turkey)
File:Ibrahim exit.png, upright=0.8, Exit stamp issued at Ibrahim Khalil border crossing controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) ( ku, حکوومەتی هەرێمی کوردستان, ''Hikûmetî Herêmî Kurdistan'') is the official executive body of the autonomous Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq.
The cabinet is selected by the ...
Israel
Traveling with passports containing Israeli entry/exit stamps to certain Arab nations may lead to a denial of entry, because of the
Arab League boycott of Israel. Since January 2013, Israel no longer stamps foreign passports at
Ben Gurion Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport, ; ar, مطار بن غوريون الدولي , commonly known by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the main international airport of Israel. Situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod, it is the ...
, giving passengers a piece of paper instead. Passports are still (as of February 2013) stamped at
Erez Crossing when traveling into and out of
Gaza
Gaza may refer to:
Places Palestine
* Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea
** Gaza City, a city in the Gaza Strip
** Gaza Governorate, a governorate in the Gaza Strip Lebanon
* Ghazzeh, a village in ...
. Also, the passports are still stamped (as of February 2014) at the land borders of
Jordan River Crossing
The Jordan River Crossing ( he, מסוף נהר ירדן, ar, معبر نهر الأردن) or Sheikh Hussein Bridge is one of the three international border crossings between Jordan and Israel. It is located between Irbid, Jordan and Beit She'an ...
and
Yitzhak Rabin Crossing
The Wadi Araba Crossing (Jordanian name, ar, تقاطع وادي عربة) or Yitzhak Rabin Crossing (Israeli name, he, מעבר יצחק רבין) is an international border crossing between Aqaba, Jordan and Eilat, Israel. Opened on August 8, ...
with Jordan.
File:Israel - Visa entry and exit (3 months).jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Ben Gurion Airport in a German passport
German passport
A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport ...
(entry: right; exit: left)
File:Israel Taba Border Entry.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Taba Border Crossing in an Israeli passport
The Israeli passport ( he, דַּרְכּוֹן יִשְׂרְאֵלִי, ''Darkon Yisre'eli''; ar, جواز سفر إسرائيلي) is a passport issued to Israeli citizens to enable them to travel outside Israel, and entitles the bearer to th ...
File:Israel Entry Paper.jpg, An Israeli entry paper issued at Ben Gurion Airport
File:Israel Exit Paper.jpg, An Israeli exit paper issued at Ben Gurion Airport
Japan
File:Japan Immigration Visa Entry Exit Stamp in 1996.jpg, alt=, Former Temporary Visitor Visa, Entry and Exit stamps in an Indonesian passport.
File:Japan Immigration Entry and Exit Stamp in 1999.jpg, alt=, Former Entry and Exit Stamp for Temporary Visitor, issued at Narita International Airport in the year 1999
File:Yellow Entry Sticker for Temporary Visitor and Exit Stamp issued in 2006.jpg, alt=, Former Yellow Entry Sticker for Temporary Visitor and Exit Stamp issued at the year 2006 in an Indonesia passport
File:Japan Stamp Chubu Fukuoka.jpg, Former Temporary visitor landing permission sticker issued at Chubu Centrair International Airport
is an international airport on an artificial island in Ise Bay, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture, south of Nagoya in central Japan.
Centrair is classified as a first class airport and is the main international gateway for the Chubu ("ce ...
and exit stamp issued at Fukuoka Airport
, formerly known as Itazuke Air Base, is an international and domestic airport located east of Hakata Station in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
Fukuoka Airport is the principal airport on the island of Kyushu and is the fourth busiest passenge ...
in a Republic of Korea passport
The Republic of Korea passport ( ko, 대한민국 여권, Daehan Minguk yeogwon), commonly referred to as the South Korean passport, is issued to a South Korean citizen to facilitate their international travel. Like any other passport, South Ko ...
File:Entry Sticker Featuring Mount Fuji Issued at Kansai International Airport.jpg, alt=, Temporary Visitor Entry Sticker Featuring Mount Fuji Issued at Kansai International Airport in the year 2020 on an Indonesian Passport
File:Fukuoka re-entry stamp.jpg, Departure and re-entry stamps issued at Fukuoka Airport for a foreign resident of Japan in a British passport
A British passport is a travel document issued by the United Kingdom or other British dependencies and territories to individuals holding any form of British nationality. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa ...
File:Haneda return stamp.jpg, Return stamp issued at Haneda Airport
, officially , and sometimes called as Tokyo Haneda Airport or Haneda International Airport , is one of two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area, the other one being Narita International Airport (NRT). It serves as the primar ...
in a Japanese passport
are issued to Japanese citizens to facilitate international travel. As of 2022, with holders able to travel visa-free to 193 countries and territories, it has been ranked as the most powerful passport in the world.
History
The first travel docu ...
Jordan
File:The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Wadi Araba Entry.JPG, upright=0.8, Entry stamp issued at Wadi Araba Crossing
The Wadi Araba Crossing (Jordanian name, ar, تقاطع وادي عربة) or Yitzhak Rabin Crossing (Israeli name, he, מעבר יצחק רבין) is an international border crossing between Aqaba, Jordan and Eilat, Israel. Opened on August 8, ...
in a United States passport
File:Jordan Wadi Araba Crossing exit 2010.JPG, upright=0.8, Exit stamp issued at Wadi Araba Crossing in an Israeli passport
File:The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Employment Visa.JPG, upright=0.8, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) is the financially and administratively autonomous institution responsible for the management, regulation, and the development of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).
History
The Aqaba Speci ...
visa in a United States passport
Laos
File:Laos.Visa.JPG, upright=2.3, Entry and exit stamps issued at First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
The First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge ( th, สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 1, ; lo, ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ ແຫ່ງທຳອິດ, ) is a bridge over the Mekong, ...
Macau
Immigration stamps applied by
Macau
Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...
's immigration service under
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Port ...
administration had slightly different borders depending on whether the person arrived by land, sea, or air. After the transfer of sovereignty from Portugal to China in 1999, passport stamps naming the points of entry and departure were introduced, but all in the same ink color. Beginning of 9 July 2013, the
Public Security Police Force of Macau
The Public Security Police Force (;https://www.ssm.gov.mo/docs/414/414_99a608ac6d9e4c035e0e4eb47ab1f62cfc7a0c38_000.pdf pt, Corpo de Polícia de Segurança Pública de Macau, abbreviated ) is the non-criminal police department of Macau and ...
no longer stamps passport and instead, visitors will receive a printed arrival card.
File:1996 Macau Immigration Passport Stamp.jpg, alt=, Former Visa-on-arrival, Entry and Exit Stamp for visitor at the year 1996 in an Indonesian passport
File:Macau Airport.jpg, Former entry stamp issued at Macau International Airport
Macau International Airport ( zh, 澳門國際機場; pt, Aeroporto Internacional de Macau) is an international airport in the special administrative region of Macau, situated at the eastern end of Taipa island and neighbouring waters whi ...
File:Macau passport stamp.jpg, Former entry and exit stamps issued at Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal
The Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal ( pt, Terminal Marítimo de Passageiros do Porto Exterior; ), also known as the ''Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal'', ''Macau Ferry Terminal'' or ''Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier'' in Chinese (), is a ferry terminal loc ...
File:Taipa Macau stamp.jpg, Former entry and exit stamps issued at Taipa Ferry Terminal
The Taipa Ferry Terminal (; pt, Terminal Marítimo de Passageiros da Taipa) is located in Taipa, Macau SAR. It is located in the reclamation area of Pac On and is adjacent to the Macau International Airport. The terminal provides high-speed p ...
in a Philippine passport
File:Macau Arrival Card.jpg, Arrival Card replacing existent passport stamps
Malaysia
Malaysian immigration authorities apply stamps for both entry and exit in all foreign passports and non-biometric
Malaysian passport
The Malaysian passport ( ms, Pasport Malaysia) is the passport issued to citizens of Malaysia by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
The main legislation governing the production of passports and travel documents, their possession by pers ...
s without in-built microchips. Biometric Malaysian passports are usually not stamped as all movements in and out of the country are recorded electronically in the microchip.
Malaysian entry stamps for non-citizens and non-residents are applied in blue or black rectangle. They bear the date of entry, point of entry and terms of entry. Entry stamps for residents are also applied in blue ink but have an oval shape and bear the date and point of entry. Exit stamps are applied in red triangle. They bear the date and point of departure.

A peculiarity is the autonomy of the Malaysian states of
Sabah
Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory ...
and
Sarawak
Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
in immigration affairs. This is attributed to the history of the federation of Malaysia, whereby in 1963, Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore merged to form Malaysia, with the three latter pre-merger entities granted partial autonomy. (Singapore eventually was expelled from the union.) Foreign visitors who travel to the two states from
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...
are required to fill in immigration forms and get new stamps on their passports. There is also immigration control for travel between Sabah and Sarawak. Previously, Malaysian citizens from the Peninsular were required to present their passports and have them stamped as well; while they are currently still subjected to immigration control, passports are no longer required for social visits not more than three months.
Between 1998 and 2011, foreign visitors who entered Malaysia via train from Singapore were cleared electronically without their passports being stamped. The change was due to the dispute between Malaysia and Singapore regarding Malaysian-owned railway land in Singapore. The Malaysian railway operator,
Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (Jawi: كريتاڤي تانه ملايو برحد) or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was firs ...
(KTM) had its intercity rail southern terminus at
Tanjong Pagar railway station in downtown Singapore, which also housed the border controls of both Malaysia and Singapore for rail passengers before 1998. In 1998, Singapore moved its immigration checkpoint northward to
Woodlands Train Checkpoint
Woodlands Train Checkpoint (abbreviated as WTCP, also known as Woodlands CIQ) is a railway station and border checkpoint in Woodlands, Singapore. Located close to the Malaysia–Singapore border, the station is owned by Singapore's Immigration ...
near the actual
Malaysia-Singapore border but Malaysia refused to move its checkpoint, resulting in the anomaly that passengers travelling towards Malaysia were granted entry to Malaysia before passing through Singapore exit controls. Instead of passport stamps, foreign visitors were given
disembarkation cards stamped with "KTM Tg Pagar, Singapura" and the date of entry, which would be collected upon departure from Malaysia and a handwritten note indicating the entry would be endorsed in the passport along with the exit stamp. Passengers travelling to Singapore were not affected as Malaysian exit controls were carried out on board trains at the
Johor Bahru railway station, where immigration officers endorsed passports by stamping or handwriting. The anomaly was resolved on 1 July 2011, when Tanjong Pagar railway station was closed and Woodlands Train Checkpoint became the railway terminus in Singapore with co-location of border control facilities of both countries. Foreign visitors entering Malaysia by rail have their passports checked and stamped by Malaysian immigration officers at Woodlands Train Checkpoint after clearing Singapore exit controls.
File:Malaysia johorbaru exit.JPG, Exit stamp issued at Johor Bahru to Singapore (pre-2008). Post-2008 stamps have "Bangunan Sultan Iskandar
The Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI; ms, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar) is a customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) complex in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Located at the northern end of the Johor–Singapore Causeway, it is one of two land port ...
" in place of "Johor Bahru" when travelling by road
File:Malaysia merapok entry3.JPG, Entry stamp into Sarawak issued at Merapok checkpoint on the Sabah-Sarawak border, with written date for limit of stay
File:Sabah and Malaysia passport stamps.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is Malaysia's main international airport. It is located in the Sepang District of Selangor, approximately south of Kuala Lumpur and serves the city's greater conurbation.
KLIA is the largest and ...
, as well as a separate entry stamp to Sabah
File:Penang Malaysia 90-day passport stamp.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Penang International Airport
Penang International Airport is an airport in northern Malaysia. The airport is located near Bayan Lepas at the southeastern tip of Penang Island, south of the city centre.[Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport ( ms, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah), (formerly Subang International Airport/Kuala Lumpur International Airport), often called Subang Airport or Subang Skypark, is an airport located in Subang, Petali ...]
File:Malaysia tawaujetty.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Tawau
Tawau (, Jawi: , ), formerly known as Tawao, is the capital of the Tawau District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the third-largest city in Sabah, after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. It is located on the Semporna Peninsula in the southeast coast of t ...
Port
Maldives
File:Maldives entry stamp 20210812.jpg, Maldives entry stamp issued at Velana International Airport
Velana International Airport (VIA) ( Dhivehi: ) is the main international airport in the Maldives. It is located on Hulhulé Island in the North Malé Atoll, nearby the capital island Malé. The airport is well connected with major airports a ...
File:Maldives exit stamp 20210902.jpg, Maldives exit stamp issued at Velana International Airport
Velana International Airport (VIA) ( Dhivehi: ) is the main international airport in the Maldives. It is located on Hulhulé Island in the North Malé Atoll, nearby the capital island Malé. The airport is well connected with major airports a ...
Myanmar
With the introduction of e-visas, entry stamps into Myanmar at the airports of Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw, the only three entry checkpoints where e-visas are allowed, have been modified to indicate such method of entry.
File:Tachileik in.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Tachileik
Tachileik (also spelt Tachilek; my, တာချီလိတ်, ; shn, တႃႈၶီႈလဵၵ်း, ; th, ท่าขี้เหล็ก, , ), is a border town in the Shan State of eastern Myanmar. It is the administrative seat of Ta ...
File:Tachileik out.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Tachileik, note that the stamp specifically names Mae Sai
''Mae Sai'' ( th, แม่สาย, ; Shan: , ), is the district town of Mae Sai District in the far north of Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Mae Sai is a major border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar where the town of Tachileik, in Sha ...
as destination
File:Myanmar passport stamp Yangon e-visa in out 1.jpg, Entry (left) and exit stamps issued at the Yangon International Airport
Yangon International Airport ( ) is the primary and busiest international airport of Myanmar. The airport is located in Mingaladon, north of central Yangon. All ten Myanmar carriers and about 30 international airlines operate at Yangon Inter ...
. The entry stamp is for people using e-visas. E-visas are issued via letter prior to arrival and are shown to the immigration officer, and not stuck to passports like conventional visas
File:Myanmar passport stamp Yangon in 1.jpg, Entry stamp at Yangon International Airport
Yangon International Airport ( ) is the primary and busiest international airport of Myanmar. The airport is located in Mingaladon, north of central Yangon. All ten Myanmar carriers and about 30 international airlines operate at Yangon Inter ...
for entries using conventional visas. The visas are stickers stuck on another page of the passport
File:Myanmar Entry Stamp.jpg, Entry stamp at Mandalay International Airport
Mandalay International Airport ( my, မန္တလေး အပြည်ပြည်ဆိုင်ရာ လေဆိပ်; ), located 35 km south of Mandalay in Tada-U, is one of three international airports in Myanmar. Completed in ...
for entries using conventional visas.
Nepal
Nepal is one of the few countries which use sticker stamps. Nepalese immigration authorities use separate Arrival and Departure stickers for entry and exit on all types of passports.
File:Nepalarrival.jpg, upright=0.8, Entry sticker issued at Tribhuvan International Airport
Tribhuvan International Airport (Nepali: त्रिभुवन अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विमानस्थल) (, colloquially referred to as TIA) is an international airport located in Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal. It ...
File:Nepaldeparture.jpg, upright=0.8, Exit sticker issued at Tribhuvan International Airport
Oman
As of December 2017, one who obtains a visa on arrival does not get a round entry stamp. Instead they get a rectangular, blue stamp that states the entry date and validity of the visa. This seems to, however, be the case only when arriving at
Muscat International Airport
Muscat International Airport , formerly Seeb International Airport, is the main international airport in Oman and is located in Seeb, 32 km from the old city and capital Muscat within the Muscat metropolitan area. The airport serves as th ...
. At land borders, the rectangular stamp is accompanied by a round, blue entry stamp. A round, red exit stamp is applied at all points of exit.
File:Oman visa on arrival.jpg, upright=0.8, Omani visa on arrival issued at Muscat International Airport. The blue rectangular stamp represents the visa and the entry stamp. The round, red stamp is the exit stamp issued at Al Wajajah land border. The blue stamp at the left corner issued at Emirati side of Al Wajajah
Pakistan
A circular entry stamp in black ink is applied to passports of all nationalities at the time of entry. A triangular multi colored entry stamp was used until 2015. An exit stamp is also applied to all passports when leaving the country. Exit stamp in use at present is rectangular in shape and black in color.
File:Entry Stamp LHE.jpg, Circular entry stamp presently issued at Allama Iqbal International Airport
Allama Iqbal International Airport ( ur, , ) is the third largest civilian airport by traffic in Pakistan, after Jinnah International Airport, Karachi and Islamabad International Airport. It serves Lahore, capital of Punjab and second-larges ...
File:Entry Stamp KHI.jpg, Old Multi colored entry stamp issued at Jinnah International Airport
Jinnah International Airport ( ur, جناح بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا) , formerly Drigh Road Airport or Karachi Civil Airport, is Pakistan's busiest international and domestic airport, and handled 7,267,582 passengers in 2017 ...
Philippines
At airports, red ink is applied for arrivals/entry while green is applied for departure/exit. As a general rule, passports of all travelers regardless of their nationality (including Philippine passport holders), need to be stamped at both entry and exit points. The attending officer also writes down the
flight number
In the aviation industry, a flight number or flight designator is a code for an airline service consisting of two-character airline designator and a 1 to 4 digit number. For example, "BA 98" is a British Airways service from Toronto-Pearson to ...
and stamps the passenger's boarding pass upon departure with the same stamp that is used for departure. The shape and/or designs of the stamps are changed every five to six years. Recently, Philippine passport holders may opt arriving via E-gate, wherein a sticker will be printed and must be placed on the passport. Sticker contains name, passport number, flight number, terminal of arrival, and date of arrival and time.
File:PH ArrivalStmp.jpg, Entry stamp in a Philippine Passport
File:PH DepartureStmp.jpg, Exit stamp in a Philippine Passport
Saudi Arabia
Saudi entry stamps are applied in black or blue ink. Entry stamps are applied in oval shape while exit stamps are applied in rounded rectangule. All dates written on the stamps are in the Islamic calendar, and it is written in
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...
. There is no English on the stamps, except for the "EXIT", "ENTRY" and 'K.S.A.' written on the stamps.
File:Saudi passport stamps from the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah- 2013-08-30 13-15.jpg, Passport stamps issued at King Abdulaziz International Airport
King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) ( ar, مطار الملك عبدالعزيز الدولي) is an international airport serving Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, also known as "Jeddah International Airport"( ar, مطار جدة الدولي).
...
in a Philippine passport.
File:Saudi Arabia Entry Stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Jeddah in a Malaysian passport
The Malaysian passport ( ms, Pasport Malaysia) is the passport issued to citizens of Malaysia by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
The main legislation governing the production of passports and travel documents, their possession by pers ...
File:Saudi Arabia Exit Stamp.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Jeddah in a Malaysian passport
Singapore
Singapore entry stamps are applied in blue or black and either rectangle for those entitled to 14 days, rounded rectangle for those entitled to 30 days stay, or hexagon for those entitled to 90 day stay. Exit stamps are applied in green circle. Both depict the date of entry/exit and entry stamps also state the terms of entry and permitted duration of stay.
Both entry and exit stamps do not name the point of entry/exit but indicate them by the use of letters of the alphabet – "A" is used for entry by air, namely through
Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport, commonly known as Changi Airport , is a major civilian international airport that serves Singapore, and is one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia. As one of the world's busiest airports by international passen ...
or Seletar Airport; "S" by sea though the Singapore Cruiseship Terminal or Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal; "T" by land via the
Tuas Checkpoint
Tuas is a planning area located within the West Region of Singapore. It is bounded by the Western Water Catchment to its north, Pioneer to its east and the Straits of Johor to its west. Tuas also shares a maritime boundary with the Western Island ...
; and "W" by land via the
Woodlands Checkpoint
The Woodlands Checkpoint is one of Singapore's two land border checkpoints, connecting ground traffic with Malaysia. It services the vehicular traffic (cars, buses, lorries, motorcycles) along with pedestrians that goes through the Johor–Singap ...
. The entry stamp has the letter running along the border of the stamp together with a code number while the exit stamp has a single letter marked in the center of the stamp. From 22 April 2019, foreign travellers no longer get their passports stamped when they depart from Singapore. As of 21 October 2021, foreign travellers no longer get their passports stamped on arrival. This has been replaced by a record of entry email sent to the passenger.
File:Singapore Changi Airport entry stamp in a passport - 20040409.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Changi Airport in a Thai Passport
File:Singapore Changi Airport exit stamp in a passport - 20091213.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Changi Airport
File:Singapore Cruise Centre entry and exit stamps in a passport - 20070415.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at the Singapore Cruise Center
File:Singapore Tuas Checkpoint entry stamp in a passport - 20071103.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Tuas Checkpoint in a Malaysian Passport
The Malaysian passport ( ms, Pasport Malaysia) is the passport issued to citizens of Malaysia by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
The main legislation governing the production of passports and travel documents, their possession by pers ...
File:Singapore Tuas Checkpoint exit stamp in a passport - 20070722.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Tuas Checkpoint in a Malaysian Passport
File:Woodlands entry.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Woodlands Train Checkpoint
Woodlands Train Checkpoint (abbreviated as WTCP, also known as Woodlands CIQ) is a railway station and border checkpoint in Woodlands, Singapore. Located close to the Malaysia–Singapore border, the station is owned by Singapore's Immigration ...
in a Malaysian Passport
File:Singapore Woodlands Checkpoint entry stamp in a passport - 20190604.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Woodlands Train Checkpoint
File:Woodlands exit.JPG, Exit stamp issued at Woodlands Train Checkpoint in a Malaysian Passport
Sri Lanka
File:Sri Lankan entry stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Bandaranaike International Airport
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) ( si, බණ්ඩාරනායක ජාත්යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළ, translit=Bandāranāyaka Jātyantara Guvantoṭupaḷa; ta, பண்டாரநாயக்க � ...
File:Sri Lankan exit stamp.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Bandaranaike International Airport
South Korea
Entry stamp is applied in square and magenta ink, while exit stamp is applied in circle and cyan ink. Exit stamp is omitted to every passenger since 1 November 2016, unless specifically requested. Entry stamp is only omitted to Republic of Korea travel document holder since 10 February 2011. Beginning January 2018, landing slips are issued to visitors on arrival in South Korea instead of passport stamps, and on departure from South Korea no slips or passport stamps are issued (being unable to present the landing slip on departure does not affect a traveller's ability to clear immigration). Starting from June 2022 in
Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport (IIA; ) (sometimes referred to as Seoul–Incheon International Airport) is the largest airport in South Korea. It is the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area and one of the largest and busiest airports ...
, the landing slip is changed to an entry confirmation sticker pasted in the passport.
File:South Korea stamp issued at Jeju International Airport on Indonesia Passport.jpg, alt=, Entry stamp issued at Jeju International Airport on Indonesia Passport with a little stamp that says "Place of stay: Jeju Province". Most of visitors to Jeju Island do not need to apply for visa to enter the island, which is otherwise needed to enter the South Korea peninsula. For this case, Indonesian passport holders need to apply to enter South Korea peninsula (e.g. Incheon, Busan, etc), however, no tourist visa is required to enter Jeju Island, thus, a visa-free entry.
File:Korea PUS in.jpg, An entry stamp issued at Gimhae International Airport
Gimhae International Airport (), commonly known as Gimhae Airport (formerly Kimhae International Airport) is located on the western end of Busan, South Korea. The name "Gimhae" comes from the nearby city of Gimhae. It opened in 1976. A new int ...
in a Republic of Korea passport
The Republic of Korea passport ( ko, 대한민국 여권, Daehan Minguk yeogwon), commonly referred to as the South Korean passport, is issued to a South Korean citizen to facilitate their international travel. Like any other passport, South Ko ...
(given upon request)
File:Korea PUS out.jpg, An exit stamp issued at Gimhae International Airport in a Republic of Korea passport (given upon request)
File:South Korea Visa Stamp.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport (IIA; ) (sometimes referred to as Seoul–Incheon International Airport) is the largest airport in South Korea. It is the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area and one of the largest and busiest airports ...
, depicting aircraft
File:Passport stamps of South Korea 2012.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Port of Busan
The Port of Busan () is the largest port in South Korea, located in the city of Busan, South Korea. Its location is known as Busan Harbor.
The port is ranked sixth in the world's container throughput and is the largest seaport in South Korea. Th ...
, depicting sea vessels
Taiwan
On 1 January 2021, a new set of stamps were issued, replacing the plum flower with an outline of the island of Taiwan, but keeping the calligraphic characters created by Dong Yang-zi (a renowned calligrapher in Taiwan).
File:Taiwan in.jpg, A 2016 entry stamp issued at Taoyuan International Airport
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is an international airport serving Taipei and northern Taiwan. Located about west of Taipei in Dayuan District, Taoyuan, the airport is Taiwan's largest. It was also the busiest airport in Taiwan before ...
in a Republic of Korea passport
File:Taiwan out.jpg, A 2016 exit stamp issued at Taoyuan International Airport in a Republic of Korea passport
File:Taiwan ferry arrival entry stamp.jpg, A 2016 entry stamp with a marker indicating arrival by ship, rather than by plane
Thailand
Immigration officer applies stamp on all passports upon arrival at or departure from Thailand. Since August 2020, entry stamps are in the shape of a waving flag applied in red ink, and exit stamps are ovals applied in blue ink. Stamps bear the date and point of entry/exit, as well as an identification code running along the border of the stamps. Entry stamps for foreigners also state expiry date.
The
automated passport control (APC) system has been available for Thai nationals since 2012 and more than 20 million have used it, whereas
Suvarnabhumi Airport opened 8 automated immigration lanes for foreigners, Singaporeans and Hong Kongers have been allowed to use the system also.
Once processed, the foreign travelers can leave the automatic channel and present their passport to a Thai immigration officer to be stamped.
File:Thailand betong passport stamps.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Betong land border crossing on Malaysia–Thailand border
The Malaysia–Thailand border divides the countries of Malaysia and Thailand and consists of a land boundary running for 595 km (370 mi) across the Malay Peninsula and maritime boundaries in the Straits of Malacca and the Gulf of Thail ...
File:Don Mueang.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Don Mueang International Airport
Don Mueang International Airport ( th, ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง, , , or colloquially as , ) is one of two international airports serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, the other one being Suvarnabhumi Airp ...
in a Thai passport
File:Nong Khai entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
The First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge ( th, สะพานมิตรภาพ ไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 1, ; lo, ຂົວມິດຕະພາບ ລາວ-ໄທ ແຫ່ງທຳອິດ, ) is a bridge over the Mekong, ...
in a Thai passport
File:Nong Khai exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in a Thai passport
File:Thailand phuket.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Phuket International Airport
Phuket International Airport ( th, ท่าอากาศยานภูเก็ต, ) is an international airport serving the Phuket Province of Thailand. It is in the north of Phuket Island, from the centre of Phuket City. The airport pl ...
File:Thailand sadao entry.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Sadao land border crossing on Malaysia–Thailand border
File:Thailand sadao exit.JPG, Exit stamp issued at Sadao land border crossing on Malaysia–Thailand border
File:Thailand satun entry.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Satun
Satun (, , ms, Setul) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of the Satun Province. It covers the whole ''tambon'' Phiman of Mueang Satun. Satun lies 985 km south of Bangkok. As of 2005 it has a population of 21,498 ...
land border crossing on Malaysia–Thailand border
File:Thailand satun exit.JPG, Exit stamp issued at Satun land border crossing on Malaysia–Thailand border
File:Thailand suvarnabhumi.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Suvarnabhumi Airport
File:Thailand Entry and Exit Stamps (2022).jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in a Turkish passport
Turkish passports ( tr, Türk pasaportu) are issued in accordance with the Passport Act (No. 5682) from 15 July 1950 to Turkish citizens to travel abroad. Citizens of the ''de facto'' state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) ...
File:Thailand Visa on Arrival.jpg, Visa on arrival stamp issued at Don Mueang International Airport in a Taiwan passport
The Republic of China (Taiwan) passport () is the passport issued to nationals of the Republic of China (ROC), commonly known as Taiwan. The ROC passport is also generally referred to as a Taiwanese passport. As of September 2020, approximately ...
Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste applies a full-page blue stamp along with a red entry stamp. Exit stamps are a black oval.
File:Timor-Leste Passport Stamp.jpg, Passport stamps issued at Timor-Leste
United Arab Emirates
UAE applies blue oval stamps on entry, along with a smaller blue rectangular stamp showing the valid length of stay. Exit stamps are green oval. However residents and UAE passport holders can pass without passport stamping through e-gates at
Abu Dhabi International Airport
Abu Dhabi International Airport ( ar, مطار أبو ظبي الدولي) is an international airport in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The airport, located east of Abu Dhabi city, is the second largest i ...
,
Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport ( ar, مطار دبي الدولي) is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the nineteenth-busie ...
,
Al Maktoum International Airport
Al Maktoum International Airport , also known as Dubai World Central, is an international airport in Jebel Ali, southwest of Dubai, United Arab Emirates that opened on 27 June 2010. It is the main part of Dubai South, a planned reside ...
and
Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah International Airport ( ar, مطار الشارقة, Maṭār aš-Šāriqa) () is an international airport located east-southeast of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It is spread over an area of . It has one runway, making it the only air ...
.
File:Uae abudhabi.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Abu Dhabi International Airport
Abu Dhabi International Airport ( ar, مطار أبو ظبي الدولي) is an international airport in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The airport, located east of Abu Dhabi city, is the second largest i ...
File:UAE Entry Stamp.jpg, alt=, Entry Stamp of Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport ( ar, مطار دبي الدولي) is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the nineteenth-busie ...
File:UAE Immigration Exit Stamp.jpg, alt=, Exit Stamp of Dubai Airport
File:Aeroport de dubai terminal 3 egate (echecking of passport).jpg, alt=, E-Gates at Dubai International Terminal 3
Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 is an airport terminal at Dubai International Airport serving Dubai, UAE. When completed and opened on 14 October 2008, it was the largest building in the world by floor area and is currently the world's ...
Vietnam
Vietnam passport stamps are rectangle and name the point of entry, date of entry and whether the person is exiting or entering the country by using an arrow out of or into a box similar to the
Schengen
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and j ...
passport stamps. Mode of entry is indicated by an icon and also differentiated by the colour of the stamp – blue for air, red for land crossings. The permitted length of stay is printed with a separate stamp and the final date handwritten.
File:Vietnam noibaiairport passport stamp.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Noi Bai International Airport
Nội Bài International Airport ( vi, Sân bay quốc tế Nội Bài) in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the second largest and busiest airport for passenger traffic, after Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It is currently the main airpo ...
File:Vietnam tan son nhat.JPG, Entry and exit stamps issued at Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport ( vi, Sân bay quốc tế Tân Sơn Nhất or Cảng hàng không quốc tế Tân Sơn Nhất) is the busiest airport in Vietnam with 32.5 million passengers in 2016 and 38.5 million passengers in 2018 ...
File:Vietnam immigration stamps at Dong Dang and Huu Nghi.jpg, Exit stamp at Dong Dang border crossing via train and entry stamp at Huu Nghi land border crossing
Africa
Algeria
Botswana
File:Botswana stamp exit.jpg, Botswana exit stamp issued at Kazungula Ferry
The Kazungula Ferry was a pontoon ferry across the Zambezi River between Botswana and Zambia. It was one of the largest ferries in south-central Africa, having a capacity of . The service was provided by two motorised pontoons and operated betwee ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Botswana stamp entry.jpg, Botswana entry stamp issued at Tlokweng
Tlokweng is a peri-urban settlement classified as an urban village located east of the capital of Botswana, Gaborone and falling under the jurisdiction of South East District Council. It can be considered part of the conurbation of Gaborone. ...
in an Israeli passport
Burkina Faso
File:Burkina faso stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou Airport , officially Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou, is an international airport in the center of the capital city of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. It was built in the 1960s, and it is approximately southeast of th ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Burkina faso stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou in an Israeli passport
Burundi
File:Burundi stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Kanyaru in an Israeli passport
File:Burundi stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Ruhwa in an Israeli passport
Cameroon
File:Cameroon stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Kye-Ossi in an Israeli passport
File:Cameroon stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport in an Israeli passport
Egypt
File:Egypt Taba Entry.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Taba Border Crossing
The Taba Border Crossing also known as the Menachem Begin Crossing ( ar, معبر طابا, he, מעבר מנחם בגין formerly he, מעבר טאבה) is an international border crossing between Taba, Egypt, and Eilat, Israel
History
Open ...
in a United States passport
File:SHARM EL SHEIKH 2.png, Exit stamp issued at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport ( ar, مطار شرم الشيخ الدولي ''Maṭār Sharm El Sheikh El Dawli'') is an international airport located in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. It is the third-busiest airport in Egypt after Cairo Inter ...
Eritrea
File:Eritrea visa.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Asmara International Airport
Asmara International Airport, , is the international airport of Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. It is the country's largest airport and, as of 2017, the only one receiving regularly scheduled services.
History
The airport was constructed by th ...
on Eritrean visa in an Israeli passport
Eswatini
File:Swaziland stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Mhlumeni
Mhlumeni is a town in eastern Eswatini on the border with Mozambique. It lies in the Lubombo Mountains about 40 kilometres north-east of Siteki in Lubombo District
Lubombo is a region of Eswatini, located in the east of the country. It has an ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Swaziland Passport Stamp.JPG, Entry stamp issued at Ngwenya
Ngwenya is a town in western Eswatini, lying near the border with South Africa, north west of Mbabane, on the MR3 road. The South African town opposite Ngwenya is Oshoek in Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The ...
Ethiopia
File:Ethiopia stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is an international airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is in the Bole district, southeast of the city centre and north of Bishoftu. The airport was formerly known as '' Haile Selassie I Internat ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Ethiopia stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in an Israeli passport
French overseas departments (Mayotte and Réunion)
When arriving in and departing from the
French overseas department
The overseas departments and regions of France (french: départements et régions d'outre-mer, ; ''DROM'') are departments of France that are outside metropolitan France, the European part of France. They have exactly the same status as mainlan ...
s of
Mayotte
Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore language, Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Bushi language, Kibushi: ''Maori'', ), officially the Department of Mayotte (french: Département de Mayotte), is an Overseas France, overseas Overseas departments and regi ...
and
Réunion
Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...
,
French Border Police
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
officers stamp travelers' travel documents according to the following rules:
[Arrêté du 4 février 2015 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire de Mayotte](_blank)
/ref>[Arrêté du 26 juillet 2011 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire de la Guadeloupe, la Guyane, la Martinique, La Réunion et de la collectivité de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (Annexe I)]
/ref>
Travellers flying directly from metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
to Mayotte
Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore language, Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Bushi language, Kibushi: ''Maori'', ), officially the Department of Mayotte (french: Département de Mayotte), is an Overseas France, overseas Overseas departments and regi ...
or Réunion
Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...
only undergo border checks by the French Border Police at the departure airport in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
and not on arrival at Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport
Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport is an airport located in Dzaoudzi, Mayotte, France on the southern tip of the island of Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), located east of Grande-Terre, the main island of Mayotte. It is the only airport in Ma ...
in Mayotte
Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore language, Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Bushi language, Kibushi: ''Maori'', ), officially the Department of Mayotte (french: Département de Mayotte), is an Overseas France, overseas Overseas departments and regi ...
or Roland Garros Airport
Roland Garros Airport (french: Aéroport de la Réunion Roland Garros) , formerly known as Gillot Airport, is located in Sainte-Marie on Réunion, France. The airport is east of Saint-Denis; it is named after the French aviator Roland Garros ...
in Réunion
Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...
. However, as third-country nationals (who do not benefit from one of the exemptions in the right-hand column above) are required to receive a passport stamp, the French Border Police will give them an information sheet when they leave metropolitan France informing them that they should present themselves to the French Border Police at the arrival airport to receive a passport stamp. On the other hand, travellers flying directly from Mayotte
Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore language, Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Bushi language, Kibushi: ''Maori'', ), officially the Department of Mayotte (french: Département de Mayotte), is an Overseas France, overseas Overseas departments and regi ...
or Réunion
Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...
to metropolitan France undergo border checks by the French Border Police both on departure and on arrival, when their travel documents will be stamped accordingly.
File:Entry Reunion.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Réunion
Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...
Gabon
File:Gabon stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Léon-Mba International Airport
Léon-Mba International Airport is an airport
situated in Libreville, Gabon. It is the main international airport in the country and was constructed in the 1950s.
Airlines and destinations Passenger
Cargo
Accidents and incidents
*Just ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Gabon stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Meyo Kye in an Israeli passport
Gambia
File:Gambia stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Soma
Soma may refer to:
Businesses and brands
* SOMA (architects), a New York–based firm of architects
* Soma (company), a company that designs eco-friendly water filtration systems
* SOMA Fabrications, a builder of bicycle frames and other bicycl ...
in an Israeli passport
Ghana
File:Ghana Entry Stamp.JPG, Entry stamp in a United States passport
File:Ghana Exit Stamp.JPG, Exit stamp
Guinea Bissau
File:Guinea-bissau stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Jeque in an Israeli passport
File:Guinea-bissau stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport
Osvaldo Vieira International Airport , also known as Bissau-Bissalanca Airport, is an international airport that serves the city of Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, as well as the Metropolitan Region of Bissau. It is the only international a ...
in an Israeli passport
Kenya
File:Kenya stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Busia in an Israeli passport
File:Kenya stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport , is an international airport in Nairobi, the capital of and largest city in Kenya. The other three important international airports in Kenya include the Kisumu International Airport,
Moi International A ...
in an Israeli passport
Malawi
File:Malawi stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Dedza
Dedza is the main township of Dedza District in the Central Region of Malawi.
Description
Dedza is located about 85 km south of Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, off the M1 road to Blantyre at a point where a trans-African highway from Johanne ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Malawi stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Songwe in an Israeli passport
Morocco
File:Morocco exit stamp Beni-Anzar.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Beni Ansar
Beni Ansar ( Tarifit: Bni Nṣaa, ⴱⵏⵉ ⵏⵚⴰⴰ; Arabic: بني أنصار; Spanish: Beni Ensar) is a town in Nador Province, Oriental, Morocco, located 12 km (7½ miles) north of the city of Nador. It is bordered on the north ...
border crossing in a United States passport.
File:Morocco tangier entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Tangier
Tangier ( ; ; ar, طنجة, Ṭanja) is a city in northwestern Morocco. It is on the Moroccan coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. The town is the ca ...
, ''Tanger'' in French, in a Canadian Passport
A Canadian passport (french: passeport canadien) is the passport issued to Canadian nationality law, citizens of Canada. It enables the bearer to enter or re-enter Canada freely; travel to and from other countries in accordance with Visa requir ...
.
Mozambique
File:Mozambique stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Calomue in an Israeli passport
File:Mozambique stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Goba
Goba ( Oromo: ', Amharic: ጎባ) is a town and separate woreda located in the Bale Zone of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia approximately 446 km southeast of Addis Ababa, this city has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2,743 meter ...
in an Israeli passport
Nigeria
File:Nigeria Exit Stamp.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) ( yo, Pápá Ọkọ̀ Òfurufú Káríayé Múrítàlá Mùhammẹ̀d) is an international airport located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the entire state. The ai ...
in a Nigerian Passport
File:Nigeria Entry Stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Seme Border
Seme Border is a settlement in Nigeria on the border with Benin, thirty minutes drive from Badagry on the coastal road between Lagos and Cotonou. Seme is a part of Badagry Division of Lagos State. With the present political division in the sta ...
in a Nigerian Passport
Rwanda
File:Rwanda stamp exit1.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Akanyaru in an Israeli passport
File:Rwanda stamp entry1.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Gatuna
Gatuna town is a town in northern Rwanda. It is a border town that sits across from the town of Katuna, in neighboring Uganda.
Overview
Gatuna is the busiest border crossing in Rwanda. It handles most of Rwanda's imports and exports, since mos ...
in an Israeli passport
Senegal
File:Senegal stamp exit2.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Blaise Diagne International Airport
Blaise Diagne International Airport (french: link=no, Aéroport international Blaise Diagne, ) is an international airport near the town of Diass in Thiès Region, Senegal, east of downtown Dakar. It serves as the main airport for Dakar, replaci ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Senegal stamp entry2.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Keur Ayib in an Israeli passport
South Africa
File:South africa stamp entry beitbridge.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Beitbridge
Beitbridge is a border town in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. The name also refers to the border post and bridge spanning the Limpopo River, which forms the political border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The border on ...
in an Israeli passport
File:South africa stamp exit oshoek.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Oshoek
Oshoek in Mpumalanga is the main border post between South Africa and Eswatini The N17 national road starts here. The area on the /Eswatini side of the border is known as Ngwenya, and the road ( MR3 Road) leads directly to Mbabane
Mbabane (; ...
in an Israeli passport
File:South African Entry Stamp.jpg, Entry stamp issued at O. R. Tambo International Airport
O. R. Tambo International Airport is an international airport situated in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel to/from South Africa and since 2020, it is Africa's second ...
in a Nigerian Passport for study purpose
File:South African Entry Stamp 2.jpg, Entry stamp issued at O. R. Tambo International Airport for vacation purpose
File:South Africa Exit Stamp.jpg, Exit stamp issued at O. R. Tambo International Airport
Tanzania
File:Tanzania stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Dar es Salaam airport in an Israeli passport
File:Tanzania stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Kasumulu in an Israeli passport
File:Zanzibar stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Zanzibar
Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islan ...
in an Israeli passport
Tunisia
Tunisia stamps passports upon both entry and exit. In the photo below, the red stamp indicates the entry date, while the black stamp indicates the exit date.
File:Tunisia Entry and Exit Stamps.jpg, Entry and exit stamps issued at Tunis–Carthage International Airport
Tunis–Carthage International Airport, ar, مطار تونس قرطاج الدولي, ) is the international airport of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. It serves as the home base for Tunisair, Tunisair Express, Nouvelair Tunisia, and Tunisavia ...
Uganda
File:Uganda stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Busia in an Israeli passport
File:Uganda stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Katuna
Katuna is a town in the Kabale District of Uganda at the border with Rwanda. The town is also called "Gatuna" in the Kinyarwanda language.
Location
Katuna is located on the Ugandan border with Rwanda, in extreme southwestern Uganda. The town is ...
in an Israeli passport
Zambia
File:Zambia stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Kazungula
Kazungula is a small border town in Zambia, lying on the north bank of the Zambezi River about west of Livingstone on the M10 Road.
At Kazungula, the territories of four countries (Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia) come close to meetin ...
in an Israeli passport
File:Zambia stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls (Lozi language, Lozi: ''Mosi-oa-Tunya'', "The Smoke That Thunders"; Tonga language (Zambia and Zimbabwe), Tonga: ''Shungu Namutitima'', "Boiling Water") is a waterfall on the Zambezi River in southern Africa, which provides hab ...
in an Israeli passport
Zimbabwe
File:Zimbabwe stamp entry.jpg, Entry stamp issued at Victoria Falls in an Israeli passport
File:Zimbabwe stamp exit.jpg, Exit stamp issued at Beitbridge
Beitbridge is a border town in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. The name also refers to the border post and bridge spanning the Limpopo River, which forms the political border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The border on ...
in an Israeli passport
Europe
Schengen Area
All 26 European countries within the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
have entry and exit stamps of a uniform design. As of April 2016, at a national level, 11 Schengen countries (Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and t ...
, Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...
, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...
, Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croa ...
, Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
, Lithuania, Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
, Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...
, Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal:
:* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...
, Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the ...
and Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
) have developed computer databases recording entries and exits of third-country nationals (i.e. travellers who are not EU, EEA or Swiss citizens) at external border crossing points. However, on a Schengen-wide level, there is no centralised computer database that tracks entries and exits at all of the external border crossing points of the 26 Schengen countries, nor are entry and exit records from national databases shared between countries. As a result, law enforcement officials continue to rely on checking passport stamps as the primary way to check that travellers who do not have the right of free movement have not exceeded their length of permitted stay in the Schengen Area.
Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 envisages the establishment of an Entry-Exit System (EES) which will record third-country nationals' entries and exits when they cross the external borders of the Schengen Area in a central database, replacing passport stamps. As of August 2022, EES is expected to enter into operation at the end of May 2023.
There are no systematic immigration checks when travelling between Schengen countries (i.e. crossing the internal borders of the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
). Passport stamps are never issued when travelling between Schengen countries, even when immigration checks between Schengen countries are temporarily re-introduced.[Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the operation of the provisions on stamping of the travel documents of third-country nationals in accordance with Articles 10 and 11 of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006]
COM (2009) 489, p. 8
When travelling to/from a non-Schengen country (i.e. crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
), the rules on stamping travel documents are as follows:[Article 11 of the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399)]
OJ L 77, 23 March 2016, pp. 1–52
Border officials are required, by law, to stamp the travel documents of third country nationals who do not qualify for one of the exemptions listed in the right hand column, even when border controls have been relaxed. Exceptionally, if stamping a person's travel document would cause serious difficulties (such as political persecution), border officials can instead issue a sheet of paper detailing the person's name, travel document number and entry date and location. However, in practice, border officials do not always stamp the travel documents of travellers as legally required.[Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the operation of the provisions on stamping of the travel documents of third-country nationals in accordance with Articles 10 and 11 of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006]
COM (2009) 489, p. 4
If a person who should have received an entry stamp cannot show one either upon request by a law enforcement officer or upon leaving the Schengen Area to a border official, the officer can presume that the person has been staying illegally in the Schengen Area and can expel him/her, unless the person can demonstrate using credible evidence (such as transport tickets and accommodation receipts) that he/she has not exceeded his/her permitted length of stay in the Schengen Area.
Also, whilst by law persons enjoying the right of freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights, or the right to travel is a human rights concept encompassing the right of individuals to travel from place to place within the territory of a country,Jérémiee Gilbert, ''Nomadic Peoples and Human Rights' ...
are not to receive a passport stamp, in practice, upon request, a stamp may be given – see the gallery below for an example of an entry stamp being issued upon request by an EU citizen
European Union citizenship is afforded to all citizens of member states of the European Union (EU). It was formally created with the adoption of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, at the same time as the creation of the EU. EU citizenship is additio ...
. Similarly, although by law heads of state are not to receive a passport stamp, in practice, this is not always followed. For example, when arriving for the 37th G8 summit
The 37th G8 summit was held on May 26–27, 2011, in Deauville, France.
Previous G8 summits have been hosted by France in locations which include Rambouillet (1975); Versailles (1982); Grande Arche, Paris (1989); Lyon (1996); and Évian-les-Bains ...
in Deauville
Deauville () is a commune in the Calvados department, Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its harbour, race course, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino, and sumptuous hotels. The first Deauville Asian Film F ...
, United States President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...
had his passport stamped at Deauville – Saint-Gatien Airport
Deauville () is a commune in the Calvados department, Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its harbour, race course, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino, and sumptuous hotels. The first Deauville Asian Film Fe ...
. Similarly, when President Obama attended the 2009 Strasbourg–Kehl summit
The 2009 Strasbourg–Kehl Summit was a NATO summit of heads of state and heads of government held in Strasbourg, France, and in Kehl and Baden-Baden, Germany, on 3–4 April 2009. The summit marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of ...
, his diplomatic passport was stamped on arrival at Strasbourg Airport
Strasbourg Airport (french: Aéroport de Strasbourg; german: Straßburg Flughafen; gsw-FR, D'r Strossburi(g) Flughàfa) is a minor international airport located in Entzheim and 10 km (6.2 miles) west-southwest of Strasbourg, both ''comm ...
on 3 April 2009, and after visiting Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
, Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. Th ...
, his diplomatic passport was stamped on departure from Prague Ruzyně Airport on 5 April 2009.
Although, according to EU rules, third country nationals who hold residence permits should not have their travel documents stamped, France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
nevertheless requires third country nationals holding a ''visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour'' (a long-stay visa serving additionally as a residence permit for up to one year) to receive a passport stamp upon their first entry to the Schengen Area as a part of the process to validate the visa as a residence permit; without an entry stamp, the process cannot be completed.
Third-country nationals who otherwise fulfil all the criteria for admission into the Schengen area must not be denied entry for the sole reason that there is no remaining empty space in their travel document to affix a stamp; instead, the stamp should be affixed on a separate sheet of paper.
Entry and exit stamps are applied in black ink, except for the red date stamp and a two-digit security code in the middle. The two-digit security code must be changed at least once a month, although some Schengen countries (such as Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...
) change security codes every day. The stamps bear the country abbreviation within a circle of stars in the top left hand corner, the name of the entry/exit border crossing point in Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet or Roman alphabet is the collection of letters originally used by the ancient Romans to write the Latin language. Largely unaltered with the exception of extensions (such as diacritics), it used to write English and the ...
at the bottom, and an icon in the top right hand corner to denote the mode of entry/exit. Below the name of the border crossing point is an identifying number – a record is kept of the identity of the border officer to whom a given stamp is assigned at any given time. Entry stamps are rectangular and have an arrow into a square, while exit stamps are rectangular with rounded corners and have an arrow out of a square. The stamps do not indicate any maximum permitted duration of stay.
Border guards are required to ensure the secure storage of passport stamps in locked safes between shifts. Border posts are advised to set out clear responsibilities and instructions for the distribution and use of passport stamps.
According to European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...
recommendations and guidelines, stamps should be affixed in travel documents by border officials in the following manner:
* in chronological order
* in a horizontal position
* in a clear and straight manner (i.e. with enough ink and not over the edge of a page)
* the exit stamp should be affixed in the proximity of the entry stamp
* no stamp should be affixed over another stamp or over the machine readable zone of a visa
* if the travel document contains a single-entry Schengen visa, the stamp should be affixed over the edge of the visa, but without affecting the legibility of the conditions and security features of the visa
* if the travel document contains a multiple-entry Schengen visa, the stamp should be affixed on the page facing the one on which the visa is affixed
If a third-country national is refused entry to the Schengen Area, the border official is required to affix an entry stamp in the travel document, cancel the stamp by an indelible cross in blank ink and write the letter corresponding to the reason for the refusal of entry to the right-hand side of the cancelled stamp.
By contrast, if a border official has affixed a stamp in a travel document by mistake (as opposed to a refusal of entry), the stamp can be annulled by drawing two parallel lines through the top left-hand corner.
In view of the coronavirus pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identifie ...
, starting from 16 March 2020 there is a temporary restriction on the entry of third-country nationals (i.e. travellers who are not EU/EEA/Swiss/British citizens and family members with the right of free movement) to the Schengen Area for non-essential travel. However, third-country nationals who are holders of long-term visas or residence permits or are family members of EU/EEA/Swiss/British citizens are exempt from this restriction. Further, third-country nationals 'with an essential function or need' (such as healthcare workers, transport personnel, aid workers, military personnel, seasonal agricultural workers), passengers in transit, those travelling 'for imperative family reasons' and those 'in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons' are exempt from this restriction. Citizens of the European micro-states
A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area, usually both. However, the meanings of "state" and "very small" are not well-defined in international law.Warrington, E. (1994). "Lilliputs ...
(Andorra, the Holy See, Monaco and San Marino) are also exempt from this restriction. In addition, citizens of Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey are exempt from this restriction if they are stranded abroad and are repatriated to their country of origin.
Third-country nationals (not covered by one of the exemptions from the temporary restriction of entry for non-essential reasons) who seek to enter the Schengen Area will be refused entry at the border crossing point and will receive a refusal of entry form (with the reason of refusal marked as "I", i.e. a threat to public health), as well as a passport stamp cancelled by an indelible cross in black ink and the letter "I" on the right hand side.
The obligation imposed by European law on national border authorities to stamp travel documents of certain travellers should not prevent the development of automated border control system
Automated border control systems (ABC) or eGates are automated self-service barriers which use data stored in a chip in biometric passports along with a photo or fingerprint taken at the time of entering the eGates to verify the passport holder's ...
s which are then made available to those who are required to have their travel documents stamped when crossing the external border of the Schengen Area. One solution is to dedicate separate lanes to third-country nationals and to have a border guard physically positioned next to the automated border gates used by these lanes who can stamp travel documents where required: this has been adopted by the Finnish Border Guard
The Finnish Border Guard (; ) is the agency responsible for enforcing the security of Finland's borders. It is a military organisation, subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior in administrative issues and to the President of Finland in iss ...
at the automated border gates in Helsinki Airport
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (; fi, Helsinki-Vantaan lentoasema, sv, Helsingfors-Vanda flygplats), or simply Helsinki Airport, is the main international airport of the city of Helsinki, its surrounding metropolitan area, and the Uusimaa region. Th ...
, where eligible users (who are required to receive a passport stamp) include holders of Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
, Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
, South Korean and United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
biometric passport
A biometric passport (also known as an e-passport or a digital passport) is a traditional passport that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip which contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the p ...
s, and in the Port of Helsinki
The Port of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin Satama, sv, Helsingfors Hamn) is one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe and the main port for foreign trade in Finland.
For passenger traffic, the port operates regular liner connections to destinatio ...
, where eligible users (who are required to receive a passport stamp) include Russian citizens, as well as by the Portuguese Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras at the automated border gates in Lisbon Airport
Humberto Delgado Airport , informally Lisbon Airport and formally Portela Airport, is an international airport located northeast of the city centre of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The airport is the main international gateway to Portugal. ...
where eligible users (who are required to receive a passport stamp) include holders of Angolan and Brazilian passports and holders of diplomatic/service passports. This approach has also been adopted in Italy, where eligible users of eGates include holders of Australian
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal ...
, Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
, Israeli, Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
, New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
, Singaporean
Singaporeans, or the Singaporean people, refers to citizens or people who identify with the sovereign island city-state of Singapore. Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual country. Singaporeans of Chinese, Malay, I ...
, South Korean, United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
and Vatican
Vatican may refer to:
Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum
The Holy See
* The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...
biometric passport
A biometric passport (also known as an e-passport or a digital passport) is a traditional passport that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip which contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the p ...
s. A similar but slightly different solution has been adopted by the Dutch Royal Marechaussee
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee ( nl, Koninklijke Marechaussee, abbreviated to KMar) is the national gendarmerie force of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, performing military and civilian police duties. It is also one of the two national poli ...
at the Privium iris recognition
Iris recognition is an automated method of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of one or both of the irises of an individual's eyes, whose complex patterns are unique, stable, and can ...
automated border gates at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , known informally as Schiphol Airport ( nl, Luchthaven Schiphol, ), is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province ...
, where eligible users include registered EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, US citizens who are Global Entry
Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports and via the S ...
members, and all nationals who are holders of diplomatic passport
A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the persona ...
s, as well as by the German Federal Police
The Federal Police (''Bundespolizei'' or BPOL) is the national and principal federal law enforcement agency of the German Federal Government, being subordinate to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (''Bundesminister ...
at the ABG Plus iris recognition
Iris recognition is an automated method of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of one or both of the irises of an individual's eyes, whose complex patterns are unique, stable, and can ...
automated border gates at Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport (; german: link=no, Flughafen Frankfurt Main , also known as ''Rhein-Main-Flughafen'') is a major international airport located in Frankfurt, the fifth-largest city of Germany and one of the world's leading financial centre ...
where eligible users include registered EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and US citizens who are Global Entry
Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports and via the S ...
members: when eligible third-country nationals use Privium/ABG Plus, after their iris is scanned and verified, a different gate/door/turnstile opens to that for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and the third-country national user is directed to a lane which leads them to the front of the queue for manual passport checks at immigration desks, where the border guard stamps the user's passport. Another possible solution would be to design the automated border gates to print a paper slip with an entry or exit stamp on it, as well as the user's name and travel document number, whenever the user is a traveller who is subject to the requirement to have his/her travel document stamped.
File:Sandefjord passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Sandefjord Airport in Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
(Note that the stamp is in a British passport
A British passport is a travel document issued by the United Kingdom or other British dependencies and territories to individuals holding any form of British nationality. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa ...
, hence it was issued on special request)
File:Nickelsdorfpassportstamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''rail travel'', issued at Nickelsdorf
Nickelsdorf ( hu, Miklóshalma or Miklóshalom, hr, Mikištrof) is a town in the district of Neusiedl am See in the Austrian state of Burgenland.
Geography
Nickelsdorf is the only town in the municipality. It has an important border cross ...
at Austro-Hungarian border before Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croa ...
joined the Schengen Area
File:Greece doirani entry.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'', issued at Doirani
Doirani ( el, Δοϊράνη) is a town and former municipality in the Kilkis regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kilkis, of which it is a municipal unit. It is situated on the shores of D ...
at Greek-North Macedonian border
File:Ijmondpassportstamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''ferry travel'', issued at the port of Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
IJmond in Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
File:Czech prague airport exit.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Prague Ruzyně Airport in Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. Th ...
File:Germany bad schandau exit.jpg, Exit stamp for ''rail travel'', issued at Bad Schandau
Bad Schandau (; hsb, Žandow) is a spa town in Germany, in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district of Saxony. It is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, at the mouth of the valley of the Kirnitzsch and in the area often described as ...
at Czech-German border before the Czech Republic joined the Schengen Area
File:Poland korczowa exit.jpg, Exit stamp for ''road travel'', issued at Korczowa at Polish-Ukrainian border
File:Finland helsinki ferry.JPG, Exit stamp for ''ferry travel'', issued at port of Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
in Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...
Albania
Although Albania is not a European Union or Schengen Area member state, and is outside the EU freedom of movement area, it has adopted the common Schengen design for passport stamps. In addition, passports of EU/EFTA countries, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino are not stamped.
File:Albania durres.jpg, Exit stamp for ferry travel, issued at the Durrës ferry terminal (old style)
File:Albstamp.jpg, Entry stamp for air travel, issued at Tirana Airport (old style)
File:Exit stamp Albania.png, Exit stamp for air travel, issued at Tirana Airport
File:Passport stamp Albania.jpg, Entry stamp for road travel, issued at Tushëmisht (border with North Macedonia)
Andorra
Entry from France or Spain requires no formalities. However, a souvenir stamp is issued on request at the border.
File:Andorra Entry Stamp.jpg
Belarus
Belarus is a member of the Union State
The Union State,; be, Саю́зная дзяржа́ва Расі́і і Белару́сі, Sajuznaja dziaržava Rasii i Bielarusi, links=no. or Union State of Russia and Belarus,; be, Саю́зная дзяржа́ва, Sajuznaja dziar� ...
of Russia and Belarus but, like Russia, still has its own passport stamps. Belarus passport stamps have the state's name in the Belarusian language
Belarusian ( be, беларуская мова, biełaruskaja mova, link=no, ) is an East Slavic language. It is the native language of many Belarusians and one of the two official state languages in Belarus. Additionally, it is spoken in some ...
: Republic of Belarus, a chevron (facing to the left for entry, to the right for exit), date and name of the checkpoint.
Bulgaria
Although Bulgaria is a European Union member state, it has not yet joined the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
. Nonetheless, it has adopted the common Schengen design for passport stamps.
File:Bulgaria Burgas Airport entry passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''air travel'' issued at Burgas Airport
Burgas Airport () is an international airport in southeast Bulgaria and the second largest in the country. It is near the northern neighbourhood of Sarafovo approximately from the city centre. The airport principally serves Burgas and other s ...
.
File:Bulgaria Burgas Airport exit passport stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'' issued at Burgas Airport
Burgas Airport () is an international airport in southeast Bulgaria and the second largest in the country. It is near the northern neighbourhood of Sarafovo approximately from the city centre. The airport principally serves Burgas and other s ...
.
File:Gyueshevopassportstamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'' issued in Gyueshevo at the border with North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
.
File:Bulgaria Kalotina passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'' issued in Kalotina
Kalotina ( bg, Калотина ) is a village in Dragoman Municipality, Sofia Province, in westernmost central Bulgaria. As of 2010 it has 270 inhabitants and the mayor is Lidia Bozhilova. The village is located at the border with Serbia, 55&nbs ...
at the border with Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hung ...
.
File:Sofiaairportpassportstamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'' issued at Sofia Airport
Sofia Airport ( bg, Летище София, translit=Letishte Sofiya) is the main international airport of Bulgaria, located east of the centre of the capital Sofia. In 2019 the airport surpassed 7 million passengers for the first time. The ai ...
.
Croatia
After joining the European Union on 1 July 2013, Croatia adopted the common Schengen design for passport stamps, even though Croatia is still not a member of the Schengen passport-free area.
File:Croatia entry.jpg, Entry stamp for ''rail travel'', issued at Savski Marof.
File:Croatia exit.jpg, Exit stamp for ''rail travel'', issued at Savski Marof.
File:Croatia Terezino polje pečat.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Terezino Polje
Terezino Polje is a village in Croatia, on the border with Hungary. It is connected by the D5 highway to Virovitica in the south and the eponymous border crossing over the Drava to Barcs
Barcs ( hr, Barč; german: Bartsch or ) is a border town i ...
.
File:Zagreb-airport-passport-stamp-entrance-march-2014.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Zagreb Airport
Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport ( hr, Zračna luka Franjo Tuđman Zagreb) or Zagreb Airport ( hr, Zračna luka Zagreb) () is an international airport serving Zagreb, Croatia. It is the largest and busiest airport in Croatia. In 2019 it handled 3. ...
.
File:Old Croatian stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'' at Bajakovo, issued before Croatia joined European Union
Cyprus
Although Cyprus is a European Union member state, it has not yet joined the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
. Nonetheless, it has adopted the common Schengen design for passport stamps.
File:Cyprus Larnaca passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''air travel'' issued at Larnaca International Airport
Larnaca International Airport – Glafcos Clerides (''Diethnís Aeroliménas Lárnakas''). tr, Larnaka Uluslararası Havaalanı). is an international airport located southwest of Larnaca, Cyprus. Larnaca International Airport is Cyprus' main ...
.
File:Paphos entry passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''air travel'' issued at Paphos International Airport
Paphos International Airport ( el, Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Πάφου; tr, Baf Uluslararası Havalimanı) is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the city of Paphos, Cyprus. It is the country's second larges ...
.
File:Paphos exit stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'' issued at Paphos International Airport
Paphos International Airport ( el, Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Πάφου; tr, Baf Uluslararası Havalimanı) is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the city of Paphos, Cyprus. It is the country's second larges ...
.
Czech Republic
File:Cze nachod passstamp.JPG, Entry stamp for vehicle travel at Náchod
Náchod (; german: Nachod) is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 19,000 inhabitants. It is known both as a tourist destination and centre of industry. The town centre with the castle complex is well preserved ...
in January 2000.
Germany
Refused entries (Zurückweisung) are stamped in the passports, too.
File:FrankfurtMainAirportpassportstamp.jpg, Entry at airport
File:Frankfurt Oder passport stamp.jpg, Entry by car
File:Germany bad schandau exit.jpg, Exit by rail
File:West Germany Forst.jpg, Pre-Schengen German passport stamp
Ireland
File:Ireland Arrival Stamp November 2011.jpg, Arrival stamp for ''air travel'' issued at Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport ( Irish: ''Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath'') is an international airport serving Dublin, Ireland. It is operated by DAA (formerly Dublin Airport Authority). The airport is located in Collinstown, north of Dublin, and south of ...
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Kosovo
File:Kosovo visa.JPG, Entry and Exit stamps from Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari
Prishtina International Airport Adem Jashari ( sq, Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Prishtinës Adem Jashari, ), also referred to as Pristina International Airport ( sq, Aeroporti Ndërkombëtar i Prishtinës), is an international airport in Prishtina ...
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File:Kosovo stamp paper.png, Entry stamp for road travel, issued at Elez Han
Hani i Elezit or Elez Han ( sq-definite, Han i Elezit or ''Hani i Elezit''; sr, Ђенерал Јанковић, ''Đeneral Janković''; officially Елез Хан, ''Elez Han'') is a town and municipality located in the Ferizaj District of ...
border-crossing on a separate paper during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
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Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a member of the Schengen area with no borders with non-Schengen countries; thus, no passport stamps are issued. However, for a nominal fee, a souvenir stamp can be issued at the Liechtenstein Center tourist office.
Lithuania
File:Lithuanian passport stamp (by air).jpg, Air travel entry at Kaunas
Kaunas (; ; also see other names) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Tra ...
File:LT-Kaunas-out.png, Air travel exit at Kaunas
Kaunas (; ; also see other names) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Tra ...
File:Kenapassportstamp.jpg, Train travel entry at Kena
File:Exit stamp from Lithuania on the Russian border.jpg, Road travel exit at Nida
Monaco
The border with France is completely open. However, a souvenir stamp is given on request at the tourist office.
Montenegro
File:Podgorica Airport passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp at Podgorica Airport
Podgorica Airport ( cnr, Аеродром Подгорица, Aerodrom Podgorica, ) is an international airport serving the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica and the surrounding region. It is one of two international airports in Montenegro, the ...
File:MONTENEGRO - DEBELI BRIJEG exit stamp.jpg, Exit stamp at Debeli Brijeg
Debeli Brijeg is the main Montenegrin border crossing with Croatia. The Croatian checkpoint is known as Karasovići. It is located on the Adriatic Highway.
Debeli Brijeg is in Herceg Novi municipality about 6 km from Igalo
Igalo ( cnr, И ...
checkpoint (border with Croatia)
File:Sukobin entrance.png, Entrance stamp at Sukobin checkpoint (border with Albania)
North Macedonia
Although North Macedonia is not a European Union or Schengen Area member state, and is outside the EU freedom of movement area, it has adopted the common Schengen design for passport stamps. In addition, passports of EU/EFTA countries and UK are not stamped.
File:Passport stamp Macedonia.jpg, Entry stamp for ''rail travel'' at Tabanovce station (border with Serbia)
File:Exit stamp Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia.JPG, Exit stamp for ''road travel'' at Dolno Blace (border with Kosovo)
File:Skopje airport visa stamp entry and exit, May 2018.jpg, Entry and exit stamp for air travel at Skopje International Airport
Skopje International Airport ( mk, Меѓународен аеродром Скопје, translit=Megjunaroden aerodrom Skopje, ), also known as Skopje Airport ( mk, Аеродром Скопје, translit=Aerodrom Skopje), and Petrovec Airport ...
Poland
File:Pol kudowa passstamp.JPG, Entry for transit stamp at Kudowa-Zdrój (border with Czech Rep.), February 2000
Romania
Romania is not currently a member of the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
, however, being in the European Union since 2007, Romanian entry and exit stamps have been harmonised with the format of the stamps issued by Schengen states.
File:Romania Cluj Napoca passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Cluj International Airport.
File:Romania Craiova passport stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Craiova International Airport.
File:RO Ex Rail.JPG, Exit stamp for ''train travel'', issued at Curtici on the Schengen border with Hungary.
File:Romania Giurgiu passport stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Giurgiu on the border with Bulgaria.
File:RO En OTP.JPG, Entry stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Henri Coandă International Airport.
File:RO Ex OTP.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Henri Coandă International Airport.
File:Romania Iasi passport stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Iași International Airport.
File:Romania Moravita passport stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''rail travel'', issued in Moravița on the border with Serbia.
File:Romania Nadlac II passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Nădlac on the border with Hungary.
File:Romania Oancea passport stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Oancea on the border with Moldova.
File:Romania Ostrov passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Ostrov, Constanța on the border with Bulgaria.
File:Romania Radauti Prut passport stamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Rădăuți-Prut on the border with Moldova.
File:Romania Sculeni passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Sculeni on the border with Moldova.
File:RO En TSR.JPG, Entry stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Timișoara Airport.
File:RO Ex Road.JPG, Exit stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Arad County, Turnu, Arad on the border with Hungary.
File:Siretborderstamp.jpg, Exit stamp for ''road travel'', issued in Siret on the border with Ukraine.
File:RO Ex PreEu.JPG, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Timișoara Airport shortly before the Entry of Romania in the EU.
Russia
Entry and exit stamps are placed in passports regardless of citizenship; Russian passports are stamped as well as foreign ones, except the Internal Passport of Russia, Internal Passports, with which Russian nationality law, Russian citizens may travel to a few countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS. The stamp shows the name of the country (КПП below the country name stands for checkpoint – контрольно-пропускной пункт), the date, the name of the checkpoint and the personal code of the immigration official applying the stamp. Stamp colours and series (the last number following the date) change every time in few years, currently the color of the stamps is red of 9 series, but it can be blue or crimson as well. Entry or exit is designated by a direction of an angle bracket in the stamp: if it points to the right, that denotes exit. Exit stamp placed left, and entrance stamp placed right on the passport page.
File:Rus pulkovo old mid90s passstamp.JPG, Exit (left) and entry (right) stamps at St. Petersburg Pulkovo airport (1995–1998) in a Soviet passport (Russian Federation citizenship).
File:Rus torfyanovka auto passstamp.JPG, Exit stamp for vehicle travel at Torfyanovka (border with Finland) (2005).
File:Russia exit and entry passport stamps.jpg, Exit (left) and entry stamps issued at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport. Circled number "2" indicates travelling with a child using parent's passport (2006).
File:Russia Boat Passport Stamps.jpg, Entry Stamp (right) and Exit Stamp (left) for boat travel issued at Saint Petersburg Port in an American passport (2006).
File:Exit StampRUS.jpg, Exit stamp for air travel issued at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (2009).
File:Russia pulkovo air passport stamp 2016.JPG, New design exit stamp for air travel issued at St. Petersburg Pulkovo airport (2016).
File:Russische Paßstempel.png, Right: entry stamp for rail travel issued between Vyborg and St Petersburg.
Left: exit stamp for rail travel issued at Aksarayskaya station (border with Kazakhstan).
Placed on a transit visa in a Swedish passport (2016)
File:Russian_exit_stamp,_Ivangorod,_June_2018.jpg, Exit stamp for rail travel at Ivangorod (border with Estonia) (2018)
File:Russia_exit_stamp.png, Exit stamp for vehicle traver at Ilek (border with Kazakhstan) (2019)
San Marino
Even though there is an open border agreement with Italy, visitors can have their passport stamped by the San Marino authority at the passport office in the city centre for a small fee.
File:San-Marino-2016.jpg, San Marino entry stamp
File:Visum San Marino 1978.jpg, Visum 1978
Serbia
Serbia stamps both Serbian and foreign passports on exit, and foreign passports also on entry (until March 2018, foreign passports were not stamped on exit).
File:Serbischer Einreisestempel.png, Entry stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
File:Serbischer Ausreisestempel.png, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
File:Presevo stamp.png, Entry stamp for ''road travel'', issued at Preševo, Preševo border crossing (border with North Macedonia)
File:Nis stamp.png, Exit stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Niš Constantine the Great Airport, Niš International Airport
Switzerland
Although Switzerland is not a European Union member state, it is part of the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
and so it has adopted the common Schengen design for passport stamps.
File:CH EnNS.JPG, Entry stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Geneva Airport before the entry of Switzerland in the Schengen zone.
File:CH EnS.JPG, Entry stamp for ''air travel'', issued at Zurich Airport after the entry of Switzerland in the Schengen zone.
Turkey
Turkey, as a Accession of Turkey to the European Union, candidate member of the European Union, has adopted a design for passport stamps similar to that of the Schengen area.
File:Einreisestempel Türkei.jpg, Entry stamp from Sabiha Gökçen Airport
File:Ausreisestempel Türkei.jpg, Exit stamp from Kapıkule railway station (border with Bulgaria)
File:Kapikule entrance.png, Entry stamp from Kapıkule (border with Bulgaria)
File:HamzabeyliStamp.jpg, Entry and exit stamps from Hamzabeyli, Lalapaşa, Hamzabeyli (border with Bulgaria)
File:Habur entrance.png, Entry stamp from Ibrahim Khalil border crossing, Habur (border with Iraq)
File:Habur exit.png, Exit stamp from Ibrahim Khalil border crossing, Habur (border with Iraq)
File:Pazarkule exit.png, Exit stamp from Kastanies, Pazarkule (border with Greece)
File:Turkey Visa Stamp.jpg, Old entry and exit stamps from Istanbul Atatürk Airport
File:Istanbul entry stamp.jpg, Entry stamp at Istanbul Airport
File:Turkey Visa Stamp.jpg, Old entry and exit stamps from Istanbul Atatürk Airport
File:Entry stamp at Istanbul Airport.jpg, Entry stamp at Istanbul Airport
File:Exit stamp at Istanbul Airport.jpg, Exit stamp at Istanbul Airport
Ukraine
Ukrainian passport stamps bear the country's name (since 2020 only country code UA), mode of travel (ship, train, vehicle, plane), code of the immigration officer, chevron (facing to the right for entry, to the left for exit), date, serial code (probably periodic), name of the checkpoint and its code. All are written in the Ukrainian language.
File:Mohyliv-Podilskyi new auto border stamp.jpg, Entry stamp from Mohyliv-Podilskyi checkpoint (border with Moldova) (2020)
File:Bronnytsia border stamp.jpg, Exit stamp from the Bronnytsia checkpoint (border with Moldova) (2020)
File:Ua boryspil kpb pass stamp.JPG, Entry stamp from Kyiv Boryspil International Airport, Boryspil international airport in an Israeli passport (2015)
File:Ua odessa ods pass stamp.JPG, Entry stamp from Odessa international airport in an old Israeli passport (2013)
File:Tsekynivkaborderstamp.jpg, Entry stamp from Tsekynivka port (on the Dnister riverine border with Moldova) (2011)
File:Bolganborderstamp.jpg, Exit stamp from the Bolgan checkpoint (border with Moldova) (2009)
File:Ukraine krakovetz passport stamp 1999.jpg, Exit stamp from the Krakovets checkpoint (old style) in a Kazakh passport (1999)
United Kingdom
The UK Border Force only stamps the travel documents of travellers ''entering'' the UK from outside the Common Travel Area who do not have the Right of abode (United Kingdom), right of abode in the UK. When such travellers are granted leave to enter the UK, a stamp will generally be endorsed in their travel document, as the general rule laid down by section 4(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 is that power to give leave to enter the UK 'shall be exercised by notice in writing'. Passport stamps are in black ink and bear the name of the entry point, as well as the immigration officer's identification number.
Visa policy of the United Kingdom#Non-visa nationals, Non-visa nationals entering as a visitor (except Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand, Singaporean, South Korean and United States citizens) receive a passport stamp with the endorsement 'Leave to enter for six months: employment and recourse to public funds prohibited'.
EU, European Economic Area, EEA and Switzerland, Swiss citizens (regardless of whether they hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme in the UK) entering the UK on their Passports of the European Union, passport or National identity cards in the European Economic Area, national identity card do not receive a stamp.
If the traveller is the holder of a visa/entry clearance or a person exempt from immigration control (e.g. a diplomat), he/she receives an open date passport stamp (i.e. a stamp that does not contain any leave conditions). Moreover, this entry passport stamp is stamped on the right edge of the visa/entry clearance (if the traveller has one) on the traveller's first entry to indicate that the document has been used, even if the document is valid for multiple entries.
The following table shows which travellers arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area receive a passport stamp:
As a derogation from the general requirement to grant leave to enter the UK 'by notice in writing' in the form of a passport stamp (where a person without the right of abode and the right to free movement arrives in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area), UK Border Force officers are permitted by law to grant leave to enter by fax or e-mail, and may also grant leave to enter orally (including by telephone) if the traveller seeks to enter the UK as a visitor for up to 6 months.
All travellers from outside the Common Travel Area entering the UK using the ePassport gates (including those without the right of abode) do not receive a passport stamp. Visa policy of the United Kingdom#Non-visa nationals, Non-visa nationals entering the UK as a visitor who successfully use an ePassport gate are granted 6 months' leave to enter (subject to conditions prohibiting employment and recourse to public funds) without receiving any written notice/endorsement.
Since 20 May 2019, Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand, Singaporean, South Korean and United States citizens who enter the UK as a visitor and are granted leave to enter for 6 months do not receive a passport stamp, regardless of whether they use an EPassport gates, ePassport gate or a staffed counter. However, citizens of these countries who enter the UK with a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) Certificate of Sponsorship (for up to 3 months) or on a permitted paid engagement are not eligible to use the ePassport gates and must use a staffed counter, where they will receive a passport stamp.
When the Brexit, transition period of the UK's withdrawal from the EU came to an end on 31 December 2020, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens became subject to immigration control. However, regardless of whether they hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme in the UK, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens continue not to receive a stamp when entering the UK on their Passports of the European Union, passport or National identity cards in the European Economic Area, national identity card.
In the case of General aviation in the United Kingdom, general aviation flights arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area, travellers may not be inspected by the UK Border Force on arrival (depending on the risk assessment conducted on the basis of the travellers' information submitted in advance via the General Aviation Report (GAR) form) and may be 'remotely cleared' instead. In this case, no passport stamp is received.
Previously, all travellers entering the UK using the Iris Recognition Immigration System (including non-UK/EU/EEA/Swiss citizens) did not receive a passport stamp.
The UK Border Agency had a policy from 23 June 2008 until 4 November 2011 of conducting onboard clearance of some passengers travelling by coach at the juxtaposed controls
Juxtaposed controls (in french: link=no, bureaux à contrôles nationaux juxtaposés, or ; in nl, link=no, kantoren waar de nationale controles van beide landen naast elkaar geschieden) are a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, th ...
at the Port of Calais and the Eurotunnel Calais Terminal. Passengers' travel documents were visually inspected by a UKBA officer on the coach, without the passengers having to disembark and pass through immigration control (where their travel documents would be scanned and, when required, stamped). This concession mainly applied to school groups travelling within the European Economic Area, though it was also extended to some other groups, such as elderly passengers, travellers with special needs, brownie and scout groups and sports teams. This policy meant that some passengers whose travel documents would usually be stamped did not receive a stamp on entering the UK.
Travellers arriving in the UK directly from the Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland, Ireland and the Isle of Man are not subject to immigration checks as they are travelling within the Common Travel Area. Accordingly, no passport stamp is received.
There are no routine exit checks when departing from the UK for a destination outside the Common Travel Area by air, rail or sea. Instead, airline/rail/ferry companies obtain passengers' travel document information at check-in or on departure and transmit the information electronically to the UK Border Force. However, from time to time spot checks are carried out by the UK Border Force (in this case, travel documents are not stamped).
File:Uk london heathrow entry.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at Heathrow Airport (Heathrow Terminal 3, Terminal 3) to a Visa policy of the United Kingdom#Non-visa nationals, non-visa national.
File:UK Gatwick North passport stamp.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at Gatwick Airport (North Terminal) to a non-visa national.
File:UK Glasgow stamp.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at Glasgow Airport to a non-visa national.
File:UK_entry_stamp_from_Manchester.jpg, Passport stamp issued at Manchester Airport (Terminal 1) to a visa national.
File:Uk channeltunnel entry.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at the Channel Tunnel to a non-visa national.
File:UKE HENSLEY.JPG, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at the juxtaposed controls
Juxtaposed controls (in french: link=no, bureaux à contrôles nationaux juxtaposés, or ; in nl, link=no, kantoren waar de nationale controles van beide landen naast elkaar geschieden) are a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, th ...
at Gare du Nord to a non-visa national.
File:UK Frethun passport stamp.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at the juxtaposed controls
Juxtaposed controls (in french: link=no, bureaux à contrôles nationaux juxtaposés, or ; in nl, link=no, kantoren waar de nationale controles van beide landen naast elkaar geschieden) are a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, th ...
at Calais-Fréthun station to a non-visa national.
File:UK Calais passport stamp.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at the juxtaposed controls
Juxtaposed controls (in french: link=no, bureaux à contrôles nationaux juxtaposés, or ; in nl, link=no, kantoren waar de nationale controles van beide landen naast elkaar geschieden) are a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, th ...
at the Port of Calais to a non-visa national.
File:UK Brussels passport stamp.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at the juxtaposed controls
Juxtaposed controls (in french: link=no, bureaux à contrôles nationaux juxtaposés, or ; in nl, link=no, kantoren waar de nationale controles van beide landen naast elkaar geschieden) are a reciprocal arrangement between Belgium, France, th ...
at the Brussels-South railway station to a non-visa national.
File:Harwich International Port passport stamp.jpg, Passport stamp issued at Harwich International Port.
File:UKBA Stamp - Leave to Enter no restrictions.jpg, Passport stamp with 6 months' leave to enter issued at Heathrow Airport in London to a visa national from Russia. No restrictions, thus, allowed to work.
File:Uk teesideairport studentvisa.JPG, Old style passport stamp issued at Teesside International Airport to a non-visa national with leave conditions laid out.
North America
Canada
Canada no longer routinely stamp passports upon entry. With effect from 2 April 2012, Canada Border Services Agency#Border Services Officers, Border Services Officers of the Canada Border Services Agency will only stamp passports in the following circumstances:
* Seasonal agricultural workers
* Persons authorized to extend their stay in Canada
* Visitors arriving under a Parent/Grandparent super-visa
* Persons attaining permanent resident status at a port of entry
* Diplomatic visitors accredited to Canada arriving for the first time
* Persons issued a visitor record, limiting the duration of stay in Canada
* At the specific request of the traveler arriving at an international airport equipped with a Primary Inspection Kiosk
File:Queenston Bridge Canada Passport Bridge.JPG, Entry stamp at Lewiston–Queenston Bridge, Ontario.
File:PE-Cdn-Stamps.jpg, Entry stamp at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
File:Rainbow Bridge Canada Passport Stamp.JPG, Entry stamp at Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls), Rainbow Bridge, Ontario on a Colombian passport.
File:CBSAStampMunroIntl.jpg, Canada Border Services Agency entry stamp at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton, Ontario
File:Canada-Toronto Pearson stamp.jpg, Entry Stamp issued by Canada Immigration at Toronto-Lester B. Pearson International Airport This stamp was used by immigration officers for passengers who need secondary immigration checks.
File:Canada Visa Stamp.jpg, Entry stamp at Dorval International Airport in Montreal, which is Pierre Elliott Trudeau's airport former name. This stamp was used by passport control officers at Canada's international airports.
Cayman Islands
File:Cayman Islands entry stamp.jpg, Entry stamp.
Costa Rica
Cuba
*Cuban Government by policy does not stamp US Passports.
File:Cuba Passport Stamp.jpg, Entry and Exit stamps from Cayo Coco Airport.
French overseas departments and collectivities
When arriving in and departing from the French overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique and the French Overseas Collectivity, French overseas collectivities of Saint Barthélemy, Collectivity of Saint Martin, Saint Martin and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Border Police
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
officers stamp travellers' travel documents according to the following rules:[Arrêté du 18 avril 2012 relatif aux documents et visas exigés pour l'entrée des étrangers sur le territoire des collectivités de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin (Annexe I)](_blank)
/ref>
Travellers flying directly from metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
to Guadeloupe, Martinique or Saint Pierre and Miquelon only undergo border checks by the French Border Police at the departure airport in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
and not on arrival in the French overseas department/collectivity. However, as third-country nationals (who do not benefit from one of the exemptions in the right-hand column above) are required to receive a passport stamp, the French Border guard, Border Police will give them an information sheet when they leave metropolitan France informing them that they should present themselves to the French Border Police at the arrival airport to receive a passport stamp. On the other hand, travellers flying directly from Guadeloupe, Martinique or Saint Pierre and Miquelon to metropolitan France undergo border checks by the French Border Police both on departure and on arrival, when their travel documents will be stamped accordingly.
Whilst the rules for stamping travel documents of travellers arriving in and departing from the French overseas departments/collectivities mentioned above are based upon the rules which apply in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
and the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
(see the section above), important differences exist between the two sets of rules. For example, when crossing the Schengen Area#Regulation of external borders, external border of the Schengen Area, only family members of EU/European Economic Area, EEA/Switzerland, Swiss citizens who hold a residence card issued under Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right to move and reside freely, Directive 2004/38/EC and who are accompanying or joining their EU, EEA and Swiss citizen family member exercising the right of freedom of movement are exempt from having their travel documents stamped, whereas in the French overseas departments/collectivities mentioned above, more generous rules apply — when entering/leaving Guadeloupe/Martinique/Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a family member of an EU/European Economic Area, EEA/Switzerland, Swiss citizen who holds a residence card issued by an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC is exempt from having his/her travel document stamped regardless of whether he/she is accompanying/joining his/her EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member; when entering/leaving Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, a family member of an EU/European Economic Area, EEA/Switzerland, Swiss citizen who holds a residence card issued by an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland is exempt from having his/her travel document stamped regardless of whether he/she is accompanying/joining his/her EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member and regardless of whether the residence card was issued under Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC. Another example relates to third-country nationals who hold a residence permit issued by a Schengen Area#Membership, Schengen member state — when crossing the Schengen Area#Regulation of external borders, external border of the Schengen Area, his/her travel document should not be stamped, but when entering/leaving a French overseas department/collectivity, whilst he/she is not required to hold a visa for a short stay not exceeding 90 days in a 180-day period, his/her travel document will be stamped upon entry and exit.
Another exception applies in the case of the French overseas collectivity of Collectivity of Saint Martin, Saint Martin—travellers who in principle are subject to the obligation to have their travel documents stamped but who have cleared immigration control in Sint Maarten will not have their passport stamped when they enter/leave the French side of Collectivity of Saint Martin, Saint Martin.
The design of passport stamps issued in the French overseas departments/collectivities differs from those issued in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
/the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
. Previously, entry stamps issued in French overseas departments/collectivities were rectangular, whilst exit stamps were hexagonal. Under the current design, both entry and exit stamps issued in French overseas departments/collectivities are hexagonal and have a similar design to Schengen Area stamps. The top left corner states Outre-Mer and F, and indicates the 3-digit INSEE code for the Departments of France, overseas department/collectivity where the stamp was issued (971 for Guadeloupe, 972 for Martinique, 975 for Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 978 for Collectivity of Saint Martin, Saint Martin).
File:Enreisestempel Guadeloupe.png, Entry stamp at the port of Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) in a Swedish passport
File:Guadeloupe-Stempel.png, Exit stamp at Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (Guadeloupe) in a Swedish passport
File:Martinique-Stempel.png, Entry (top) and exit (bottom) stamps at the ferry dock in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, Saint-Pierre (Martinique) in a Swedish passport. As of March 2016, Saint-Pierre uses stamps from the port of Fort-de-France.
File:Saint Barthelemy entry passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp in Saint Barthélemy
File:Saint Martin Entry Stamp.png, Updated Schengen style entry stamp at Marigot, Saint Martin
File:Saint Martin Exit Stamp.png, Updated Schengen style exit stamp at Marigot, Saint Martin
File:Saint Pierre Entry Stamp.png, Updated Schengen style entry stamp at Saint-Pierre Airport
File:Saint Pierre Exit Stamp.png, Updated Schengen style exit stamp at Saint-Pierre Airport
File:Saint-pierre-passport-stamp.jpg, Previous style entry stamp in Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint-Pierre (Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Haiti
File:Haiti passport stamps.jpg, Entry and exit stamps from Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Port-au-Prince.
Mexico
Mexico does not apply exit stamps, only entry stamps placed into a passport.
File:Mexico Baja California passport stamp.jpg, Entry stamp from Tijuana, Baja California land border crossing.
Panama
File:Panama entry passport stamp 2019.png, Entry stamp from Tocumen International Airport, Panamá Province.
United States
File:USA Passport Stamp.jpg, Entry stamp at San Francisco International Airport.
File:US stamp at Plattsburgh, NY border.jpg, USA stamp at Champlain–St. Bernard de Lacolle Border Crossing.
File:Us stamp 2.png, American stamp from John F. Kennedy International Airport in a U.S. Passport.
File:Us stamp.png, American stamp in a U.S. Passport.
File:US Entry stamp at Toronto-Lester B. Pearson International Airport.jpg, Entry stamp for air travel issued at Toronto-Lester B. Pearson International Airport in a Canadian Passport
A Canadian passport (french: passeport canadien) is the passport issued to Canadian nationality law, citizens of Canada. It enables the bearer to enter or re-enter Canada freely; travel to and from other countries in accordance with Visa requir ...
.
File:Abu Dhabi Preclearance Facility Stamp in US Passport.png, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi Preclearance Facility stamp in a U.S. Passport
The three-letter Port of entry, Port of Entry code at the top of the entry stamp is assigned and maintained by the United States Department of State, Department of State. It is different from the IATA airport code.
The actual deadline to leave the U.S. for those admitted on a non-immigrant status is written at the bottom of the stamp, placed in the passport (when entering by air or sea) or on a green I-94W form stapled into the passport.
With the introduction of Automated Passport Control (APC), entries are not always stamped into passports of travelers using the kiosks (especially US and Canadian passports). There are custom slips printed out from the machine, which are stamped by immigration and then handed over to customs. However, details of arrival and departure records are still made available at the website of US Customs and Border Protection.
Oceania
Australia
The Australian government no longer stamps travellers’ passports on arrival or departure from Australia as a matter of principle, regardless of whether travellers go through SmartGate or are processed manually at a counter.
File:Australia coolangatta entry 2.JPG, Entry stamp at Coolangatta Airport
File:Australia coolangatta exit 2.JPG, Exit stamp at Coolangatta Airport
File:Photo of an ink stamp on passport.jpg, Entry stamp at Sydney Airport
File:Departure from Australia photo of stamp.jpg, Exit stamp at Sydney Airport
Fiji
File:Fijientryimmigation.jpg, Entry stamp at Nadi International Airport in Fiji.
File:Fiji Exit Stamp.jpg, Exit stamp at Nadi International Airport.
French overseas territories (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna)
When arriving in and departing from the French overseas territories of French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, French Border Police
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
officers stamp travellers' travel documents according to the following rules:
When travelling between the French overseas territories situated in the Pacific Ocean (for example, when travelling Direct flight, directly by plane from New Caledonia to French Polynesia), unless qualifying for one of the exemptions in the right hand column in the table above, a traveller will receive a passport stamp in his/her travel document upon departure from New Caledonia and another stamp upon arrival in French Polynesia.
Whilst the rules for stamping travel documents of travellers arriving in and departing from the French overseas territories in the Pacific Ocean are based upon the rules which apply in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
and the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
(see the section above), important differences exist between the two sets of rules. For example, when crossing the Schengen Area#Regulation of external borders, external border of the Schengen Area, only family members of EU/European Economic Area, EEA/Switzerland, Swiss citizens who hold a residence card issued under Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC and who are accompanying or joining their EU, EEA and Swiss citizen family member exercising the right of freedom of movement are exempt from having their travel documents stamped, whereas in the French overseas territories in the Pacific, more generous rules apply — a family member of an EU/European Economic Area, EEA/Switzerland, Swiss citizen who holds a residence permit issued by an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland is exempt from having his/her travel document stamped regardless of whether he/she is accompanying/joining his/her EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member and regardless of whether his/her residence permit was issued under Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC. Another example relates to third-country nationals who hold a residence permit issued by a Schengen Area#Membership, Schengen member state – when crossing the Schengen Area#Regulation of external borders, external border of the Schengen Area, his/her travel document should not be stamped, but when entering/leaving a French overseas territory in the Pacific, whilst he/she is not required to hold a visa for a short stay not exceeding 90 days in a 180-day period, his/her travel document will be stamped upon entry and exit.
The design of passport stamps issued in the French overseas territories in the Pacific differs from those issued in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
/the Schengen Area
The Schengen Area ( , ) is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and ...
. Previously, entry stamps issued in French overseas territories in the Pacific were rectangular, whilst exit stamps were hexagonal. Under the current design, both entry and exit stamps issued in French overseas territories in the Pacific are hexagonal, and are similar in design to Schengen Area passport stamps. The top left corner states Outre-Mer and F, and indicates the 3-digit INSEE code for the Departments of France, overseas territory where the stamp was issued (988 for New Caledonia).
File:French Polynesia entry stamp 2007 Tahiti-Faa'a.jpg, Entry stamp at Fa'a'ā International Airport in French Polynesia
File:French Polynesia Exit.jpg, Exit stamp at Fa'a'ā International Airport in French Polynesia
File:New Caledonia Passport Entry Stamp.jpg, Updated Schengen style entry stamp at La Tontouta International Airport in New Caledonia
File:New Caledonia Passport Exit Stamp.jpg, Updated Schengen style exit stamp at La Tontouta International Airport in New Caledonia
File:New Caledonia - Entry.jpg, Previous style entry stamp at La Tontouta International Airport in New Caledonia
File:New Caledonia - Exit.jpg, Previous style exit stamp at La Tontouta International Airport in New Caledonia
File:New Caledonia passport stamp.jpg, Older style exit stamp at La Tontouta International Airport in New Caledonia
New Zealand
Since March 2018, the New Zealand Customs Service ceased stamping passports for Australian permanent residents and New Zealand residents. General entry stamps continue to be used for temporary visa holders.
On arrival in New Zealand, travellers who are neither New Zealand nationality law, New Zealand nor Nationality law of Australia, Australian citizens or New Zealand permanent residency, permanent residents who are granted entry into the country will receive a 'Visitor Visa' rectangular stamp in their travel document.
New Zealand and Australian citizens do not have their passports stamped on arrival in New Zealand unless specifically requested.
Travellers using Automated border control system#New Zealand, eGate (available to holders of a New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
, Australian
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal ...
, Chinese passport, Chinese, Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
, Dutch passport, Dutch, French passport, French, German passport, German, Irish passport, Irish, Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
, Singaporean
Singaporeans, or the Singaporean people, refers to citizens or people who identify with the sovereign island city-state of Singapore. Singapore is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual country. Singaporeans of Chinese, Malay, I ...
, South Korean, United Kingdom passport, United Kingdom or United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
ePassport aged 12 years or over) will not have their passports stamped on arrival in New Zealand.
For all travellers, passports are not stamped on departure from New Zealand regardless of nationality and whether using an immigration desk or SmartGate, eGate.
File:New Zealand Passport Stamp.tif, General Entry stamp (given to temporary visa holders upon entry)
File:New Zealand Entry Stamp Hensley.png, Visitors Visa Entry stamp (for all non-NZ/Australian passport holders without residency in either country)
File:New Zealand Passport Stamp Resident.tif, Resident Visa Entry Stamp (no longer issued as of March 2018)
Niue
Niue passport stamps bear the name of the country, a map outline of Niue, date and location of entry/departure.
File:Niue passport stamp (entry).png, Entry stamp at Niue International Airport
File:Niue passport stamp (exit).png, Exit stamp at Niue International Airport
Vanuatu
The passport stamp bears the country name, date and port of entry/departure.
File:Vanuatu Entry.tif, Entry stamp at Port Vila
File:Vanuatu Exit.tif, Exit stamp at Port Vila
South America
Argentina
File:ARGENTINA STAMPS.jpg, Entry and exit stamps from the Argentina-Brazil border at Puerto Iguazu. Shown here in a U.S. Passport.
File:Argentina stamps.png
Brazil
Holder of Brazilian passports entering or departing from Brazil will not receive a passport stamp. However, other nationals will go through customs and receive a stamp for both entry and exit. When entering Brazil by car from another country such as Argentina or Paraguay, few people go through customs and thus rarely receive stamps in their passport.
File:Brazil visa and stamps.png, Brazilian entry and exit stamps in a US Passport, opposite from the visa. Near a French and American stamp.
File:Brazil stamp 2.png, Brazilian entry stamp in a US passport.
File:Brazil exit passport stamp.png, Brazilian exit stamp in a US passport.
File:Brazil stamps.png, Entry and exit stamps, issued at São Paulo Airport.
Chile
File:Chile entry stamp.png, Chilean entry stamp in a New Zealand passport, issued by the Investigations Police of Chile, PDI at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, Santiago Airport.
File:Chile exit stamp.png, Chilean exit stamp in a New Zealand passport, issued by the PDI at the Paseo los Liberadores border crossing.
Colombia
File:Colombian migration entry stamp 2013-11-10 19-11.jpg, Entry stamp from El Dorado International Airport, El Dorado Airport
File:Colombian migration exit stamp 2013-11-10 19-12.jpg, Exit stamp from El Dorado International Airport, El Dorado Airport
File:Colombian exit tax stamp 2013-11-10 19-10.jpg, Exit tax exemption stamp issued by the Aeronautica Civil at El Dorado International Airport, El Dorado Airport
French Guiana
When arriving in and departing from the French overseas department
The overseas departments and regions of France (french: départements et régions d'outre-mer, ; ''DROM'') are departments of France that are outside metropolitan France, the European part of France. They have exactly the same status as mainlan ...
of French Guiana, French Border Police
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
officers stamp travellers' travel documents according to the following rules:[
Travellers flying directly from ]metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
to French Guiana only undergo border checks by the French Border Police at the departure airport in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (french: France métropolitaine or ''la Métropole''), also known as European France (french: Territoire européen de la France) is the area of France which is geographically in Europe. This collective name for the European ...
and not on arrival in French Guiana. However, as third-country nationals (who do not benefit from one of the exemptions in the right-hand column above) are required to receive a passport stamp, the French Border Police will give them an information sheet when they leave metropolitan France informing them that they should present themselves to the French Border Police at the arrival airport to receive a passport stamp. On the other hand, travellers flying directly from French Guiana to metropolitan France undergo border checks by the French Border Police both on departure and on arrival, when their travel documents will be stamped accordingly.
Both entry and exit stamps issued in French Guiana are hexagonal, and are similar in design to Schengen Area passport stamps. The top left corner states Outre-Mer and F, and indicates the 3-digit INSEE code (973) for French Guiana.
File:French Guiana Entry Stamp.png, Entry stamp at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport
File:French Guyana Exit Passport Stamp.jpg, Exit stamp at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport
File:French Guiana Bac International du Maroni Passport stamp.jpg, Previous style exit stamp at the river port in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni
Peru
File:Peru entry stamp.png, Peruvian entry stamp in a New Zealand passport, issued at Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima Airport. Part of a UK entry stamp is visible in the top part.
File:Peru exit stamp.png, Peruvian exit stamp in a New Zealand passport, issued at Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima Airport. Part of a UK entry stamp is visible in the bottom part, as is part of a Chilean stamp in the right.
Venezuela
File:Entry stamp PMV.jpg, Entry stamp to SVMG, Santiago Mariño Intl. Airport; Margarita Island, Venezuela
File:Venezuela stamp.jpg, Exit stamp SVMI, Simón Bolívar Intl. Airport; Caracas, Venezuela
Countries/Regions not issuing exit immigration stamps
In some countries, there is no formal control by immigration officials of travel documents upon exit. Consequently, exit stamps are not placed in passports.
Exit may be recorded by immigration authorities via information provided to them by carriers when the passenger departs from the country.
No exit control
* United States of America
* Canada
* Mexico (by air)
* Bahamas
* Ireland
* United Kingdom (UK Border Force, Border Force officers do not carry out ''systematic'' checks of travel documents on passengers travelling to a destination outside the Common Travel Area by air, rail or sea (though from time to time spot checks are carried out – in this case passports are not stamped); instead, airline/rail/ferry companies obtain passengers' travel document information at check-in or on departure and transmit the information electronically to the UK Border Force)
Formal entry or exit control without passport stamping
* Albania (Entry & Exit stamp may be issued upon request)
* Argentina (Digital entry confirmation on arrival only)
* Australia (Entry & Exit stamps no longer issued. Instead, you may pull up electronic record of your entries & exits)
* China (Exit stamp issued upon request when using e-Gate)
* Costa Rica (only at Costa Rican airports; different entry and exit stamps are made at the border crossing with Panama)
* El Salvador
* Fiji
* Hong Kong (no entry or exit stamps are issued, instead landing slips are issued upon arrival only)
* Iran
* Israel (no entry or exit stamps are issued at Ben Gurion Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport, ; ar, مطار بن غوريون الدولي , commonly known by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the main international airport of Israel. Situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod, it is the ...
, instead landing slips are issued upon arrival and departure)
* Japan (Exit stamp issued upon request & when not using e-Gate since July 2019)
* Macau (no entry or exit stamps are issued, instead landing slips are issued upon arrival only)
* New Zealand
* North Macedonia (Entry & Exit stamp may be issued upon request for EU & EFTA citizens)
* Qatar (exit stamp no longer issued but may be requested)
* South Korea (since 1 November 2016)
* Panama (only at Panamanian airports; different entry and exit stamps are made at the border crossing with Costa Rica)
* Republic of China (exit stamp issued upon request & when not using e-Gate)
* Singapore (no exit stamps since 22 April 2019, no entry stamps since 21 October 2021)
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
However, in some of these countries a departure card is stamped.
See also
* Gallery of passport stamps by country or territory
*Revenue stamp, Revenue Stamp
Notes
{{reflist, 30em
References
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the operation of the provisions on stamping of the travel documents of third-country nationals in accordance with Articles 10 and 11 of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code)
European Commission. 2009. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code)
External links
PassportStamp
A site for recording passport stamp visits
Passport stamps from the whole world – 181 countries, 748 scans
Passport stamps, *