Passport stamp

<p>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 "<a href="/facts/Leave_to_enter/kMWP0C01">leave to enter</a>" 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 <a href="/facts/Schengen_Area/3x2jdc8H">Schengen</a> 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 <a href="/facts/QR_code/B0l0IS7a">QR code</a> that allows the immigration official to electronically collect information related to that entry.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a>
</p><p>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 in a few countries, such as colour of the stamp either indicating entry or exit or type of port used to enter or exit.
</p><p>In many cases passengers on <a href="/facts/Cruise_ship/PzQCcICA">cruise ships</a> 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> 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.
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<h2 id="overview-of-passport-stamps-of-countries">Overview of passport stamps of countries</h2>
<p class="note">Further information: <a href="/facts/Passport_stamps_by_country_or_territory/b6YsByM0">Passport stamps by country or territory</a></p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Passport stamps.

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Revenue_stamp/tlTWJz4P">Revenue Stamp</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="notes">Notes</h2>

<ul><li><a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0489:FIN:EN:PDF">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)</a>. European Commission. 2009. Retrieved 2012-06-26.</li>
<li><a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32006R0562:EN:HTML">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)</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110511152612/http://www.passportstamp.com/">PassportStamp</a> A site for recording passport stamp visits</li>
<li><a href="http://www.worldpassportstamps.com">Passport stamps from the whole world – 181 countries, 748 scans</a></li>
<li><a href="https://passportandstamps.com">Passport and Stamps</a> - A  Professional Travel Blog that takes inspiration from the common practice to collect stamps for countries visited upon entry</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"УКАЗ ЗА ПРОГЛАСУВАЊЕ НА ЗАКОНОТ ЗА ГРАНИЧНА КОНТРОЛА" (PDF) (in Macedonian). March 2022. <a href="http://www.mvr.gov.mk/Upload/Documents/ZAKON%20ZA%20GRANI%5ENA%20KONTROLA.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mvr.gov.mk/Upload/Documents/ZAKON%20ZA%20GRANI%5ENA%20KONTROLA.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Foreign tourists' passports not to be stamped in Iran". 18 August 2018. <a href="https://en.mehrnews.com/news/136889/Foreign-tourists-passports-not-to-be-stamped-in-Iran" target="_blank">https://en.mehrnews.com/news/136889/Foreign-tourists-passports-not-to-be-stamped-in-Iran</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"HOW TO GET A NORTH KOREAN VISA - URITOURS". 19 November 2017. <a href="https://www.uritours.com/blog/how-to-get-north-korean-visa/" target="_blank">https://www.uritours.com/blog/how-to-get-north-korean-visa/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"Research briefings" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2017-01-08. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190409000621/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06750/SN06750.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20190409000621/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06750/SN06750.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94 and I-94W". cbp.gov. <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94" target="_blank">https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-10/passport-stamps-phased-out-overseas-travel-technology/102933124 <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-10/passport-stamps-phased-out-overseas-travel-technology/102933124" target="_blank">https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-10/passport-stamps-phased-out-overseas-travel-technology/102933124</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>"Passport stamps: How a novelty passport stamp could see you banned from travelling". smh.com.au. Retrieved 20 February 2025. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/passport-stamps-how-a-novelty-passport-stamp-could-see-you-banned-from-travelling-20200311-h1mgal.html" target="_blank">https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/passport-stamps-how-a-novelty-passport-stamp-could-see-you-banned-from-travelling-20200311-h1mgal.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>"MOFA - Visas and Landing Permission". mofa.go.jp. Retrieved 20 February 2025. <a href="https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/system/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/system/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:9"><p>5 Caribbean Ports to Get Your Passport Stamped <a href="https://cruiseradio.net/5-cool-places-passport-stamps/" target="_blank">https://cruiseradio.net/5-cool-places-passport-stamps/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:10"><p>Cruise Tales – 2015 South and East Caribbean #6: In Search of Passport Stamps <a href="https://garyscohen.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/cruise-tales-2015-south-and-east-caribbean-6-in-search-of-passport-stamps/" target="_blank">https://garyscohen.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/cruise-tales-2015-south-and-east-caribbean-6-in-search-of-passport-stamps/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Passport stamp open-in-new

Passport stamp