A passport stamp is a rubber stamp inked impression received in one's passport upon entering or exiting a country. Passport stamps may occasionally take the form of sticker stamps, such as those received when entering Japan. Depending on nationality, a visitor may not receive a stamp (unless specifically requested), such as an EU citizen traveling to another EU country. Most countries issue exit stamps in addition to entry stamps. A few countries only issue entry stamps, including Canada, United States and the United Kingdom. Visas may also take the form of passport stamps.
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Immigration authorities usually place stamps in passports at a port of entry or border crossing, 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" granted on entry to the country to a person who is subject to immigration control. Alternatively, the stamps activates and/or acknowledges the continuing leave conferred in the individual's entry clearance. Other authorities, such as the Schengen system, 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 three months or an alternative period as shown on their visa. In Japan, the passport entry sticker also contains a QR Code 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.
Entry and exit stamps are sealed on passports for all citizens upon arrival at or departure from Bangladesh. 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 summon related journey information of the traveler. 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 contain an arrow exiting a door to denote departure or an arrow entering a door for arrival on the top left corner, and the image of the mode of transportation on the top right corner.
Rectangular stamps for entry and oval stamps for exit make it visually easier to trace movements.
Just prior to and after the 1997 transfer of sovereignty from the UK to the People's Republic of China, arrival and departure stamps were identical at all ports of entry. Ink colour of the stamp was used to differentiate the points of entry. Those applied at the airport were in black ink while stamps from Hong Kong's sea entry points had blue, green or purple ink. Stamps for land border crossings with China were applied in red ink.
India uses the differentiation in passport stamp colours (blue/red) to quickly trace a passenger's movements. The stamp can be rectangular, circular or oval.
Traveling with passports containing Israeli entry/exit stamps to certain Arab nations may lead to a denial of entry. Hence, travelers have an option at passport control to request that the Israeli stamps to be placed on a loose piece of paper instead of the passport.
Immigration stamps applied by Macau's immigration service under Portuguese administration had slightly different borders depending on whether the person arrived by land, sea, or air, but were all in the same ink color. After the transfer of sovereignty from Portugal to China in 1999, passport stamps naming the points of entry and departure were introduced.
Malaysian immigration authorities apply stamps for both entry and exit in all foreign passports and non-biometric Malaysian passports without in-built microchips. Up to 2011, the only exception to the rule is for entry into Malaysia via train from Singapore, where a diplomatic standoff between Malaysia and Singapore has resulted in entries being "cleared electronically" without any stamping for the passport (see Malaysia-Singapore border).[1] Biometric Malaysian passports are not stamped as all movements in and out of the country are recorded electronically in the microchip.
Another peculiarity is the autonomy of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak in terms of immigration. Residents of Peninsular Malaysia who travel to the two states are subjected to immigration controls and must get their passports stamped or fill in immigration disembarkation forms. There is also immigration control for travel between Sabah and Sarawak.
Malaysian entry stamps for non-citizens and non-residents are rectangular and stamped in blue. They bear the date of entry, point of entry and terms of entry. Entry stamps for residents are also stamped in blue ink but have an oval shape and bear the date and point of entry. Exit stamps are triangular and stamped in red. They bear the date and point of departure. Immigration officers have a tendency to scribble flight numbers or stamp or write the name of vessels next to the entry/exit stamps.
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.
Singapore entry stamps are in blue or black and either rectangular for those entitled to 14 days, rounded rectangular for those entitled to 30 days stay, or hexagonal for those entitled to 90 day stay. Exit stamps are circular and in green. 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 International Airport; "S" by sea though the Singapore Cruiseship Terminal or Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal; "T" by land via the Tuas Checkpoint; and "W" by land via the Woodlands Checkpoint. 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.
Immigration stamps applied by Thailand's Immigration Bureau are stamped on both Thai and foreign passports upon arrival at or departure from Thailand. All stamps are in the same ink color, blue. Entry stamps are in rectangular and exit stamps are in triangular. Both stamps bear the date and point of entry/exit, as well as letter running along the border of the stamp together with a code number. Entry stamps also state final date (for foreign passports).
Vietnam passport stamps rectangular 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 an box similar to the Schengen 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.
All 25 European countries within the Schengen Area have uniform entry and exit stamps. All stamps are applied in black ink except for the red date stamp and bear the country abbreviation within a circle of stars, the name of the entry/exit point, an icon to denote the mode of entry/exit. The entry stamps are rectangular and have an arrow into a square, while exit stamps are rounded rectangles and have an arrow out of a square. The stamps do not indicate any duration of stay and is taken to mean either that the person has permission to remain for three months or the period as shown on his visa.
Countries of the Schengen Area do not have border controls between each other. Border controls, and thus the application of passport stamps, are only carried out for those travelling to/from non-member states. Passports of Schengen-countries are generally only stamped upon request.
Romania is not a member of the Schengen Area, but is expected to enter in March 2011. However, being in the European Union since 2007, their entry and exit stamps have been harmonized with the stamp format of the Schengen states.
Entry and exit stamps are placed in a passport regardless of citizenship, Russian passports are stamped as well as the foreign ones, except the Internal passports, with which Russian citizens may travel to a few countries of the CIS. The stamp shows the name of the country (КПП below the country name stands for checkpoint), the date, and the name of the entry/exit point. Stamp colours and series (the last number following the date) change every time in few years, currently the colour of the stamps is orange, but it can suddenly turn to be blue or red as well. Entry or exit is designated by a direction of an angle bracket in the stamp. Ukrainian passport stamps are identical to the Russian stamps and have the same information. They can be stamped in green, red, orange, and some times black ink.
Even though in an open border agreement with Italy, visitors can have their passport stamped by the San Marino authority at the passport office downtown.
Switzerland although not a member of the EU has joined the Schengen zone recently.
The United Kingdom Border Agency only stamps travellers entering the UK by air, sea and rail via the Eurostar. There are no checkpoints along its land border with the Republic of Ireland as the two countries have a passport-free travel agreement called the Common Travel Area. Travel from the European mainland is still subject to immigration checks, as the UK is not part of the Schengen area.
The immigration stamp, usually in black ink, includes the formal "leave to enter" granted on entry to the country to a person who is subject to immigration control. Besides the date, the stamp also bears the name of the entry point.
06/10/2011