Canada Doesn't Stamp American Passports?
May 26, 2015, 2:34 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
In all my trips to Canada I only have one stamp in an old passport. I only got that one because I asked for it (even then it took asking twice, stating Souvenir memory).
Switzerland also didn't stamp US passports before Shengen. They have to now because of Shengen rules.
Hong Kong as someone mentioned above stopped stamping passports a few years ago. It's all gone electronic and you get a small paper slip for your records, I really wish more countries would do this. Would love to actually get 10 years out of a passport (without page additions since they're no longer free).
Switzerland also didn't stamp US passports before Shengen. They have to now because of Shengen rules.
Hong Kong as someone mentioned above stopped stamping passports a few years ago. It's all gone electronic and you get a small paper slip for your records, I really wish more countries would do this. Would love to actually get 10 years out of a passport (without page additions since they're no longer free).
May 26, 2015, 8:02 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,664
I've been into Canada about 20 times (I think) over the last 4-5 years. I've been stamped twice: Once during the ritual Customs grilling when I got pulled off the train (it was autopilot for them to stamp in that case, I think) and once when I was doing an in-and-out on the Portland-Yarmouth ferry (I was on Canadian soil for about 90 minutes between docking and reboarding).
I think part of the reason the US and Canada have a no-stamp situation is that you've got plenty of folks for whom those stamps would fill out a passport book every year.
I think part of the reason the US and Canada have a no-stamp situation is that you've got plenty of folks for whom those stamps would fill out a passport book every year.
May 26, 2015, 9:06 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
I travelled across Canada (Buffalo to Sarnia and back) on a weekly basis for over five years and never got a passport stamped. When I got my Nexus card they never even looked at the p/p.
May 26, 2015, 9:39 am
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,563
I have a couple Canada stamps in my current passport. Airline arrivals, of course...I've never gotten one on a surface crossing.
May 26, 2015, 10:11 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 595
As a Canadian citizen, I have my passport stamped by US CBP every single time I enter the US by air, but never when I enter by land or sea.
It wouldn't surprise me if CBSA does the same thing for US Citizens - stamps for airport entry, no stamps for rail or land entry.
It wouldn't surprise me if CBSA does the same thing for US Citizens - stamps for airport entry, no stamps for rail or land entry.
May 26, 2015, 1:04 pm
#21
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,416
As this query seems to be about Canadian border policies and practices, let's move this to the Canada forum for further discussion. Thanks. 
/JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator
/JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator
May 26, 2015, 5:35 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Plastic, Delta Silver Emeritus
Posts: 1,037
I drove over for tourism. We had 4 Americans and a German exchange student. Only her passport was stamped. I'm not sure if that was because it was EU or the agent (correctly) realized she would want it as a memento.
May 26, 2015, 6:06 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,796
May 26, 2015, 8:43 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
While I don't have a problem with it, given where I am, I can just imagine folks from, say, Alberta or Quebec shaking their heads at your definition of traveling across Canada lol.
May 27, 2015, 1:23 am
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
May 27, 2015, 6:39 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: United 1K, AC 50K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 684
I have dual citizenship. When I lived in the US and came into Canada on my American passport it was never stamped if I drove in but was pretty much always stamped if I flew in. The same holds true now that I live in Canada when I visit the US. I never get my Canadian passport stamped when I drive into the US but pretty much always when I fly in--even if I am just connecting though the US to a flight overseas.
