Italian Passport Control: Scan, Stamp, Both or Neither?
Jul 18, 2015, 8:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EWR Ionosphere Club, LAX Clipper Club, Still Traveling Global, yearly BIS miles
Programs: EAL Silver Wings, I-Club, Flying Colonels DL, WorldPass PLat from the olde Meatball and PE SMARTbank
Posts: 1,988
Italian Passport Control: Scan, Stamp, Both or Neither?
My son just arrived in Italy from MIA for his study abroad program and he says that the airport passport control officer neither scanned or stamped his passport (he just briefly looked at it and gave it back). Is this unusual?
I am wondering if he is ever questioned (in either italy or elsewhere in schengen) as to why there is no evidence of his arrival into europe, whether his story that it wasn't stamped or scanned will be credible?
I am wondering if he is ever questioned (in either italy or elsewhere in schengen) as to why there is no evidence of his arrival into europe, whether his story that it wasn't stamped or scanned will be credible?
Jul 18, 2015, 9:24 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
My son just arrived in Italy from MIA for his study abroad program and he says that the airport passport control officer neither scanned or stamped his passport (he just briefly looked at it and gave it back). Is this unusual?
I am wondering if he is ever questioned (in either italy or elsewhere in schengen) as to why there is no evidence of his arrival into europe, whether his story that it wasn't stamped or scanned will be credible?
I am wondering if he is ever questioned (in either italy or elsewhere in schengen) as to why there is no evidence of his arrival into europe, whether his story that it wasn't stamped or scanned will be credible?
Jul 20, 2015, 6:34 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
we have entered about 100 times. no stamps. never had an inquire about contraband merchandise, either.
boarding at FLR one time, the tsa equivalent really wanted my wife's cuticle sizzors.
boarding at FLR one time, the tsa equivalent really wanted my wife's cuticle sizzors.
Jul 20, 2015, 9:47 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,923
In Malpensa I almost always get stamped...recently it was with a brand new passport and I asked the agent to be gentle with it (a virgin passport) and he very carefully applied the stamp before handing it back.
Jul 21, 2015, 11:56 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YOW
Posts: 1,024
It's pretty typical for Italy. Only once when exiting the Schengen zone in Frankfurt was I questioned about the lack of an entrance stamp. I shrugged my shoulders and said the Italians didn't stamp it. Which set off a bit of a tirade on the part of the German officer.
Jul 21, 2015, 6:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,566
Jul 22, 2015, 10:45 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
Italy, France, Spain and maybe few others don't always stamp Schengen entrance for the same reason US, Canada, Australia don't stamp exit.
Checks are made through passenger list, airlines, passport scans etc, if any.
A faded stamp is a joke anyway.
Of course this applies to NA passport holders AFAIK.
Now let's give jaded Germans a peg for tirades and eye-rolling and they'll be all over it in no time.
Checks are made through passenger list, airlines, passport scans etc, if any.
A faded stamp is a joke anyway.
Of course this applies to NA passport holders AFAIK.
Now let's give jaded Germans a peg for tirades and eye-rolling and they'll be all over it in no time.
Nov 3, 2015, 9:25 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Homeless
Programs: Marriott Titanium / HH Diamond / Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 287
I had a similar experience. Was asked where I entered and answered Italy mentioning that they did not stamp my passport. He kind of rolled his eyes with a look of 'oh those Italians'. And I was on my way.