Passport stamping
 

Hello! I just got back from a wonderful trip to Europe. I flew into LHR and flew out of FRA.

I noticed something odd... My passport was never stamped! I went through customs/immigration in the UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, back into Germany, Belgium the Netherlands and back into Germany again...not once was my passport stamed until I arrived back at JFK where they stamped my US passport!

My questions is... is it polite/OK to ask for stamps? I really wanted to keep collecting them since I already have ones from Belize, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, St Maarten, Aruba and the D.R.

So... is it okay to ask the customs officer for a stamp? If so, can I just say "I just like collecting them from everywhere Ive been?" What is appropriate? THANKS!

Welcome to FT.

It's absolutely fine to ask. I often do and am disappointed when I forget. I like to have those stamps in my passport.

Have you ever been told "no"?

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One time I remembered to ask in Switzerland and the guy smiled and declined.

Been there about 10 times and no stamp!!

Those Swiss!

I remeber skiing from Italy down into Zermatt years ago. There was a Swiss border station at border which was reached after skiing down a glacier. The Swiss guard there did stamp our passports with a special stamp. Ten feet past the border was a chocolate stand on the snow! It was a lot of fun! :)

Anyhow, with the Common Market the Europeans have pretty much gotten rid of border crossing formalities. So, no stamps. But, you can certainly ask for one and usually you will get it.

In recent years it was only France not wanting to stamp but they will upon request. I even get as bold as to ask them to stamp on a particular page. My last trip to Singapore they were about to stamp over another stamp on a page already full and I anxiously asked them to pick a different page. I got a funny look but they complied.

I was told "no" when I asked Canada Customs to stamp my son's Canadian passport. Apparently this is a big no-no for them.

If it is a new and unusual country, I make it a point to ask. So far, I've never been declined.

My most recent passport, which expired about 18 months ago, has stamps from all 7 continents in it. Altho we did not plan it that way, we visited all 7 continents in 7 years.

I have found that Canada Customs is very willing to stamp any passport (inc. returning Canadian residents) when you inform them that you need the stamps to prove presence in Canada for tax purposes. :D

I've only been in Switzerland once, years ago (1989, I think)--came across from northern Italy by boat. The officer was going through everyone on board, checking passports, etc. When he got to me, I held out my US passport to him, and he just waved me off, saying something like "Ah, American". Wasn't much point asking for a stamp if he's not even going to look at it...

That has been my experience too - 0 for 3. Saw a mother/daughter team ask - it was not pretty. For all I know they're still in Paris... :-)

In addition to any sentimental value, having the dated stamps is really helpful when you need to compile a list of when and where you've been for the past 10 years.

Good one. ^ I'll have to remember that.

I'm 0-for-3 PDX-FRA on the stamp count. Can't figure out why ...

No stamp at LHR? I'm surprised. I always one. The "Leave To Enter" verbiage always gives me the giggles.

I just recently traveled in Europe and got (my U.S. passport) stamped in every country, even when leaving for London from the Munich airport at the end of my trip. Didn't have to ask once, though I probably would have.

I think the reason for that, though, is because I was crossing into and out of the area covered by the Schengen treaty. I was stamped at the Prague airport (after arriving from London), at the Austrian border (on the train from Prague), and at the Hungarian border coming from Vienna. I also got re-stamped coming back through Austria to Germany, but not at the Austria-Germany border, which is pretty much what I expected.

Now, to steer this thread in a slightly different direction: Does anyone know why the immigration officer at Heathrow the other night wrote what appears to be a "72" in pen on top of her stamp? I explained to her that I had a flight scheduled to JFK the next morning. I also had a previous LHR stamp from seven weeks prior. I have a theory, but I don't want to prejudice any possible answers.

Back on topic, I'd like to add that I was too cool for school to ask for a stamp once at CDG, and regretted it (hence my later request). Also, I have a Canadian stamp in my passport, which makes a friend of mine actually jealous. But he's a massive Canadophile.