Souvenir Passport Stamp

Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 11:33 AM
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Souvenir Passport Stamp

In about 9 months, I will be traveling to Scotland and leaving the US for the first time in my life.

I have a 2-hour layover at Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris, both ways. I was wondering if anyone has ever been there and if so, would they stamp my passport as a souvenir?

I know I'm just a dorky American tourist, but who can say they have been to France? Not many where I live.

Do you think they would stamp it for me if I asked? I don't plan on going to any nations outside of Europe, so I shouldn't have a problem.

Let me know if you have done it or have tried to do it.

Thanks!
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 11:40 AM
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You won't encounter immigration officials at CDG as you will stay airside at all times & not have to pass through immigration. Besides you only have 2 hours to make the connection and that's your ONLY priority
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 11:46 AM
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Alan, will I at least get to go shop or something? Do they have duty-free near where I'll be?
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 11:47 AM
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CDG is a major European airport. Yes, people have been there.

I'm sure you have to go through immigration at CDG if you're changing planes.

If you go through immigration you do not have to ask for your passport to be stamped. It happens. You enter the non-EU line for passport control.

I'm sorry but I'm baffled by some of your comments and questions such as "I don't plan on going to any nations outside of Europe, so I shouldn't have a problem. " What does this mean?

I've had my passports stamped at CDG plenty of times. As have millions of other people.

The only time you don't get your passport stamped is if you enter one Schengen country and then travel to another Schengen country. You get a stamp at the point of entry. For example: I recently went to Spain but entered the Schengen countries in Frankfurt, Germany where I changed planes. I have Schengen in and Schengen out stamps from Frankfurt but none from Spain (neither in nor out).

You'll get French stamps (Schengen in and Schengen out) and GB stamps as GB is not part of the Schengen countries.

Hope this helps since I really don't understand your concerns except I realize you want a French passport stamp.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 11:51 AM
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>

Shop? With 2 hours at CDG? Yikes. You can shop if you make it very very quick. Your luggage should be checked through to your final destination but you have never seen CDG airport.

Besides, you can buy all that airport stuff any place including off the internet; it's nothing special. Why not wait until you get to Scotland to shop.

I defer to Alan's opinion on the stamps as I don't really take note of what happens at each airport - I just go with it. Whenever I've been to CDG I've had my passport stamped.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 11:53 AM
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>>I'm sure you have to go through immigration at CDG if you're changing planes.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 11:54 AM
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Didn't see your second post

>> Whenever I've been to CDG I've had my passport stamped.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 12:00 PM
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Adrienne,

I understand you're a world traveler and I admire that; however, some of your comments seemed a little condescending.

I just meant that I live in a small town where not a lot of people travel except to go to another state or the beach.

Second, have you changed planes at CDG en route to another destination? Did you just go to the gate or did they make you go through customs?

Third, never hurts to ask about buying duty-free stuff at the airport. Yes, I can get it online, what would be the point in traveling if not to take pictures and bring back souvenirs?

As far as a stamp goes, yes, I do want one. I have heard if you ask for a stamp without "entering" the country then it can cause problems for you if you plan on traveling to countries in Asia or Canada.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 12:12 PM
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Souvenir Passport Stamp
Posted by: Adam28779 on Jun 23, 13 at 3:33pm
I have a 2-hour layover at Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris, both ways. I was wondering if anyone has ever been there and if so, would they stamp my passport as a souvenir?


I went to Paris for a week a few years ago. I flew in and out of CDG. The passport police did not stamp my passport coming or going. Same thing flying out of AMS a few years back.

If you want a stamp you will probably need to ask for it. Maybe you will get one. I asked at AMS on the way home and the officer asked me "Why do you want a stamp?"
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 12:27 PM
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I think yo are likely to get a stamp if you are coming from outside Europe. This will be your point of first entry into the EU.

When you get to Scotland, you will get in the line for non-EU passports, likely to be very short, and your passport will be rue examined and you may be asked questions, sometimes probing about where you are going, where you are staying, how long you will be in the UK and how much money you have. If you are young or not white or a woman who frequently travels alone, the questions may be probing indeed. They will be very nice about it, unlike staff at Heathrow who have too many people to deal with.

The border control officer at CDG may or may not stamp your passport. They hardly ever do in Rome, but I have about a 60-40 ratio at CDG. If you want it stamped, make a stamping motion and say "souvenir.".
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 12:32 PM
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You won't go through passport control at CDG. You aren't entering France or transferring to a Schengen country. So no chance of a stamp.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 12:34 PM
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>>I think yo are likely to get a stamp if you are coming from outside Europe. This will be your point of first entry into the EU.
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Old Jun 23rd, 2013, 12:39 PM
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Thanks Janis. You seem to know your stuff.
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Old Jun 24th, 2013, 03:23 AM
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"I think yo are likely to get a stamp if you are coming from outside Europe. This will be your point of first entry into the EU."

Eh????

Since when was the EU a Common Travel Area? We joined the German-French scam to promote free trade: not let a bunch of snail-eaters control our borders.

And when did "Europe" and "the EU" describe the same thing. We've not let the Russkies or Turks in yet - and we're not going to.

From Yanks, we expect little more than such ignorance. Ackislander hasn't got that excuse.

Just to repeat.

If the OP has a through booking to Scotland, and wants a French passport stamp, he has to go to immigration, queue up, get stamped, then exit the secure area through Customs. He then has to turn round, find the way back into the secure area, go through security then find the departure gate and get there before the flight closes. It's very, very unlikely he'll do all that in 2 hours.
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Old Jun 24th, 2013, 03:48 AM
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Adam,

Read Flanner's last sentence first, don't try it. The way CDG and most airports are set up you can't go through Immigration to get a stamp then turn around and go back through the same barrier.

Aiming for Duty Free which is airside is more realistic and there will be French items for sale.

BUT, your primary goal is to be sure you have time to get to your gate.

Have a good trip.
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Old Jun 24th, 2013, 03:56 AM
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I dont know about Asia, but Canada certainly doesnt care if you have visited France. It isnt like in the US where US citizens arent supposed to go to say Cuba...so you dont need to worry about that.

But like most say above you wont have the opportunity to get a stamp in France. Enjoy your trip!
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Old Jun 24th, 2013, 05:33 AM
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I am not 100% that they will not stamp your passport in CDG. I am though like you that I would love to have stamps from everywhere I have been; however, it does not always happen. No stamp from Austria although I have spent time in Vienna and Salzburg. Flying into Frankfurt is a different story. I got several stamps in Frankfurt (4 in total) and I only landed and took off from there once.

I will caution you though on the stamp. It is the "official" date of entry into the EU. You have 90 days without needing a VISA. They might not agree to stamp it based on this issue. It might be seen as if you are trying to do something shady, even though you might not be.

I can remember not getting a stamp when I entered Rome once and was held up in Munich for not having it stamped upon entry. I had to show them all my travel documents and they had to confirm with the airline on my arrival date into the EU. Only then would they stamp my passport upon arrival in Munich. I arrived via train so they knew I had already been in the EU.

Paris is an AMAZING place and if it is important to get the CDG stamp, go to Paris. You are guaranteed one then!
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Old Jun 24th, 2013, 05:40 AM
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Catherinehaas, you are confusing EU and Schengen. Not all EU countries are signed up to Schengen, and not all Schengen countries are EU members.
The UK is EU, but not Schengen so has different visa rules. That is also why OP doesn't go through immigration in Paris.
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Old Jun 24th, 2013, 05:53 AM
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For clarification, I put EU in 'quotes' because Ackislander used that term and I was simply using the same one - even though it is irrelevant in this discussion.
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Old Jun 24th, 2013, 06:02 AM
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EU and Schengen aren't the same thing. France is in Schengen, UK is not, while both are in the EU. US passport holders can stay in Schengen for 90 days, but can stay in the UK for 6 months.

Adam won't be entering Schengen in Paris because he will stay airside while waiting for the flight to Scotland. I'm not familiar with CDG, but most international airports direct passengers transferring to another flight through a special transit exit so they don't go through passport control.

Adam, if you were to go through passport control, whether by accident or on purpose, you would be very unlikely to get back into the departure lounge in time to make your flight to Scotland — don't be tempted.
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