Stamp on my passport help!!
 

when I arrive in Italy, it says I need to fill out the application of stay or get my passport stamped
I've read on here that Italian law is cracking down on people without such things on one of the forums a little while ago

so I am arriving at the Malpensa airport, does it indicate where in the airport I am supposed to get the stamp? (I'm imagining myself looking around for the place)
or do I get it stamped when I arrive in the airport? (I'm imagining a person waiting where we get off and us waiting in line and getting our passport stamped)

I'm young so I don't understand how a lot of this stuff works

You'll get your passport stamped as you enter customs. No worries.

I have a stamp your passport question.
My DH has never traveled across the pond.
In Sept. we will be visiting Amsterdam and France.
We will get our passports stamped when we land in Holland.
We will take the train to Paris.
My DH wants a France stamp on his passport to show he has been there.
Where would/could he get a stamp?

Thanks

oh I would like a stamp from France! and Swizerland too!
I wonder where you could get these as well (I have no idea ><)
anyone know?

wait i forgot to put in this detail I land in Madrid before I go to Italy, will I get it stamped in Spain? ans if I do, I also want a stamp from Italy!

Take this with a grain of salt, but I don't think you do. When I took the train to Paris from Zurich, we didn't go through customs so we never got a France stamp.

Instead of a stamp in the passport to show he was there, get someone to take a picture of you two in front of something obviously French like the Eiffel Tower. I definitely understand missing the stamps... I was in four countries and didn't get a single dang stamp, even when we entered in Italy.

"Where would/could he get a stamp?"

He can't, unless he wants to fly to Britain then fly to France. Or buy a mint French postage stamp from a post office

There's no routine immigration control between Belgium and France. Though police might check train passengers, they simply won't have immigration stamps with them.

To show he's been there, he'll need you to take a snap of him in front of the Eiffel Tower. Or get Joel Robuchon to autograph a menu, saying how privileged he was to have LE M. tigredejiang as a guest

Customs has NOTHING to do with stamping passports. Many people confuse Immigration (letting people into the country) with Customs (checking your luggage for contraband - almost never done).

You passport will be examined by an Immigration officer when you enter the country (assuming you're not from within Schengen). S/he may or may not stamp it. either way you're in legally.

On the train it's extremely unlikely you will see an immigration official - and the chance of having your passport stamped is almost nil. My last 4/5 trips they haven't even stamped it at the airport. Just one of those nice things that are now gone.

I know the difference between Customs and Immigration.
When one arrives from an international flight to an airport in Europe, one "goes through Customs." That's what we call the area where one must present the passport for inspection. Yes, the passport is examined by an immigration officer, and yes, your goods may be examined by a customs official. They are all in the SAME area of the airport because a traveler cannot exit the airport without going through this area of processing.

The OP asked about where s/he would get her passport stamped and I don't think I gave the wrong information.

"one "goes through Customs." That's what we call the area where one must present the passport for inspection."

No, it isn't. First you go through Immigration and show your passport, which is where it will be stamped if it is stamped. And also where you may be denied admittance to the country. Then you go to baggage claim to collect your luggage if you checked any. Then you go through Customs, which is generally a non-event these days (but just try taking fruit or veg into Australia!). Two separate areas. Two separate sets of officials. Two separate reasons for the checks. Clearly you do NOT know the difference.

???? I always go to baggage claim first to get my luggage and then go to customs, which is one area.

Which airport are you speaking of, thursdaysd?

Perhaps different airports have different areas of immigration and customs checks?

"Which airport are you speaking of, thursdaysd?" - every international airport I've been through, which is a moderately large number. Most recently, LHR and JFK.

hmm...maybe you are right thursdaysd!

I just doubled checked with a colleague who verified what you've said at 05:13pm. So you DO know what you're talking about. Hip hip horay!

Funny, though, that he calls the "immigration check" as Customs as well.

Have you been to IAD recently? I flew BRU-IAD last July and I clearly remember having to go to baggage claim first before going through the Customs area (ahem, Immigration check) to get my passport stamped. Has the procedure changed there since then?

Why is it that whenever someone misuses customs and immigration (and yes, looking above I am guilty of this yet again) everyone jumps on it to correct them?? Who gives a rats patooty? If you're going through immigration, you're probably going to go through customs in the same process, even if it is just a walk past the officials sort of thing. Yes, they're different, but it really doesn't matter whatsoever for almost all discussions.

I understand the desire to have stamps on the passport but unfortunately, you won't just get it for visiting the country. As mentioned, you will likely get it at your port of entry (to signify the "start date" for your stay - if you are a US citizen, you don't need a visa but are only allowed to stay 90 days in Schengen countries over a 180-day period. Visa req'ts, etc. is important to know before you go.).

From my experience, my first trip to Europe in 2003 began in Rome. My flight to Rome connected to Frankfurt before it headed for Rome. In this case, I received a stamp in Frankfurt but did not get one in Rome. I give this example to show that chances are you will get a stamp at your first port of entry in the E.U. but not necessarily so for the next E.U. country within the same travel period EVEN IF you are flying between E.U. countries. I have heard of some folks who went through Immigration and Customs at their FIRST port of entry but did not receive a stamp. I have no explanation for that. It may be dependent on the airport/airport official.

On another experience, I was in Paris and took the Eurostar train to London. Of course, when I arrived in Paris from the U.S., I got my stamp. When I took a weekend trip to London via TRAIN, I received an incoming stamp in London Waterloo station and in leaving London, an outgoing stamp at the same train station. This is likely because England is not part of the E.U.

I have to look at my passport again to confirm but the stamps look like this:

When flying, you get a stamp with the date (in European DDMMYY format), name of the city, and a little airplane with an arrow indicating incoming/outgoing.

When I took the train Paris - London, I got a cute little train stamp with the arrows and the date. That was my favorite.

It's fun but don't get too caught up in this just enjoy your trip. I love planning and these little details but in the end, it's the wonderful food, people, experiences that count!

It's ok, Iowa_Redhead...I know there are people here on Fodor's who are fussy about the difference between immigration and customs. It's ok with me. We're all just trying to be helpful. :-)

I actually appreciate it when someone provides correct information.
(not with the attitude, though, LOL!!)

" This is likely because England is not part of the E.U. " The UK (including England) is part of the E.U. It has opted out of the Schengen area border arrangements. Schengen and the E.U. are not the same, and some non-E.U. countries have implemented Schengen.

I just checked my Irish passport, which is a few months short of ten years old. It has a total of nine stamps in it, six from long-haul trips (US and Asia). I enter and leave the Schengen area several times a year and I have no stamps at all from any of those visits.

The only way you can collect entry/exit stamps is by making a nuisance of yourself, and even then there might be nobody to oblige you. As suggested above, it might be better to concentrate on other souvenirs.

Yes, that's right. Thanks for the correction.

Oh, and Padraig, good point. I had the pleasure (being sarcastic, of course) of overhearing a lady in the next "booth" asking for her stamp (sounded like whining to me, actually). I have no idea if she got it but it annoyed me so, I can only guess how the official felt after a long day of checking passports.

I got my stamps without asking. Maybe I am too naive but I trust people to do their job for the most part. Besides, don't they scan everyone's passports these days? So, if it came down to it, that's your ultimate proof of date of entry.

Hi Nan,

>I know the difference between Customs and Immigration.
When one arrives from an international flight to an airport in Europe, one "goes through Customs." <

I fear that you have been mislead.

Immigration and/or Passport Control check your passport They hardly ever stamp it these days.

Customs is the last place you visit after you collect your luggage. You go through the "Nothing to declare" door.

((I))