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Passport stamps are used to log movements and provide proof of legal entry and exit from a country. They can also be used to track visas and enforce travel restrictions. Some people enjoy collecting stamps as a memento of their travels.
There are a number of reasons passports get stamped. The main reason is to create an easily visible log of someone’s movements, without having to create a pile of paperwork that someone might have to lug around. Different countries have different policies on passport stamping. In the European Union (EU), for example, the passports of EU citizens are not stamped when traveling between EU countries, as part of the EU’s open travel agreement.
Many people who have traveled abroad enjoy the ritual of having their passports stamped at the border. Stamps provide a memento of a trip that can be shown to friends upon return, and getting a stamp has an official feel to it that some people like. Many people actually feel like they are traveling internationally when the customs officer is stamping their passport.
However, passport stamps are not provided for the enjoyment of travellers. They provide proof that someone has entered a country for a specified amount of time, with most stamps showing the type of trip, length of stay, and date stamped. If a foreign national is stopped by the police, the information can be used to determine whether or not the traveler is legally in the country. Many countries also use exit visas to indicate that someone has departed, so visitors cannot be accused of overstaying their entry visas.
There are also some political issues related to passport stamping. For example, some countries do not allow their citizens to travel to certain other countries. If a citizen returns to his home country with a stamp from a prohibited travel destination, this can be used as a reason to initiate legal action. This concern often leads travelers to try to avoid getting a stamp when entering illegal destinations; for example, American citizens can enter Cuba illegally so they can visit and avoid sanctions for violating the embargo.
Many visas come in the form of stamps in the passport, with the issuing nation believing it is easier to keep track of visas in passports than in separate documents. People can also obtain stamps to provide legal proof of having entered or exited a particular country, as may be required when a citizen applies for a visa extension. They are a kind of legal document and defacing or attempting to remove them can invalidate a passport. For frequent travellers, entry pages for additional stamps are provided by passport issuing agencies.
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