When your entry stamp was not properly recorded
What to do when your passport has no entry stamp, an incomplete stamp, or the admission was not encoded — the documents that prove your arrival, and the BI correction process.
Community-written and moderated by volunteers. Based on real experiences and official sources — offices may interpret rules differently.
Processes may vary by office, city or province. Always confirm with your local agency before traveling.
Summary
What to do when your passport has no entry stamp, an incomplete stamp, or the admission was not encoded — the documents that prove your arrival, and the BI correction process.
Key facts
What you'll need
Steps
Costs
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|
Timing
Local variations
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This section reflects real experiences. Always confirm with your local office before traveling.
Common issues
The problem
A passport may contain no stamp, an incomplete stamp, or an admission record that was not correctly encoded. This can happen after a rushed arrival, a passport change, a system issue or an administrative mistake.
Critical warning
Do not try to fix the issue by making assumptions about your permitted stay.
What to do
- Keep the boarding pass, passport, eTravel QR, flight itinerary and any immigration slips.
- Contact BI or the airport immigration office as soon as possible and ask which correction process applies.
- Request written confirmation of the admission date and permitted stay if the record is unclear.
Which BI service
The BI has a service category for 'failed to stamp — encoded' cases. Confirm with BI which process applies to your exact situation.
¿Algo incorrecto o desactualizado? Reporta un error · Revisado por última vez: 11 agosto 2026. ¿Algo incorrecto o desactualizado? Report an error · Last reviewed: 11 August 2026.
Departures and "not encoded" cases
The same problem can affect departures: you leave without a stamp and later discover the movement was not encoded in the immigration system. This can create uncertainty about lawful stay, travel history or a future visa application. Do not assume that a missing stamp means there is no official record, or that a passport stamp alone proves the complete electronic record.
Save the boarding pass, flight confirmation, eTravel QR, passport, date and airport, and any receipt or immigration slip. Contact BI promptly and ask for the correct correction or certification service — the BI page lists a specific service for arrivals or departures where the passport was not stamped and the movement was not encoded.
¿Algo incorrecto o desactualizado? Reporta un error · Revisado por última vez: 11 agosto 2026. ¿Algo incorrecto o desactualizado? Report an error · Last reviewed: 11 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about this process.
Keep your boarding pass, eTravel QR and flight itinerary, and contact BI or the airport immigration office as soon as possible. Ask which correction process applies and request written confirmation of your admission date and permitted stay.
No — do not make assumptions about your permitted stay. Get written confirmation from BI.
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Edit history
2 revisions · every change is recorded and reversible
- v2Published26d ago
Added departures / not-encoded section (EN+ES).
ATby Archipelago TeamEN: Original onlyES: Reviewed translation - v1Published26d ago
Initial draft from official sources.
ATby Archipelago TeamEN: Original onlyES: Reviewed translation