NEWS
Travel Stamp Trend Causes Trouble for International Tourists at Borders
As international tourism surges, travelers are increasingly embracing a new trend: collecting souvenir stamps at popular destinations. However, this trend is now drawing concern from immigration authorities.
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Recently, a Chinese traveler returning to Beijing from Japan was stopped at the Capital International Airport. Upon inspection, immigration officers discovered several colorful commemorative stamps on the visa pages of their passport. The traveler explained they were a fan of travel memorabilia and had used his passport as a "travel diary," mistakenly believing blank pages could be freely stamped.
Coincidentally, the same day, a Mexican national was found with a panda-shaped stamp on his passport's blank page while exiting China through the same airport. He explained he had stamped it himself while visiting a panda sanctuary in Sichuan out of sheer affection for China's iconic animal.
While these acts may seem innocent or even charming, they violate official regulations. The Beijing Border Inspection Station took appropriate legal action against both individuals.
Immigration officials remind travelers that passports, visas, and related documents are legal travel credentials and must not be altered in any way—be it through doodling, stickers, or stamp collecting. Doing so can result in denied entry or departure and, in severe cases, legal consequences.
Legal Reminder:
According to Article 71 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, individuals who:
Use forged or altered documents,
Use another person's travel documents,
Or attempt to bypass border inspection,
may be fined between 1,000 to 5,000 RMB or in serious cases, detained for up to 10 days, and fines can reach up to 10,000 RMB.
As international travel becomes more accessible, tourists are encouraged to cherish their adventures—but through appropriate means. Souvenir booklets or travel journals are a great alternative to using official documents as keepsakes.
Source: 国家移民管理局
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