Why isn't my passport being stamped on arrival in the Balearics?

"Making nonsense of the 90 day rule..."

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter08/06/2022 16:40

Dear Sir,

I am a regular reader and a homeowner in Mallorca. I also frequently travel directly from the UK to Ibiza.

On my last two occasions visiting Ibiza on direct UK flights, my UK passport has not been exit-stamped by Spanish immigration authorities upon leaving Ibiza back to the UK.

Nor have any of the passengers on the particular Ibiza-UK flight had their passports stamped (on BA to Heathrow in late April, then today on Easyjet to Gatwick).

Unlike in Mallorca, there is no separate terminal for UK departures at Ibiza airport. In theory, the National Police should stamp outgoing passengers’ passports at the departure gate. This has not been happening, and is of huge significance, due to the deeply regretted post-Brexit “90 day” rule for non-resident Brits.

I now have two “un-closed” Spanish visits in my UK passport, making a nonsense of the 90 day rule, and running the risk of me being accused of overstaying my rolling 90 days’ allowance. Which I haven’t.

Given that this has happened twice on successive visits to Ibiza, I think it merits a news item in your paper (I know that you are the Mallorca Daily Bulletin, but this is an issue of Balearic-wide importance).

Many thanks,

Jules O’Riordan

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3 comments

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Christopher Grubb | over 2 years ago

This seems to be pretty common so far, both at airports and at ports when departing by ferry. If challenged you need to be able to prove you didn't exceed your 90 in 180.. .stamps in passport are the easiest way to do this, but boarding passes, mobile phone records, credit card records etc might be demanded by authorities in case of an issue. We are Spanish residents, is so far unclear whether we are meant to be stamped or not on arrival to Spain from outside EU - some border officials say we have to be stamped in and out, others claim it is not necessary for Spanish residents. So clear as mud for everybody, both resident and non resident.

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Stephen Grimmer | over 2 years ago

I imagine you may end up in a world of trouble eventually, because their "mistake" is on YOU. Similar happened to me on departing one African country for another (handed my passport in on arrival, never checked they stamped - they didn't! - and on departure was held for illegal entry.) It's on YOU to insist and check that it is stamped and clearly legible (and keep boarding card records/tickets).

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Les Chase | over 2 years ago

I also never had mine stamped when going through the Channel Tunnel with my car to drive to Brussels. I flew from Brussels to Palma with my best mate dog for a holiday. Sadly no dogs allowed on planes from UK, only as cargo to Barcelona or Malaga. Also I never had it stamped on my return to UK.

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