United States: CBP to End Systematic Passport Stamping on Arrival

WASHINGTON, October 3, 2026 — Travelers entering the United States will soon no longer routinely receive a stamp in their passport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the end of its routine use of admission stamps during primary screening, with proof of admission and authorized length of stay now primarily available electronically via Form I-94.

CBP ends routine passport stamping at US entry; Form I-94 becomes primary proof of admission

What CBP Announced

In a bulletin published on October 1, 2026 by its Carrier Liaison Program, CBP confirmed it will end the routine use of admission stamps during primary screening — the first stage of inspection carried out upon entry into U.S. territory. The traditional entry stamp placed in the passport upon arrival will lose its systematic character.

The U.S. administration frames this as part of the modernization of its border procedures, which already relies on the automation of many forms, the development of mobile services, and the increasing use of facial biometric comparison.

For CBP, removing the stamp during routine processing should reduce processing time and streamline border operations.

The Stamp Does Not Disappear Completely

The announced disappearance of the stamp is not absolute. CBP clarifies that its agents will still be able to use it during secondary screening, when a traveler is directed to further examination after the initial inspection.

The stamp may also continue to be affixed in certain specific situations during primary checks, particularly for the processing of immigration visas.

Most importantly, CBP indicates that a stamp can be issued at the express request of the traveler. A passenger wishing to keep a physical record of their entry in their passport can request it from the CBP agent, even though its affixing will no longer be part of the usual procedure.

The October 1 bulletin does not specify a separate implementation date for this change. CBP simply announces that it will cease the routine use of the stamp as part of its modernization process.

Form I-94 Becomes the Primary Proof of Admission

In practice, the disappearance of the stamp does not mean that entry into the United States is no longer recorded. For foreign travelers, this information is contained in the electronic Form I-94, the official arrival and departure record maintained by CBP.

After admission, travelers can view their proof of entry, their status, and the length of stay granted to them on the official I-94 portal or from the free CBP Link mobile application.

The electronic document can be viewed and printed when proof of legal admission is required — for example, with a government agency, educational institution, or employer. CBP also recommends that travelers who notice an error in their I-94 form contact its services to have their record corrected.

Traveling with an ESTA: No Change to Stay Rules

This development particularly concerns the many European visitors who enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with an ESTA electronic authorization. The absence of a stamp in the passport does not change the conditions of the visa exemption program or the length of stay granted.

Eligible VWP citizens are still required to obtain an approved ESTA before their trip and can travel for tourism or business for up to 90 days under the program. While the ESTA authorization allows travel to the U.S. border, the final admission decision rests with CBP upon arrival.

The difference will therefore be primarily material: a traveler admitted to the United States will now be able to leave border control without their passport necessarily bearing any physical trace of that entry. After crossing the border, they can verify the information recorded by U.S. authorities in their electronic I-94 file.

For travelers monitoring broader U.S. immigration developments, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin provides the latest employment-based green card priority dates.

CBP Continues to Digitize Entry Procedures

The gradual withdrawal of the stamp represents a new step in a process underway for several years. CBP had already automated the I-94 form at airports and seaports, replacing the paper document in most situations with an electronic record created from travel information transmitted to U.S. authorities.

The U.S. administration has also expanded its Simplified Arrival system, which uses facial comparison during primary screening to verify traveler identity and expedite processing at borders.

In its latest bulletin, CBP also emphasizes to airlines the importance of the quality of information transmitted via the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). This data directly feeds into electronic entry records and the I-94 portal. Incorrect or late transmission of information can therefore affect the data subsequently accessible to the traveler.

With the announced end of the systematic stamp, the electronic file thus becomes more than ever the reference for verifying the conditions under which a traveler was admitted to the United States.

Quick Reference Summary

Aspect	Details
Announced	October 1, 2026 (CBP Carrier Liaison Program bulletin)
Change	End of routine admission stamps during primary screening
Still Available	Secondary screening; specific situations (e.g., immigration visas); on traveler request
Primary Proof of Admission	Electronic Form I-94
View/Print I-94	i94.cbp.dhs.gov or CBP Link app
ESTA/VWP Impact	No change — 90-day stay rules remain
Implementation Date	Not separately specified

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