Do You Have Any Of The World’s 20 RAREST Passport Stamps?

A stamp of approval

A well-stamped passport is the pride and joy of most world travelers. Flicking through the pages of someone's passport tells a story of their life's adventures and can spark some special memories. But with modern electronic entry procedures, they could soon be a thing of the past. Here we've picked some of the prettiest and most interesting passport-stamp designs from around the world. How many of these do you have?

Andorra

This intricate passport stamp encapsulates the pride the tiny land-locked nation of Andorra has in its natural wonders. While an entry stamp isn’t required, ask at the border with France or Spain and Andorran officials can stamp your passport with this rather lovely image of the mighty Pyrenees mountains that surround the principality.

Antarctica

There are no official passport stamps for visitors to Antarctica as the uninhabited continent is managed by more than 50 nations under the Antarctic Treaty System. However, you can get souvenir ones from research stations to mark your intrepid travels. This cute design from the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base features penguins, arguably the most famous inhabitants of the Earth’s southernmost continent. This Antarctic expeditionary base is on Galindez Island in Antarctica’s Argentine Islands.

Antarctica

Most visitors to this remote and hard-to-reach icy continent set off from Chile or Argentina. This passport stamp was given to a visitor on a cruise from Chile and features a handsome-looking orca. The fierce predator is one of many magnificent marine animals that inhabit Antarctica’s icy waters.

Antarctica

Bellingshausen, Russia’s scientific research station on King George Island, uses this elaborate stamp featuring coordinates and seals. The island is the largest of the South Shetlands and the base for many international stations. It’s also the first stop for tourists voyaging to Antarctica from South America.

Aruba

This cheery number from the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba will be a welcome addition to your travel documents. It has a jazzy logo at the top, featuring the star from its national flag and the tagline “One Happy Island” at the bottom. We’re sure you’ll wholeheartedly agree with this statement after vacationing on this sunny isle.

Cambodia

Cambodia’s striking passport stamp features its most famous landmark, the temple complex of Angkor Wat. So even if you don’t make it to this magnificent archaeological site on your first trip, you'll still get a little memento in your passport and a reminder to visit the next time around.

Cayman Islands

Visitors to this trio of Caribbean islands have their passports stamped with this design featuring a turtle. Christopher Columbus first came across the Cayman Islands in 1503, and they were once known as Las Tortugas for their abundance of turtles. The islands became a popular spot for sailors in need of meat. Somewhat controversially, turtles are still considered a delicacy by some locals and turtle stew is one of the islands’ traditional dishes. Green turtles are bred in limited numbers here for local consumption.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has a particularly artistic entry stamp. It features a swirly border and the Caribbean country’s coat of arms, with its shield and ribbon and the national motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad (God, Homeland, Liberty). It's one of the most fetching passport stamps we’ve seen.

Guatemala

We’re not sure exactly what Guatemala’s intricate passport stamp depicts, but we like it. This captivating Central American country is known for its volcanoes, lakes, ancient Mayan ruins and crumbling colonial cities. And anyone who has visited and has this fancy stamp on their travel documents will remember their trip with wonder.

Liechtenstein

Another proud mountain nation with a pretty passport stamp is Liechtenstein. Its design has a red crown symbolizing the principality's monarchy, headed by Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein. The tourist office of the little country, which sits between the Swiss canton of St. Gallen and the Austrian province of Vorarlberg, will stamp passports. It might be a bit of a novelty, but it’s a quirky addition to your travel documents.

Machu Picchu

Although part of Peru, you do feel as if you’ve entered another kingdom altogether when you arrive at this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to get a souvenir passport stamp when you arrive to make your adventure into the "lost kingdom" official. The image of the ancient Inca citadel will definitely be one to show your friends and family, as you regale them with stories of your travels.

Mauritius

Another Indian Ocean island with a covetable passport stamp is Mauritius. Enter here and you’ll be rubber stamped with a design that includes a little dodo within the outline of the island. The flightless bird was endemic to the tropical island, but became extinct in the 17th century. It has become a symbol of the country. 

Monaco

With its rich red color and noble-looking coat of arms, this stamp could only be from the principality of Monaco, Europe’s millionaire playground. You can get the stamp from the tourism office for a fee. The regal design includes the principality’s coat of arms, which symbolizes the 1297 conquest of Monaco by François Grimaldi.

Mongolia

Another intrepid destination that makes a cool addition to a well-thumbed passport is Mongolia. The vast and little-visited country’s passport stamp is a rather grand looking one too. It features the Soyombo character, a national symbol of Mongolia, at the top of its design.

Pitcairn Islands

One of the most far-flung places on Earth, these volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean are not only pretty themselves, but their passport stamp is too. The image of a sailing ship references the islanders’ heritage – the island was settled by nine Bounty mutineers and 18 accompanying Tahitians in 1790. Still the only way to visit this British overseas territory is by boat.

Republic of Palau

Strewn over more than 200 volcanic and coral islands in the Pacific, the Republic of Palau is an under-the-radar vacation destination and a passport stamp from here is something of a rarity. Up until recently, the island nation’s stamp featured an illustration of a bai, a traditional house where meetings and ceremonies would take place.

Republic of Palau

These days, however, passports are stamped with a thought-provoking poem. In fact, it is the world's first conservation pledge, which visitors are asked to sign. Introduced in 2017, the new immigration policy saw tiny Palau become the first nation to ask visitors to commit to protecting its unique environment and culture for the next generation. A focus on responsible tourism was deemed vital as rising tourist numbers have had detrimental effects on Palau's fragile landscape and traditions.

Saba

Another Caribbean country that brings a touch of its tropical culture to the airport is Saba. Its passport stamp features swaying palm trees, emblematic of the quiet Dutch Caribbean island’s breezy beach vibes. Visitors to the little volcanic isle fly in from neighboring Sint Maarten and must land on a tiny (and terrifying) cliff-top airstrip.

San Marino

This tiny enclave within Italy is a pretty unusual place to visit. It's the world’s oldest and smallest republic and its splendid entry stamp is a lovely addition to a passport. It’s more of a souvenir than an official requirement, as you pay to get one at the tourist office. But with a design featuring the ancient microstate's coat of arms, it looks very grand indeed.

Seychelles

The simple but striking stamp design from this idyllic Indian Ocean archipelago is in the shape of a coco de mer, a giant nut of the coco de mer palm that only grows here. Although easily mistaken for a plump bottom, the curvaceous native nut has become a symbol of the Seychelles.

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