How to the exit the EU, even though your passport already has the exit stamp?

Have you asked the RS guide about this? If they don't know the answer they can probably direct you to someone who can.

April, Have you still got proof you flew from Barcelona to Palerma? The boarding card for instance?

If you have, and the date and time match your stamp, you have proof you did not exit but went to Palermo instead. When you fly out of Catania show this with your passport, and I am sure you will be OK, so long as you haven't exceeded your 90 days.

BTW, it is not when you exit the EU you are stamped, it is when you exit the Schengen Area, which will be when you fly from Catania to London. The UK is not in the Schengen Area, it has its own separate time limits and your passport will be stamped for entry to the UK when you land in London.

Chris, That makes senses because when we flew to BCN from the US we flew through Heathrow, but our passports weren't stamped until BCN. I did save our BCN to Palermo boarding passes on my phone, so hopefully that will be of help.

Nancy, yes we asked our guide. Alfhough he is amazing and of so much help; he cannot be an expert in all things "Silly American Traveler Errors".

And when you exit and show your passport don't make a spectacle of anything. Just hand over the passport as usual. If questioned then offer details. Some people have the habit of spilling their guts when it's totally unneeded. Not saying you're one of those, but for those that are...

And when you exit and show your passport don't make a spectacle of
anything. Just hand over the passport as usual. If questioned then
offer details. Some people have the habit of spilling their guts when
it's totally unneeded. Not saying you're one of those, but for those
that are...

This. Just have that boarding pass from BCN to Palermo handy on your phone if need be. But just keep quiet. I hope you're having a wonderful trip!

Hey, the entire government of the UK is currently trying to figure out how to exit the EU, so they should certainly understand your dilemma...

First, I do not think there will be any issue, you show as entering the EU in Barcelona, as long as your exit is within 90 days, there will be no questions.

Second, while stamps in a passport are nice souvenirs, the electronic scan they did on entry is the real record.

Finally, given the opportunity to miss a scan, refer back to the first point.

As someone mentioned, present your passport, if there is a question, show your "paper" trail, in the end, no problem.

I will edit to add that I have had instances of entry stamps missing or illegible, no stamps during only a cursory check when visiting a non-eu country, and missing or illegible exit stamps. Sometimes a question but never a serious issue.

Keep it straight and not to confusion other readers. We are discussing exiting the Schengen zone and not the EU - European Union. BIG difference. You should edit the title of your question.

Most countries now scan your passport and may or may not stamp it. As long as your pass port was scanned-yourvokay. Sadly, the stamp is going the way of the dodo.

I am not so sure about that. Last year when exiting France the immigration officer was very concerned about find the entry stamp. The first stamp he found was entry stamp about nine months earlier from another trip. He suddenly thought that I had over stayed the Schengen zone visa and was developing a different attitude quickly. Third time through the passport he finally found the correct entry stamp but he was getting pretty grumpy by that time.

Note to self: mark the passport page with a sticky or paperclip on entry so it shows up on exit.

"stamp is going the way of the dodo" - one exception -- Eurostar between France and UK -- US citizens get stamped every time!! (my poor Italian husband couldn't get a stamp even when he asked them for it, haha)

It was the tiny - about the size of a quarter -- entry stamp for France on the Eurostar that caused by problem. I now follow Laura's practice.

Just wanted to thank those with helpful responses and provide an update.

When we left Catania they didn't scan our passports or look at the stamps; they just stamped it. Then when we arrived in London yesterday they scanned the passports and stamped them. I kind of figured it wouldn't be a big deal and that we couldn't possibly be the first tourists to make this mistake, but I just wanted to check here with folks to see if anyone else had experienced this.

Off to explore London! :-)

great news! Enjoy your visit to London.

Thanks for the update and am glad all worked out! Yes, have fun in London!

Perhaps Theresa May will happen along and tell us her story about trying to exit the E.U.

As long as "they" stamp my passport, that's what I want. Returning to the US upon clearing Immigration, I ask for the stamp, "Readmit" if it's not automatically done. So far, in each and every occasion, they have obliged.