Please sign in to post.

Passport exit stamp

Hi,
I entered EU through spain from London by flight so my passport has an entry stamp however i’m taking flixbus to exit from Brussels, Belgium and going back to London. How do i get exit stamp ?

Is there an office at flixbus station which can stamp my passport?

Thanks.

Posted by
8159 posts

You can also ask Flixbus this question
https://www.flixbus.com/service/faq

I once took Eurolines from London to Paris and we all got off the bus at the border control in Calais and they stamped the passport there as entering the EU Schengen zone there. I was not expecting that. I am thinking Flixbus has a similar set up so just make sure you have your passport.

Posted by
4 posts

Yes its driving Brussels to london 7 hrs ride.

I have written to flixbus as well hope they respond soon.

Posted by
8889 posts

There will be border control at Calais, either when you get on the ferry or on the Channel Tunnel Shuttle, depending which route you take.
This will be a double border control, French officials checking you out of the Schengen Area followed by British officials checking you into the UK. If you are a non-European you should get your passport stamped at both.

Don't worry what you have to do, it is impossible to avoid border checks, everybody on the bus will have to be checked. If you could get around them, they would be pointless.

BTW,
(1) "I entered EU through spain from London" - no you didn't. The UK is in the EU (until March 2019). It is the Schengen Area that counts for passports, not the EU. The UK is not in the Schengen Area, hence passport control.
(2) You don't need an exit stamp, many countries now record it electronically, and the Schengen Area is changing to that method.

Posted by
8889 posts

they stamped the passport there as entering the EU Schengen zone there. I was not expecting that. I am thinking Flixbus has a similar set up so just make sure you have your passport.

Jazz+Travels - It is not anything to do with the bus company. It is a controlled border, so all travellers (all vehicle passengers, pedestrians, everybody) are checked. I am surprised that you were surprised.

Posted by
4 posts

I have non EU passport and i need seperate visas for schengen states and UK. What I understand from your reply is that bus will stop at boarder and check passport to add an exit stamp and I dont need to go anywhere myself to get it stamped. I dont even need to inform the driver that I ned a stamp? Because i need this exit stamp in order to get visa next time and have a clean travel history.

Posted by
33735 posts

midhat, what country is that? Drivers don't have anything to do with visas or passport stamps, and sometimes passport stamps are electronic as well as or instead of physical pen and ink. The border control officers will know everything about every contingency and do what is needed in every circumstance. They are professional government employees.

Posted by
8889 posts

Midhat, All vehicles (not just buses) MUST stop at controlled borders. There will be government officials there whose job it is to check every passenger on every vehicle. They check passports, determine which passports need stamping, and stamp those passports. They will check who needs a visa, and check those people have the necessary visa. Basically same procedure as when you cross a border by air.
You may have to get out of the bus for the passport check.
You don't need to inform the driver, it is nothing to do with him/her. It is nothing to do with Flixbus (except they have to allow for time spent at the border in bus times).

Yes its driving Brussels to london 7 hrs ride.

Why? The train only takes 2 hours. On the train, border checks are done at Brussels station before you are allowed on the train.

Posted by
8889 posts

Flixbus may require you to tell them your passport details, so they can pass this on to the authorities. They normally ask for this when you buy the ticket. Have they asked for this?

Posted by
4 posts

Thanks Chris and Nigel. That sorts my worry.

I purchased ticket online at GoEudlro so no questions asked.

Posted by
619 posts

I think that non-EU travellers also have to complete a landing card when they enter the U.K.. This includes things like first address you will be staying at, etc, and other details which are not on your passport. It's all routine.