Does the UK still stamp passports in 2026?
Only if you skip the e-gate. UK e-gates never stamp, and the Electronic Travel Authorisation is routing more visitors through them every year.
Status Not at the e-gate
The UK did not announce an end to stamping so much as build a border where stamping rarely comes up. If you clear immigration at an e-gate - and eligible travellers are steered there by default at every major airport - your passport is read, your face is matched, and nothing is printed in it.
The rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation through 2026 pushes more nationalities toward that same e-gate lane. Which is why "the UK stopped stamping" and "the UK still stamps" are both circulating, and both sound authoritative. Both describe a real experience; the difference is which lane you stood in.
That matters beyond souvenirs. If you may later need to evidence your travel history for a UK immigration or nationality application, the e-gate leaves you nothing in the book - keep boarding passes, tickets and your own dated record instead.
How to still get a stamp
Join the queue for a Border Force officer instead of the e-gate and ask. A staffed desk can still stamp; the automated lane physically cannot.
Sources
- Immigration and passports - Heathrow Airport
- Countries Are Ditching Passport Stamps - Here’s The Full List - Your Mileage May Vary
Sources last checked September 7, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the UK still stamp passports in 2026?
Only if you skip the e-gate. UK e-gates never stamp, and the Electronic Travel Authorisation is routing more visitors through them every year.
How do I get a the United Kingdom passport stamp as a souvenir?
Join the queue for a Border Force officer instead of the e-gate and ask. A staffed desk can still stamp; the automated lane physically cannot.
Does a missing stamp mean my entry was not recorded?
No. Border authorities keep an electronic record of entries and exits regardless of whether ink goes in the passport. The stamp is a copy of the record, not the record itself.