+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

PEQ2013

Star Member
Oct 10, 2013
95
53
Is it just me, or has CBSA stopped stamping passports for PRs re-entering Canada? The last time I flew back to Canada, they didn't even look at my passport. They only scanned my PR card and let me through. Is this normal?

I ask because I am worried that might be a problem when I am interviewed for my citizenship application. For those of you who had their interviews recently, could you let me know what was it like regarding passport stamp checks? Thanks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tamim8
It’s normal. Your entries/exits are automatically recorded whether your passport is stamped or not. That’s why IRCC asks for your permission to access your CBSA record. The stamps they look at are for other countries’ border services. By combining stamps, entries and exits data, they get a clear picture of your physical presence and anything relevant to your background/security checks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tamim8
Now, most of the times, they dont stamp the passports specially for citizens and permanent residents as they have all the records. My mother in law came a couple of months back (she was a visitor not even a resident or citizen) and they did not stamp her passport. I immediately went to the CBSA office at Pearson airport and asked the reason from an officer. She said its not a "must have" anymore. Some times, we dont stamp the passport and sometimes we do. It depends on the officer who is attending you but if the passport is not stamped it not at all means that your entry is not recorded with them. Once they scan our passport, your information is automatically recorded.

I think this will satisfy you 100% as this is not something a "word of mouth" but this is information i got from a CBSA officer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GL2019 and Tamim8
this literally happened with me today- I have pr card and upon reentering canada customer did not stamp. thank you all for the responses!
 
this literally happened with me today- I have pr card and upon reentering canada customer did not stamp. thank you all for the responses!

Well, this is 3 year old thread you are responding to. For PRs and Citizens, there isn't any stamping on the passport. When you arrive in Canada, you scan your PR card at a Kiosk and once you are validated, you can enter the country.