A Filipina digital nomad nearly had her Philippine passport canceled after immigration officers flagged it for carrying souvenir stamps, a reminder from authorities that any unauthorized mark on a passport may be treated as tampering.
According to a report by GMA Integrated News, traveler Kach Umandap from Palawan shared that her passport was questioned during a trip to the United States. Umandap has visited 193 United Nations-recognized countries and two observer states using her Philippine passport.
She admitted that in her earlier travels in 2014, she collected souvenir stamps from tourist destinations in South America and Antarctica. Among the places she mentioned were Mitad del Mundo in Ecuador, Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, and the “End of the World” site in Chile. She said she followed what other foreign travelers were doing and did not realize it was not allowed.
Upon arrival in the US, immigration officers reportedly told her that her passport was considered canceled and tampered. She said she was questioned for three hours before eventually being allowed entry.
Because of that incident, Umandap now writes an explanation letter whenever she applies for long-term visas, clarifying that the souvenir stamps were placed years ago when she was still a new traveler.
The Department of Foreign Affairs warned that placing unauthorized stamps on a passport can be considered document tampering. Atty. Raymond Aljon Cusipag, assistant director of the DFA Passport Division, explained that any stamp not placed by an authorized immigration authority may be treated as a violation, whether by Philippine or foreign officials.
The back page of the Philippine passport also clearly states that it must not be altered, marked, or tampered with.
Authorities remind travelers that a passport stamp is an official entry or exit mark issued by immigration officers. Some countries no longer use physical stamps and instead rely on digital records.
Travelers are advised to:
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Avoid placing any souvenir or decorative stamps on passport pages
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Use a passport cover to prevent damage
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Keep passports dry and free from writing or markings
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Store passports in a safe place
For those who may have placed unauthorized stamps, the DFA advises renewing the passport immediately to avoid being denied entry to another country.