Passport stamps always have sentimental value, but when it comes to aesthetics, they often come up short. But not always. Some countries have passport stamps that are like miniature works of art. Here are six of the most interesting and unique passport stamps from around the world:

Alaska 

Okay, it’s not a country, but when you re-enter the US from Alaska, you might find your passport adorned with anything from a moose (Poker Creek Customs) to an old-style locomotive engine (Skagway), depending on where you enter.

Republic of San Marino 

San Marino passport stamp

 

Completely surrounded by Italy, the tiny Republic of San Marino is actually the world’s oldest constitutional republic. It’s not required that you get your passport stamped at the border, but if you choose to, it will be adorned with a stately seal that befits this country’s ancient history.

Cambodia 

Cambodia Passport Stamp

Cambodia’s passport stamp, embellished with the country’s coat of arms or the ruins of Phnom Phen, is as decorative and distinguished as one of Cambodia’s many Buddhist temples. To see another example, go to National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel blog.

Antarctica

Antarctica passport stamp

Traveling to Antarctica automatically gives you bragging rights. Depending on where in Antarctica you go, you could also end up with a cool passport stamp featuring an adorable penguin right out of “Happy Feet,” or perhaps a killer whale!

Hong Kong

Hong Kong passport stamp

Hong Kong welcomes international arrivals and sends them off in style, with a round stamp adorned with a delicate flower.

To start a passport stamp collection of your own, you’ll of course need a US passport. Regular applications take about six weeks to process, so it’s best not to wait until the last minute to apply. Even if you pay an additional $60 for expedited processing from the Department of State, you’re still looking at a three week turnaround time. If you need your passport sooner, you’ll either have to make an appointment at one of the country’s 24 regional passport agency offices, or use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport. We take your application directly to the Department of State, putting it “on top of the stack” for processing in as little as 24 hours.

Need your US passport ASAP? Contact us today!

Where is your favorite passport stamp from? What does it look like?