When traveling internationally, the “thunk” of the passport stamp was the sound of adventure. It opened up a whole different country with a unique culture, food and traditions. And it was always fun to look back through the passport and see the stamps and relive the memories. 

However, today an increasing number of countries are adopting biometric entry systems and electronic records, which means the humble passport stamp may soon become a relic. 

Visitors through major international airports are now automatically processed through a digital system known as SmartGate, using facial recognition technology, fingerprints, and other biometric data stored in your passport. Instead of on a stamp, your record of entry and departure exists only in a database. 

Some countries do still use the tried-and-true stamping method, while others operate with hybrid systems — what you get depends not only on the country, but sometimes even on the airport, terminal, or time of day. 

Some border agents may still accommodate passport stamps if they’re able to, but just make sure to ask nicely! 

As official stamps become scarce, some travelers are turning towards souvenir stamps, which are unofficial designs of popular tourism sites you can get at visitor centers or post offices. They serve no legal purpose, and they do come with a word of caution: Novelty stamps can compromise the validity of your passport, so it’s best to bring a separate travel notebook for those .

But, don’t toss your passport just yet, though. While some countries charge full digital steam ahead, many parts of the world still face infrastructure and security challenges that make the global shift to fully digital systems more complex. For now, paper passports and, if you’re lucky, the occasional inked stamp, still have a little life left in them.