Was I supposed to go through immigration...?

[Febs]

Hi guys,

I landed in Madrid (MAD) tonight (from Sweden), followed the signs to baggage, collected my bags then walked out. Talking to a colleague who did the same thing but from LHR a few hours earlier, she said she cleared immigration before collecting her bags.

Is there some agreement with certain nations where you don't have to show a passport? I'm not going to have trouble trying to leave am I?

I'm sure I won't have any trouble, but I did a quick Google and all I could find is "all visitors to Spain must show their passport etc..."

I didn't even see any customs declaration points...I just walked straight out the only exit I could see.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[NM]

Spain and Sweeden are countries that have implemented the Schengen agreement and hence do not require people moving between these countries to be processed by passport control. The UK and The Republic of Ireland are not included in the Schengen agreement and hence people travelling to/from the UK of Republic of Ireland need to be processed through the standard immigration process.

Most EU countries, as well as non-EU counties of Iceland, Sweeden and Norway are signitories of the Schengen agreement.

 

[Febs]

Thanks NM, helpful as always.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

It's great for travellers. Saves a lot of time and unneccessary filling up passports (any quicker than they already do).

 

[stryker]

It's great for travellers. Saves a lot of time and unneccessary filling up passports (any quicker than they already do).

Tell me, Kiwi, do you have an EU passport?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

No. But schengen->schengen transfer means no stamp. Only stamped when entering or leaving the schengen zone.

 

[Shano]

I had a similar experience in FRA a couple of years ago. I flew into FRA on QF and then transferred to a flight to MUC on LH. Didn't appear to go through immigration then either. Was a little disappointed as I like to collect those passport stamps......

 

[Febs]

Was a little disappointed as I like to collect those passport stamps......

Me too. I travel a fair bit but not enough to fill up my passport quickly...so I like collecting those stamps!

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

You can always walk through to the non-schengen part of the terminal - just say you want to look at the shops or visit the lounge.

 

[NM]

I had a similar experience in FRA a couple of years ago. I flew into FRA on QF and then transferred to a flight to MUC on LH. Didn't appear to go through immigration then either. Was a little disappointed as I like to collect those passport stamps......

In that case you should have cleared immigration/passport control on arrival into FRA. The QF flight should arrive into a part of the terminal where the only way out is through passport control (non-Schengen zone). The flight to MUC should leave from another part of the terminal (the Schengen zone). So if you managed to get from non-Schengen arrival to Schengen departures without going through passport control, then something went wrong with the system.

 

[Shano]

So if you managed to get from non-Schengen arrival to Schengen departures without going through passport control, then something went wrong with the system.

Possibly..:shock:

The only time I recall having to show my passport was at the transfer desk to collect my LH boarding pass. I figured immigration must be on arrival into Munich, but it turned out to be a domestic only flight.

I am not sure what I did wrong, but they did let me leave the country

 

[NM]

Possibly..:shock:

The only time I recall having to show my passport was at the transfer desk to collect my LH boarding pass. I figured immigration must be on arrival into Munich, but it turned out to be a domestic only flight.

I am not sure what I did wrong, but they did let me leave the country

The Germans would have just assumed you arrive into another Schengen country. I am not sure just how well linked their immigration systems are. They just seem to trust that if you in the zone then you must have met the criteria - not always a good assumption. But it does make for earier movement across borders.

 

[Shano]

Germans....Flexible......who would have thought

 

[NM]

Germans....Flexible......who would have thought

:mrgreen: :shock:

I have been amazed that each time I have arrived into FRA I have never even been asked one question about what I am going to be doing there, how long I plan to stay, who I work for, where I will be staying or any of the other inquisitions afforded to visitors to the LOTFAP.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

:mrgreen: :shock:

I have been amazed that each time I have arrived into FRA I have never even been asked one question about what I am going to be doing there, how long I plan to stay, who I work for, where I will be staying or any of the other inquisitions afforded to visitors to the LOTFAP.

I usually get just one question at FRA. If I am going landside it is "how long are you in Germany" with no follow up (even if I say just a few hours). If I am transferring between non-schengen and schengen they ask "where have you just come from?" and if I am transferring between schengen and non-schengen they ask "where are you going?".

 

[NM]

I usually get just one question at FRA. If I am going landside it is "how long are you in Germany" with no follow up (even if I say just a few hours). If I am transferring between non-schengen and schengen they ask "where have you just come from?" and if I am transferring between schengen and non-schengen they ask "where are you going?".

I have not even had those questions. Just hand over the passport and they stamp it and hand it back.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Maybe it is because there isnt many (any?) domestic flights from that terminal (cf the *A terminal has lots)?

Mind you I don't understand why they bother since they never follow up with anything other than the stamp, no matter how crazy my answer.

 

[NM]

Mind you I don't understand why they bother since they never follow up with anything other than the stamp, no matter how crazy my answer.

Try answering something like "about 2 years" when asked how long you plan on staying. Then see if they take any notice?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Try answering something like "about 2 years" when asked how long you plan on staying. Then see if they take any notice?

I've tried the short end, so leave the long end to you

 

[NM]

I've tried the short end, so leave the long end to you

Most of mine are short, but generally include at least one night in Germany. Some are daytrips from UK, so also require passport control. Since I don't fly *A, any time I am in FRA it is because I need to go to FRA and not for a transit.