Is it possible for french border officials to stop stamping passport as it is almost full?

PASSPORTS NEED ONE BLANK PAGE ON THEM WHEN TRAVELLING Reader Question: I have a long-stay visa but often go back to the UK to check on my elderly parents. My passport is almost filled up

with stamps – can I ask border officials in France to stop stamping my passport? If I renew my passport can I still travel Travellers on many French visas are liable to have their passport

stamped upon entry and exit from France, including those on VLS-TS visas.  French border officials have previously told The Connexion that, unlike for Brexit Withdrawal Agreement card

holders, passports of other foreign people with French visas and residency cards are routinely stamped as they enter or leave the Schengen Area via France.  If your UK passport is close to

filling up, your only option is to obtain a new one. Officially, you should have at least one blank page on your passport when you travel, so need to do this before it is too late.  Britons

have the option to obtain a 54-page frequent traveller passport, as opposed to a standard 34-page passport.  You can obtain your passport online or otherwise when you are back in the UK, if

you are going to be in the country for at least three weeks (the average waiting time for a renewal according to the UK Passport Office).  You cannot travel to the UK and back without your

passport except in an emergency. This includes if you have a valid visa to enter France.  If you completely run out of space and urgently need to make it back, you may be eligible for an

emergency travel document, but should then renew your passport immediately In your situation it may be best to renew your passport when in the UK and wait before returning to France.  You

can read our article on how to obtain an emergency travel document to return to the UK below. Read more: Can I travel to the UK from France without a passport in an emergency? EXTRA PASSPORT

PAGES MAY NOT BE NECESSARY  It is worth noting however that the EU is planning to phase out passport stamping, so a frequent-traveller passport may not be worth the extra cost (£12 more

than a standard passport regardless of if you apply online or via a paper form).  The implementation of increased border security measures by the EU – the Entry/Exit System (EES) and

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) – will see manual stamping come to an end as the border travel process is digitised. However, depending on exactly when this

starts, the end of manual stamping is still likely to be over a year away.  Read more: What is the process if Brexit card holder’s passport is accidentally stamped?