Singaporean Man Spots Passport Stamp Error at Johor Immigration
A Singaporean driver had a close call at the Johor immigration checkpoint on 3 September when his passport was mistakenly stamped with the wrong date, reflecting “3 August” instead of “3 September.”
The traveller, identified as Tan Daniel, shared the incident in a Facebook group on 4 September, cautioning others to always double-check their passports after clearing customs. He explained that he only noticed the mistake when he pulled over after the checkpoint to inspect his documents. To his surprise, the entry stamp was dated a month earlier.
Fortunately, Tan had memorised the counter number out of habit and returned immediately to highlight the error. According to him, the female officer at the counter smiled, remarked, “Oh, it’s the wrong month,” and promptly corrected the mistake by voiding the original stamp and issuing a new one with the correct date. A photo attached to his post showed both stamps, with the August one clearly marked “VOID.”
Multiple Travellers Faced the Same Issue
While Tan was relieved the error was rectified quickly, he questioned how often such mistakes occurred and whether other travellers had faced similar situations. His suspicion was confirmed when another commenter claimed that her group of seven, who crossed the border on the same day, also received incorrect stamps showing “August” instead of “September.”
The revelation sparked concern among commenters, many of whom thanked Tan for raising awareness. Several urged fellow Singaporeans to be vigilant, as an inaccurate stamp could potentially cause complications for immigration records, travel validity, or future border crossings.
Importance of Checking Travel Documents
Passport stamping errors, while seemingly minor, can have serious consequences if left uncorrected, particularly when travellers are questioned about overstaying or mismatched travel dates. The incident underscores the importance of travellers verifying their documents before leaving customs.
For now, the correction was made swiftly, and no further issues were reported. Still, Tan’s experience serves as a timely reminder for those travelling between Singapore and Malaysia to check their passport stamps carefully before continuing their journey.