Do I need to translate passport stamps issued in Belgium/Brussels airport?

[duplex]

Hi all,

I am getting close to my test day and I was reviewing my passport stamps, where I came upon this question. I realize that only the last five years (eligibility period) matters so I went through all stamps within the period. I found there are a set of entry/exit stamps that I am not sure whether I should get it translated or not.

The stamps were given in the Brussels airport, which has a code of BRU. As a result, the stamps look exactly like these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belgium_entry_stamp.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belgium_exit_stamp.jpg

To me it is clear that it is issued in BRU airport, but I don't understand what the NAT means followed by that. Do I have to get it translated? And actually, I doubt the translator will know what it means, since it doesn't seem like of any language but more like a code or short form of something (I am guessing it means national).

I have also been to Spain and the stamps look like this, which I believe is no problem since it clearly say Madrid-Barajas airport. In the case of Brussels, it uses a short form so I am a bit unsure of.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spain_madrid_airport_entry.jpg

Can you please share your thought? Thanks a lot.

 

[ThierrYUL]

Hi all,

I am getting close to my test day and I was reviewing my passport stamps, where I came upon this question. I realize that only the last five years (eligibility period) matters so I went through all stamps within the period. I found there are a set of entry/exit stamps that I am not sure whether I should get it translated or not.

The stamps were given in the Brussels airport, which has a code of BRU. As a result, the stamps look exactly like these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belgium_entry_stamp.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belgium_exit_stamp.jpg

To me it is clear that it is issued in BRU airport, but I don't understand what the NAT means followed by that. Do I have to get it translated? And actually, I doubt the translator will know what it means, since it doesn't seem like of any language but more like a code or short form of something (I am guessing it means national).

I have also been to Spain and the stamps look like this, which I believe is no problem since it clearly say Madrid-Barajas airport. In the case of Brussels, it uses a short form so I am a bit unsure of.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spain_madrid_airport_entry.jpg

Can you please share your thought? Thanks a lot.

BRU-NAT stands for Brussels-National, which is the official name of the airport.

 

[Seym]

Please note that all the stamps in the passports you used in that 5 years timeframe matter, even if the stamps themselves are 8 years old. The officer would need to know if these stamps are indeed in the eligibility period or not.

And those Brussels stamps are already understandable.

 

[scorph]

Hi all,

I am getting close to my test day and I was reviewing my passport stamps, where I came upon this question. I realize that only the last five years (eligibility period) matters so I went through all stamps within the period. I found there are a set of entry/exit stamps that I am not sure whether I should get it translated or not.

The stamps were given in the Brussels airport, which has a code of BRU. As a result, the stamps look exactly like these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belgium_entry_stamp.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Belgium_exit_stamp.jpg

To me it is clear that it is issued in BRU airport, but I don't understand what the NAT means followed by that. Do I have to get it translated? And actually, I doubt the translator will know what it means, since it doesn't seem like of any language but more like a code or short form of something (I am guessing it means national).

I have also been to Spain and the stamps look like this, which I believe is no problem since it clearly say Madrid-Barajas airport. In the case of Brussels, it uses a short form so I am a bit unsure of.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spain_madrid_airport_entry.jpg

Can you please share your thought? Thanks a lot.

I believe there is nothing to translate here.

 

[duplex]

Please note that all the stamps in the passports you used in that 5 years timeframe matter, even if the stamps themselves are 8 years old. The officer would need to know if these stamps are indeed in the eligibility period or not.

And those Brussels stamps are already understandable.

Thanks for the suggestion. However, by looking at the dates the officer should be able to tell if the stamps are within the eligibility period or not, isn't it? If the date was from before the eligibility period, then does he need to know what exactly is written on the stamp? For instance, I believe there is one stamp where only date are clear (before the eligibility period) while all the other text/words are not clear since when it was stamped there was almost no ink on the stamp.

 

[Seym]

Thanks for the suggestion. However, by looking at the dates the officer should be able to tell if the stamps are within the eligibility period or not, isn't it? If the date was from before the eligibility period, then does he need to know what exactly is written on the stamp? For instance, I believe there is one stamp where only date are clear (before the eligibility period) while all the other text/words are not clear since when it was stamped there was almost no ink on the stamp.

In that case, yes, you're good! It's more related to stamps where even the date is written in a different alphabet.

 

[muk5477]

Nop