Mobile Passport Control: The Best Kept Secret To Skip Customs

After a long flight, confronting a long Customs line is the worst feeling. But this is the best-kept secret to avoiding that. The free Mobile Passport Control app lets you quickly skip long customs lines, often faster than entering with Global Entry!

I’ve cleared US customs lines in under 2 minutes multiple times using MPC, whizzing by both the US Customs Line AND the Global Entry line!!! I want to keep it a secret, but it’s time to share the wealth. Mobile Passport Control is the best-kept secret from travelers returning to the United States! And for good reason.

Table of Contents

What is Mobile Passport Control?

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free, secure app by the US Customs and Border Protection. Eligible travelers submit their travel documents, photos, and customs declaration information to the app before entering the US. MPC streamlines the traveler’s entry into the United States by reducing passport control inspection and wait time. An advantage is that MPC does not require pre-approval.

Who is eligible for Mobile Passport Control?

U.S. Citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, eligible Canadian B1/B2 citizens visitors, and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) are eligible for Mobile Passport Control.

How does Mobile Passport Control work?

First, download the MPC Application from their smartphone’s App Store. Then, create a profile with their passport or legal document information on the app.

Mobile passport control in the app store

If using Preclearance, select your mode of entry in the app as “Preclearance” before selecting your departing Port of Entry. If you are not using preclearance, upon landing in the United States, select “U.S. airport” as your mode of entry. Then select your arrival airport or seaport and terminal.

You will then take a self-photo and answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions. Once you submit your answers, they will receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted QR code. Then, go to a CBP officer from the Mobile Passport Control customs designated line to finalize your inspection for entry into the United States.

Where Can I Use MPC?

You can use MPC at 48 sites, including 33 U.S. International Airports, 11 Preclearance locations, and 4 seaports of entry:

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Houston William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Las Vegas Harry Ried International Airport (LAS)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Miami Seaport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Nassau Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
Palm Beach Seaport
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Port Everglades Seaport
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
San Juan Airport (SJU)
San Juan Seaport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Winnipeg James A Richardson International Airport (YWG)

How to Get Mobile Passport Control

You can download the Mobile Passport Control App from your smartphone’s App Store and create a free account if you are eligible.

Mobile Passport Control vs. Global Entry

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers entering the United States. Interested travelers apply to the program, pay $100 USD, and then are interviewed at a Global Entry Enrollment Center for approval. If approved, Global Entry lasts for 5 years per traveler until you need to re-apply and repay the fee.

Approved travelers skip the Customs line and head straight to global Entry specific automatic kiosks at select airports. You will answer customs questions prompted by the kiosk, receive a receipt once finished, and exit straight to baggage claim. Therefore, Global Entry bypasses the need to meet with a CBP officer as clearance into the US is automated.

On the other hand, Mobile Passport Control is a free app where eligible travelers can submit their customs documents before arriving in the United States. As a result, you bypass the regular Customs line for expedited Customs waiting. With MPC, you still talk to a CBP officer but don’t have to wait as long.

Here’s a table comparing the two:

	Mobile Passport Control	Global Entry
Fees	Free	$100 USD
How to Apply	Free sign-up for eligible travelers	Paid application + scheduled interview
Customs Wait	It depends on how busy it is, but average 2 minutes	It depends on how busy it is but average 5 minutes
Eligibility	U.S. Citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, eligible Canadian B1/B2 citizens visitors, and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).	U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents and citizens of the following countries are eligible for Global Entry membership: Argentina, Brazil, Bahrain, India, Colombia, United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Mexico.
Expiration	Never	5 Years

Is Mobile Passport Control Worth It?

YES, and here’s why. Global Entry has a wider eligibility pool than MPC, which includes citizens of several other countries. Mobile Passport Control is confined to just the United States and Canada. Additionally, Global Entry is extremely well-known, popular, and advertised consistently with travelers, while Mobile Passport Control is less well-known.

Because Mobile Passport Control has a small eligible pool of people, it’s more “selective.” This means fewer people will be lining up to bypass the Customs line. In contrast, Global Entry lines are getting longer and longer as it gets more popular! Even though the process to get Global Entry is more selective, with an application and interview.

Comparing Mobile Passport Control and Global Entry lines, using Mobile Passport Control is usually faster! I have cleared customs faster than Global Entry multiple times using MPC and couldn’t believe it. However, comparing both to the regular Customs line, you are absolutely saving time, and both are good options to save time at the airport.

Skip the Customs Line Next Time

Mobile Passport Control is the best-kept secret to breezing by Customs, and it’s heavily underrated. With lines getting longer for Global Entry due to its popularity, MPC is the better choice because it is free and does not require pre-approval. But both are great alternatives to skipping the Customs line. No one wants to wait after a long flight, so try Mobile Passport Control out! Happy travels!

If you enjoy skipping lines, you’ll also enjoy learning how to skip the massive line in front of the Louvre! Enter in less than 5 minutes.