Why Mobile Passport Is the Ultimate Secret of International Travelers

Being able to breeze through U.S. immigration and customs after an overseas flight without enduring long lines is one of the most significant advancements in modern travel. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry program has been celebrated as the quickest way to navigate the international arrival process at U.S. airports. However, the required in-person interviews for Global Entry can be challenging to arrange (often involving long wait times), and it costs $100 every five years, making it less than ideal for many travelers.

Luckily, there’s another way to exit the airport (or catch a tight connection) even faster. Mobile Passport Control (commonly referred to as Mobile Passport), launched by CBP in 2014, is a free mobile application that allows travelers to use a dedicated, usually shorter, customs line after landing in U.S. airports and at cruise ports. Here’s how Mobile Passport functions and what you should know before using it.

What Is Mobile Passport?

• Get the App: App Store; Google Play

The Mobile Passport app can be found in the Apple App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android devices, and it is free to download and use.

This app replaces the need to fill out a traditional paper customs declaration form or utilize the Automated Passport Control kiosk upon arrival. Once you land in the United States and connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you can launch the app and answer the usual questions; you can also declare any restricted items or significant purchases right within the app.

How to Utilize Mobile Passport

Upon your first login to the Mobile Passport app, you’ll need to upload a headshot (a quick selfie will do) and input your passport information (just scan your passport page). When you’re ready to proceed, you can enter your chosen PIN or use Touch ID if your device supports it.

After indicating your arrival airport and airline, and submitting the form (which takes about a minute), the app generates a QR code for you to present to an immigration officer at the airport. The CBP officer might ask a few questions about your travel, but the process is quick, as Mobile Passport users have access to a dedicated lane at 33 participating airports, streamlining the immigration and customs procedures.

The advantage is clear: the Mobile Passport line is frequently shorter than other customs lines. While Global Entry users are still filling out their forms at the kiosk, you could already be scanning your mobile device's QR code for an officer. Any necessary declarations can be handled then, but if you have none, you’ll be on your way. It’s important to note that the Mobile Passport app does not provide access to TSA PreCheck, unlike Global Entry.

Currently, Mobile Passport feels like a hidden gem among international travelers. “I often find the Mobile Passport line empty when I arrive at SFO [in San Francisco],” shares Jessie Beck, Dinogo’s senior SEO manager. “Thanks to this app, I usually get through customs in five minutes or less—sometimes even faster than my friends with Global Entry.”

Mobile Passport vs. Global Entry

While Global Entry users must book an interview, undergo a background check, and pay a fee every five years, Mobile Passport is available for instant download and is completely free (no credit card details are needed).

In contrast to Global Entry, there’s no application process, no lengthy interview that requires waiting weeks or months, and no fees for using the Mobile Passport Control app. U.S. citizens and Canadians with B1 or B2 visa status are eligible.

Mobile Passport is not a substitute for a passport and does not function as a trusted traveler program. This means you haven't been “vetted” like Global Entry users have; it simply replaces the form you fill out at airport kiosks upon arrival. Since not all travelers qualify for Global Entry (due to reasons like previous customs violations), this app can be an excellent alternative.

Travelers who are eligible and also hold Global Entry can still take advantage of Mobile Passport. This gives you the option to choose the shorter line when you reach border control.

Similar to Global Entry, Mobile Passport can only be utilized for entry into the United States.

Where Can You Use Mobile Passport?

Currently, there are 33 airports and 4 cruise ports in the United States equipped with Mobile Passport lines. Notable airports that are not included are Detroit, Michigan, and Charlotte, North Carolina. (Las Vegas was added recently.) However, the list of airports and ports of entry continues to expand.

Airports Offering Mobile Passport

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• 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 Reid International Airport (LAS)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
• 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)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Cruise Ports Featuring Mobile Passport

• Port Everglades Cruise Port (USPEF), Fort Lauderdale
• Miami Seaport (USMIA), Miami
• Port of Palm Beach (USPBC), West Palm Beach
• Port of San Juan (PRSJU), San Juan

Utilizing Mobile Passport for Family Travel

Members of the same household can fill out their forms collectively on a single device, as long as each individual's photo and passport information are included in the app.

Is Mobile Passport Safe?

The Mobile Passport app includes privacy protection measures to safeguard your document information. Additionally, users have the option to remove their details from the app after each trip instead of keeping them stored. The QR code sent to CBP upon form completion will expire four hours after it is generated.

Udi Onyile and Erika Owen contributed to this report. This article was initially published in 2019 and was updated on May 2, 2023, to include new information.