For many travelers, especially those who are new or infrequent, customs and immigration for international flights can be a big question mark. It can be confusing to know what to expect when you arrive in a foreign country. In this guide, we will demystify the process and help you understand the patterns and commonalities of customs and immigration.
Firstly, it’s important to understand the difference between passport control and customs. Passport control, also known as immigration or border security in some countries, is the step where a country’s immigration department confirms that you are legally allowed to enter. This involves presenting your passport, visa, and any other required documents. Customs, on the other hand, checks the items you have brought with you into the country. This step occurs after passport control and after you have picked up any checked luggage from baggage claim.
The general process for going through customs and immigration on international flights is as follows: You hand your passport to an officer who checks it and stamps it for entry. If the country you are visiting requires a visa or any other documents for entry, the immigration officer will also check that you have them. You may be fingerprinted and/or have a photograph taken. The officer may ask you questions about your stay, the purpose of your visit, your accommodation, or your job title. Alternatively, they may simply stamp your passport without asking anything. Some countries may give you a receipt for entry, which you may need to hold onto and return when departing.
In some airports, there are automated border control or “e-gates” that can significantly shorten the wait for passport control for individuals from select countries. With e-gates, you typically scan your passport in a reader and get photographed by a camera. Facial recognition technology then matches your face to the image in your passport. If the check is successful, the gate opens and allows you entry into the country. If not, you will need to see an immigration officer.
For customs, some countries may require you to fill out a declaration form either in advance or upon arrival. In other cases, you may only be asked to verbally declare any items you are bringing into the country. Some countries may also scan everyone’s bags through an X-ray machine on entry, regardless of whether you declared anything.
If you have a layover on an international flight, you generally only need to go through customs and immigration once, which will happen at your arrival airport. This applies as long as your layover is on a single ticket and your bags are checked to your final destination. In most cases, you will not need to pick up or recheck your luggage during a layover. However, there are a few exceptions. If you have separate tickets for your flights, you will usually need to go through customs and immigration to pick up and recheck your luggage for the next flight. Additionally, when traveling to European countries within the Schengen Area, you will go through customs at your first entry point to the European Union, regardless of your final destination within the Schengen Area. If you have a long layover and decide to leave the airport, you will need to clear customs.
When traveling to the United States, you will typically need to go through passport control and customs upon arrival at your first entry point to the country. Even if your final destination is a different city within the US, you will need to clear customs at your first port of entry. The only exception is if your departure airport has preclearance, where Customs and Border Patrol personnel inspect travelers prior to departure. In this case, you can bypass customs upon arrival in the US.
The time it takes to clear customs can vary depending on various factors. These factors include where you sat on the flight, the number of other flights that arrived at the same time as yours, your usage of expedited entry services, and whether you checked your luggage or traveled with carry-ons only. Sitting closer to the front of the plane can help you get off the aircraft sooner and arrive at customs earlier. The number of other flights arriving at the same time can also affect the wait time at customs. Using expedited entry services like Global Entry or the Mobile Passport app in the US can help expedite the process. Some international destinations may also have fast-track or VIP services that you can pay for to shorten your wait for customs. Finally, if you only travel with carry-on bags, you can bypass the wait time for checked luggage and get to the customs desk faster.
In conclusion, customs and immigration for international flights can be a confusing process for many travelers. However, understanding the differences between passport control and customs, knowing the general process, and considering various factors can help demystify the process and make it easier to navigate.