This Free App Helps You Skip Long Customs Lines Without Global Entry

A Closer Look at Mobile Passport Control

Mobile Passport Control, often shortened to MPC, is a free smartphone app designed to streamline the customs declaration process for eligible travelers entering the United States.

Instead of filling out a paper form or answering standard declaration questions at a kiosk, you:


• Download the MPC app from the Apple App Store or Google Play

• Scan your passport and create a traveler profile

• Submit your trip details and customs declaration electronically

• Receive a digital receipt with a QR code

• Enter the designated MPC lane at customs


You will still speak with a Customs and Border Protection officer and present your physical passport. The difference is that much of the administrative work is completed ahead of time, which allows officers to process travelers more efficiently.


At many airports, the MPC lane is shorter than the regular line. In some cases, it can move almost as quickly as Global Entry.

There’s also a timely reason Mobile Passport Control is worth knowing right now. During the current DHS government shutdown, TSA PreCheck is still operating, but Global Entry services are paused, which may mean longer customs lines for international arrivals. If you are coming home from abroad and want a faster option without enrollment, Mobile Passport Control is one of the simplest tools you can use.

Who Can Use the Mobile Passport Control App?

Mobile Passport Control is available to:

• U.S. citizens

• U.S. lawful permanent residents

• Returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA

• Certain Canadian B1 or B2 visitors

You can create up to 12 traveler profiles on one device and submit a single group transaction. For families, this is one of the biggest advantages. Instead of approaching the booth individually, you stay together and speak to the officer as a group.

If you do not qualify for a Trusted Traveler Program or are still waiting for Global Entry approval, MPC offers a practical alternative.

Where Is Mobile Passport Control Available?

Mobile Passport Control is currently offered at dozens of major U.S. international airports. The list of U.S. international airports includes:

• 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)

• Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

• 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-Saint 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)


MPC is also available at all international preclearance locations, including Dublin Airport and Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, where travelers complete U.S. customs before boarding their flight. When you land in the United States from these airports, you arrive as a domestic passenger and skip customs entirely.


Availability can vary by airport and operational conditions, so it is wise to confirm before departure.

Mobile Passport Control vs Global Entry

Both programs speed up entry into the United States, but they function differently.


Mobile Passport Control

• Free

• No application or background check

• No fingerprinting

• Requires speaking with a CBP officer

• Requires submitting trip details each time


Global Entry

• $120 for five years

• Application, background check, and interview required

• Often allows kiosk or facial recognition clearance

• Includes TSA PreCheck


If you travel internationally four or more times a year, Global Entry may be worth the cost and effort. If you travel occasionally, or want a free solution without enrollment, MPC is often the easiest win.


Interestingly, some frequent travelers use both. In busy periods, the MPC lane can occasionally move faster than the Global Entry kiosks.

What This Means for Travelers

With Global Entry currently paused during the shutdown, MPC can be a helpful backup for eligible travelers who want a shorter customs line without paying or enrolling. In that context, its appeal becomes even clearer. It’s free, it takes minutes to set up, and it can reduce stress at one of the most unpredictable points in international travel.


To use it effectively:

• Download and set up the app before your return trip

• Submit your declaration within the allowed window before arrival

• Make sure your phone is charged

• Look for MPC signage in the customs hall


One important detail: if your flight diverts to an airport that does not support MPC, you will need to use the regular customs line.


It is not a guarantee of instant entry, but it often makes the process smoother and more predictable.

International travel always comes with a few unknowns, and airport reentry is often one of them. With Global Entry services currently paused during the DHS shutdown, having a reliable alternative matters more than usual.

Mobile Passport Control will not eliminate every wait, but it offers a free, practical way to move through customs more efficiently without interviews, fees, or long approval timelines. If you have an upcoming international return, setting it up before you travel is a small step that can make a meaningful difference when you land.

Frequently Asked Questions: This Free App Helps You Skip Long Customs Lines

Is Mobile Passport Control free?

Yes. The app is completely free to download and use.

Does Mobile Passport Control replace my passport?

No. You must still present your physical passport to a CBP officer.

Can families use one phone for everyone?

Yes. You can create profiles for up to 12 travelers and submit one group declaration.

Is Mobile Passport Control as fast as Global Entry?

In many airports it is comparable, but it still requires speaking with an officer. Global Entry can be faster for very frequent travelers.

Do I need an interview for Mobile Passport Control?

No. There is no background check or interview required.

Can I submit my declaration before landing?

Yes. For air arrivals, submissions are typically active for four hours before landing. For land borders, up to eight hours.

What happens if the MPC lane is closed?

You will need to use the standard customs line.

Is Mobile Passport Control secure?

Yes. Information is submitted directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection through secure encryption protocols.