What is the process of customs at an airport?
Customs Action Steps
Officials at customs and immigration are checking travelers for things like whether they have the right documents to be in the country, whether they're legally allowed to be there, and whether they're bringing anything illegal with them.
The process starts while you're on the flight with a declaration form, but the official customs process will happen when you have arrived at your destination (in a different country) and before you're allowed to legally enter that country.
Officials will review your required passenger travel documents (passport, visa, green card, disembarkation card (provided by a flight attendant during flight), immunization documentation, letters of confirmation or support, etc.)
If your layover is in the same country, you generally do not have to go through customs again. However, if your layover is in a different country, you will typically have to go through customs and immigration. Another factor that may influence whether you go through customs is the airport you are connecting through.
For international layover flights, you will normally have to go through customs and immigration at the connecting airport. For flights with a layover in Canada or the USA, you will need to go through immigration and fill out the necessary customs paperwork even if you are not staying in the country.
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States by accessing the Global Entry processing technology at selected airports.
How long does customs usually take? On average, it takes travelers 17 minutes and 53 seconds to get through Immigration and Customs. This number will vary based on the airport you're traveling through, the time of year you're traveling, and the time of day you're arriving at the airport.
Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.
You are required to have a valid ID and boarding pass there. Flying domestically, all that is needed to board the plane is a valid boarding pass. Some countries may have different rules, but for the most part that's all you need.
Is there a security check at customs?
Customs and Border Protection screens people entering the United States to prevent potentially harmful people and materials from coming into the country. People entering U.S. borders, whether international visitors or returning residents. Security screening of international travelers who cross U.S. borders.
There is no way to avoid customs duties, customs officers will check all items entering the country and charges will be applied where necessary. If you simply put 'gift' on the customs invoice, this does not mean it will not attract duty as they will still check the value of what is in the box.
Remember that Customs and Border Protection is legally allowed to search your phone even if they don't suspect you of wrongdoing, so if you have sensitive data or information, you'd be wise to power down your phone and keep it tucked away until you're through customs.
At a Glance
When entering the U.S., Customs agents inquire about your visa type, purpose of visit, and duration of stay. They also ask about accommodation arrangements, financial means for the trip, and who is funding your visit.
Restricted means that special licenses or permits are required from a federal agency before the item is allowed to enter the United States. Examples of restricted items include firearms, certain fruits and vegetables, animal products, animal by products, and some animals.
When a passenger arriving into the United States acquires merchandise abroad (by purchase, gift, otherwise), they must declare it to U.S. Customs upon returning to the United States. If they do not, the merchandise will be subject to forfeiture and the person can receive a penalty.
You must declare all food products.
Two to three hours is the minimum recommended time for an international layover, but more might be needed. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020.
Most (but again, not all) airports connect international terminals airside. When you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you'll always have to exit and reenter security as you'll need to go through customs and immigration (unless you have gone through preclearance aboard, which is rare).
When Do You Go Through Customs? Generally, you'll go through customs when you arrive in a country that is different from the one your flight departed from. You'll encounter the customs process while making your exit from the final destination's airport.
Where do I go through customs if I have a connecting flight?
When you have a connecting flight, you will typically go through customs and immigration at your first point of entry into a country, even if it's not your final destination. After clearing customs and immigration, you will proceed to your connecting flight's departure gate.
Typically, customs clearance takes less than 24 hours, however, there are times where it can take several days or weeks for goods to be inspected. When is customs clearance needed? Customs clearance is necessary for all packages entering the U.S. from other countries.
Select "preclearance" on the app when arriving at a pre-approved airport. Take a selfie and answer the border patrol questions. Receive your QR code. Use the QR code and your physical passport to expedite your trip through customs.
Finally, at the bottom of the Pack with the three worst scores were Miami International Airport (MIA) with just 37.45% of travelers clearing Immigration and Customs in 15 minutes or less, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) with 35.81% and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) at 16.08%.
If you don't check in, you won't receive a boarding pass that allows you to board the plane, and your seat might be given up to a standby passenger. The check-in process also confirms your traveler details like your passport information and frequent flyer number.
References
- https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/airport-information/flight-connections
- https://www.flylax.com/fastlane
- https://simpleflying.com/what-is-skiplagging/
- https://www.flylax.com/stars/terminals
- https://www.delta.com/us/en/check-in-security/check-in-time-requirements/international-check-in
- https://greatlakescustomslaw.com/failure-declare-19-usc-1497/
- https://www.rockytravel.net/blog/connecting-flight-layovers/
- https://www.parknfly.com.au/sydney-airport-planning-your-arrival
- https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g294262-i1747-k12970326-Is_3_hours_enough_for_self_transfer_in_Singapore-Singapore.html
- https://www.flylax.com/lax-frequently-asked-questions-faq
- https://www.quora.com/How-long-is-the-security-check-at-Los-Angeles-International-Airport-LAX
- https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-3619?language=en_US
- https://www.clearme.com/clear-plus
- https://myattorneyusa.com/uscis-and-the-3060-day-rule-and-the-effect-of-preconceived-intent-on-adjustment-of-status
- https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items
- https://onemileatatime.com/guides/clearing-immigration-us-airport/
- https://www.quora.com/If-I-have-a-two-hour-flight-connection-on-an-international-flight-and-my-luggage-is-switching-to-a-different-airline-is-this-enough-time
- https://loyaltylobby.com/2023/04/22/beware-u-s-customs-border-protection-might-not-stamp-your-passport-anymore/
- https://www.quora.com/Do-you-go-through-customs-at-your-layover-or-final-destination
- https://www.going.com/glossary/connecting-flight
- https://lsa.umich.edu/cgis/undergraduate-students/preparing-to-travel/first-time-travelers/layovers-and-customs.html
- https://www.tsa.gov/videos/travel-tips-3-1-1-liquids-rule
- https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/faq
- https://airadvisor.com/en/blog/how-early-should-i-get-to-the-airport
- https://www.cntraveler.com/story/tarmac-delay-rules
- https://www.heathrow.com/connecting-flights
- https://www.tsa.gov/travel/frequently-asked-questions/can-i-use-tsa-precheckr-when-flying-us-airport-foreign-country
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/how-much-time-do-you-need-for-an-international-layover
- https://lawfirm1.com/immigration-visas-green-cards/adjustment-of-status-to-permanent-resident/adjustment-of-status-what-is-the-new-90-day-rule/
- https://support.airasia.com/s/article/Any-Airlines-Self-transfer-at-the-connecting-airport
- https://www.quora.com/Is-2-hours-before-an-early-enough-time-to-arrive-for-an-international-flight
- https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/form-i-94-travel-record-card-online/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/is-tsa-precheck-worth-it/
- https://www.parcelmonkey.com/help/customs/will-my-parcel-be-subject-to-customs-charges
- https://medium.com/postagemaker/what-to-do-if-your-package-is-stuck-in-customs-60b76315636f
- https://www.quora.com/Why-are-passports-not-checked-when-travellers-are-leaving-the-US
- https://www.quora.com/Will-I-be-able-to-board-my-flight-if-I-reach-the-airport-1-hour-before-departure-if-I-have-no-luggage-and-I-do-web-check-in-Ps-it-is-a-domestic-flight
- https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airports/how-early-should-you-get-to-the-airport/
- https://travelpro.com/blogs/the-travelpro-blog/how-to-use-mobile-passport-control
- https://umabroad.umn.edu/resources/travel/immigration-customs
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-possible-to-get-through-customs-without-a-boarding-pass
- https://fox59.com/news/national-world/teen-banned-for-3-years-after-skip-lagging-flight-hack-family/
- https://www.flightright.co.uk/blog/how-early-should-you-be-at-the-airport
- https://www.goabroad.com/articles/what-to-know-before-flying-internationally
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/know-before-you-visit
- https://redbus2us.com/travel/usa/us-immigration-exit-procedure-customs-records-no-stamp-faqs/
- https://www.quora.com/I-have-3-hours-layover-in-T3-New-Delhi-for-domestic-to-international-flight-Is-it-enough-time-for-transfer-I-have-Air-India-landing-and-departure-in-the-same-terminal-T3
- https://ourpublicservice.org/our-solutions/customer-experience/y2021/customs-airport-security-and-screening-service/
- https://www.vaxvacationaccess.com/the-compass/New-Study-Shares-Best-and-Worst-Times-to-Go-Through-Immigration-and-Customs/
- https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/guide/flight_service_info/int-service/y/ground/
- https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/should-i-be-worried-about-the-short-time-between-connecting-flights-306775/
- https://www.airportparking.pro/how-early-should-i-arrive-at-lax/
- https://protrav.com/travel-411/how-to-get-through-customs-faster/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2023/05/18/time-between-connecting-flights/70222761007/
- https://www.travelandleisure.com/missed-connecting-flight-due-to-delay-compensation-8399615
- https://www.alternativeairlines.com/connecting-flights
- https://www.fodors.com/community/air-travel/short-layover-clearing-customs-and-my-luggage-389515/
- https://www.quora.com/What-does-it-mean-to-have-a-flagged-passport
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/preclearance
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/connecting-flight-international-to-domestic/
- https://www.going.com/glossary/customs-and-immigration
- https://www.quora.com/Why-doesnt-the-US-have-exit-passport-checks-when-leaving-the-country-as-most-countries-do
- https://lauraclery.com/do-you-go-through-customs-on-a-connecting-flight/
- https://oiss.yale.edu/travel-visas/for-students/visas/visa-immigration-status-and-entry-stamp
- https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-important-to-arrive-3-hours-earlier-to-the-airport-for-international-flights
- https://flytrippers.com/happens-layover-short-miss-connecting-flight/
- https://www.shipbob.com/blog/package-stuck-in-customs/
- https://www.crowley.com/all-about-customs-clearance/
- https://simpleflying.com/us-border-preclearance-irish-airports-guide/
- https://www.wikihow.com/Go-Through-U.S.-Customs
- https://www.oag.com/blog/minimum-connection-times-insiders-guide
- https://www.alternativeairlines.com/dealing-with-a-short-layover
- https://www.klm.com/information/airport/transfers
- https://lauraclery.com/will-my-connecting-flight-wait-for-me/
- https://www.stilt.com/blog/2022/05/u-s-customs-entry-questions/
- https://sdairporttransport.com/blog/how-to-avoid-long-security-lines-at-los-angeles-airport/
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
- https://www.myticketstoindia.com/blog/difference-between-layover-and-connecting-flight/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-a-1-hour-layover-enough-for-an-international-flight
- https://www.flightright.com/blog/how-early-should-you-be-at-the-airport
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/arriving-airport-2-3-hours-early-really-necessary-myairline
- https://www.quora.com/Where-do-you-go-through-customs-when-you-have-a-connecting-flight
- https://airtreks.com/go/minimum-connection-time/
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/what-expect-when-you-return
- https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/tarmac-delays
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/global-entry-vs-tsa-precheck/
- https://www.going.com/guides/the-layover-guide-to-frankfurt
- https://www.going.com/glossary/check-in
- https://cbpcomplaints.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-992?language=en_US
- https://www.cabinzero.com/blogs/our-journey/do-you-have-to-go-through-customs-on-a-layover
- https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/how-can-you-fall-asleep-on-a-long-flight
- https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/us-passport-visa-free-countries/
- https://www.smartertravel.com/rechecking-baggage-on-connecting-flight/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/tsa-precheck-global-entry-explained
- https://www.afar.com/magazine/can-i-use-my-phone-in-the-u-s-customs-line
- https://travelpro.com/blogs/the-travelpro-blog/how-to-get-through-customs-fast
- https://www.sabihagokcen.aero/faq-frequently-asked-questions/security-and-baggage/do-i-have-to-recheck-my-luggage-on-connecting-flights
- https://www.heathrow.com/departures/checking-in
- https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-early-should-you-get-to-the-airport-7509351
- https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airports/average-wait-times-at-immigration-and-customs/
- https://ois.iu.edu/admissions/prepare-first-year/travel/customs/index.html
- https://www.cancunairport.com/blog/important-information-regarding-arrivals-at-cancun-airport.html
- https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/is-tsa-precheck-worth-it-save-time
- https://www.airhelp.com/en/missed-connection-compensation/
- https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/check-in.html
- https://www.bne.com.au/passenger/passenger-information/check-in-and-baggage
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g186338-i17-k14017939-Two_hours_layover_at_Heathrow_airport-London_England.html
