Photo: Lu ShaoJi (Getty Images)
Lines at the airport are expected to be long this summer, and prices high. If you plan to travel internationally but haven’t heard of Mobile Passport Control (MPC), it’s something you should consider. Despite having been around for some years, the program was recently revamped with a new name and app, and it helps you through immigration when returning to the US. Think of it similarly to Global Entry, but it’s free and the application process is much less painful.
What is Mobile Passport Control?
MPC is a program from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows US citizens (and Legal Permanent Residents starting June 5, 2023) to submit their passport and customs information through the MPC app, bypassing the regular line to reenter the country. Think of it like having a digital passport and customs forms that you text to the CBP ahead of time, getting you access to the VIP line.
Where can I use the MPC app?
Unfortunately, not every airport uses the MPC program, but 33 do, along with nine Preclearance locations and four seaports of entry. Here is the most up to date list so far:
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)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 SeaportMinneapolis-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 SeaportPortland 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 do I use the Mobile Passport Control App?
Download the app and fill out your passport information. You can start the process once you arrive at your port of entry, and you can do it in the amount of time it takes you to get off the plane after you have signal again. Keep in mind, you’ll still need to show your physical passport to the CBP once you get to them.
Another great perk is that each profile can account for their whole household if traveling together, so if you’re traveling with a family, only one of you needs to fill out the information. You can read more about the program from their FAQ.
