How Does Mobile Passport Control Work at US Airports?

This article covers Mobile Passport Control (MPC) as it applies to eligible travelers arriving on international flights at US commercial airports. It is based on publicly available CBP guidance, 8 U.S.C. § 1225 (inspection of arriving persons), 19 CFR Part 122 (air commerce regulations), and the CBP fee schedule, all verified against the sources cited below as of the last review date.

Airport Online researches and maintains airport information for US commercial airports. The claims in this article are drawn from official federal sources; where rules may have changed after the last review date, the article directs readers to the primary CBP source.

What this article does not cover: MPC rules for unaccompanied minors; group or family submission workflows beyond the note that each traveler needs a separate submission; NEXUS, SENTRI, or other CBP trusted traveler programs; the technical architecture of the CBP Automated Targeting System; or MPC availability at specific named airports other than the general guidance to check the CBP website. For those topics, go directly to the CBP website or consult an immigration attorney.

Commercial interest disclosure: Airport Online earns revenue through display advertising and partner placements on airport information pages for US commercial airports. This article is editorially independent. Airport Online does not sell, endorse, or receive fees from any MPC app vendor or CBP trusted traveler program.

Mobile Passport Control is a smartphone application authorized by US Customs and Border Protection. CBP's authority to inspect arriving travelers derives from 8 U.S.C. § 1225, which requires inspection of all persons arriving in the United States. Air commerce procedures, including the customs declaration requirement, are codified at 19 CFR Part 122; specifically, 19 CFR 122.27 requires arriving international air passengers to submit a declaration before clearing federal inspection. MPC fulfills that requirement digitally, replacing the paper CBP Form 6059B.

The app is available for iOS and Android. CBP authorizes specific versions; always download from the official app store listing linked on the CBP website. The app is free to download and free to use for travelers.

MPC is not a trusted traveler program. A CBP officer still reviews your submission and conducts the inspection. What MPC does is move the paperwork step to your phone before you reach the officer, and it routes you to a dedicated lane that is typically less congested than the standard passport control queue at participating airports.

Eligibility is set by CBP policy under 8 U.S.C. § 1225 and is subject to change. As of the last review date of this article, the following traveler categories are generally eligible:

• US citizens arriving on an international flight at a participating US airport
• US nationals (including residents of American Samoa and Swains Island traveling on a US national passport)
• Canadian citizens arriving under the B1/B2 visa waiver program

The following categories are generally not eligible:

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
• Travelers on non-B1/B2 visas
• Travelers who completed CBP pre-clearance abroad under 19 CFR 122.22 (they arrive as domestic passengers and bypass passport control entirely)

Confirm current eligibility on the CBP Mobile Passport Control page before every trip. CBP can update eligibility rules without advance public notice.

Follow these six steps in order. Skipping step 1 is the most common reason travelers cannot use MPC when they land.

1. Download the app before you fly. Install the CBP-authorized Mobile Passport Control app from the Apple App Store or Google Play while you have a reliable connection at home or at your departure airport. The app is free.
2. Create your profile. Enter your passport information and take a profile photo inside the app before your trip so it is ready when you land.
3. Submit after landing, not before. Open the app after your plane lands and you have a US cell or Wi-Fi signal. Create a new trip entry, confirm your flight details, take a fresh selfie as prompted, and complete the digital customs declaration. This fulfills the 19 CFR 122.27 declaration requirement that previously required paper CBP Form 6059B.
4. Receive your QR-code pass. The app generates a pass with a QR code and displays its expiry time. Do not submit so early that the pass expires before you reach the officer.
5. Proceed to the MPC lane. Follow airport signage to the Mobile Passport Control designated lane in the federal inspection area. Present your physical passport and your QR-code pass to the CBP officer.
6. Complete the inspection. The CBP officer reviews your submission, may ask questions, and clears you as normal. You then proceed to baggage claim.

If the MPC lane is not staffed when you arrive, CBP officers will direct you to the standard passport control queue. Always have your physical passport accessible; CBP requires it regardless of your MPC submission.

Mobile Passport Control and Global Entry both aim to speed up the international arrival process but suit different traveler profiles.

• Mobile Passport Control: No application, no background check, no interview, no fee for the traveler. Download and use the same day. A CBP officer still conducts a brief inspection. Best for occasional international travelers who want a faster lane without a program commitment.
• Global Entry (authorized under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(h)): Requires a $100 application fee for a five-year term (per the CBP fee schedule as of the last review date), a background check, and an in-person enrollment interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Approved members use automated kiosks with minimal officer interaction. Global Entry membership also includes TSA PreCheck for domestic screening. Best for frequent international travelers who want the most streamlined re-entry experience and domestic security benefits.

The two are not mutually exclusive. A Global Entry member at an airport with functioning kiosks should use Global Entry. MPC is the right choice for travelers who have not enrolled or whose Global Entry kiosks are temporarily unavailable.

NEXUS and SENTRI are additional CBP trusted traveler programs with different eligibility and benefits; see the CBP Trusted Traveler Programs page for a full comparison. This article does not cover those programs.

Mobile Passport Control is a useful tool with real constraints. Understanding them before you travel prevents frustration in the arrivals hall.

Key limitations

• Lane availability is not guaranteed. MPC lanes at participating airports can be unstaffed during off-peak hours or when staffing is reduced. If the lane is closed, you join the standard passport control queue. CBP does not publish live MPC lane status; check the airport's official arrivals information on the day of travel.
• The QR-code pass expires. The app displays the expiry window. If you submit too early or spend time in baggage claim before reaching passport control, your pass may expire. Resubmit or join the standard queue if that happens.
• A smartphone with a camera and connectivity is required. Travelers without a compatible device cannot use MPC and must use the standard queue.
• Pre-clearance travelers are exempt from US passport control. If you cleared CBP at a pre-clearance facility abroad under 19 CFR 122.22, you arrive as a domestic passenger and MPC does not apply.
• MPC does not cover every traveler category. See the eligibility section above; lawful permanent residents and most visa holders must use standard lanes.

Practical tips

• Set up your profile before your outbound flight, not in the arrivals hall.
• Keep your phone battery above 20% for the return leg; carry a portable charger if your phone drains quickly.
• Each eligible traveler in a group needs a separate submission; one pass does not cover a family.
• If your pass expires or MPC is unavailable, move promptly to the standard queue rather than waiting for the MPC lane to reopen.

For the most current rules, eligibility list, and participating airport roster, visit the CBP Mobile Passport Control page. Federal rules can change without advance notice.