Why Every Traveler Should Download Mobile Passport Control

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection offers a free app to streamline international arrivals.
• The app can be used at 53 U.S. airports and ports.
• It is good for groups but not as effective as Global Entry membership.

A time-saving tool for travelers returning to the United States is just a tap away. 

After a long international flight, the long lines of passport control and immigration may be disappointing. For a shortcut option the U.S. Customs and Border Protection offers a free app called Mobile Passport Control, or MPC, that can help expedite the security process when arriving back to the United States. 

The MPC app helps organize and verify traveler information, and provides access to a dedicated security lane or expedited screening through a regular lane. Even though the name of the app signifies a mobile passport, travelers will still need to present a valid, physical passport as part of the security process when using the app. 

The MPC app is available for use at 53 different airports or ports, including Atlanta (ATL), Cleveland (CLE), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH/HOU), New York (JFK/EWR), Orlando (MCO), and Phoenix (PHX).  The smartphone app can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. Best of all, the MPC app is free and can be used for groups of up to 12, meaning it can save time for families. 

That’s not to say you should have Global Entry. The MPC queue is often closed, even in airports promoting the app. “I’ve definitely used the app at airports that claim to accept MPC and have ads for it within the airport, only to be told the airport isn’t accepting it, so it’s not a fail-proof option,” Susmita Baral, a senior editor at Travel + Leisure, said.

While MPC can be a time-saving tool, frequent international travelers may find more benefits from Global Entry, which provides an even faster and expedited customs arrival process. Travelers with Global Entry frequently use a facial recognition scan to verify their identity and are whisked through the security process in minutes. 

When traveling with a large group or family, where some of the passengers have Global Entry, and others do not, the Mobile Passport Control can be a helpful travel tip to expedite the process for the non-Global Entry travelers. Plus, sometimes the MPC queue is shorter than Global Entry lines.

It is important to remember that MPC and Global Entry are both different services than TSA PreCheck, which provides expedited security screening through domestic checkpoints and has the added feature of not having to remove a belt or shoes. 

The ultimate time-saving option is when the international airport a traveler is departing from has a customs pre-clearance facility of their own. For example, Dublin Airport (DUB) and Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) both have United States pre-clearance facilities, where a traveler goes through the necessary visit with a CBP officer before taking off. Once the traveler lands back in the United States, they land as a domestic passenger and do not have to go through customs like other international flights. Dublin Airport estimates this feature helps travelers save up to two hours of time on their total trip. Additionally, Dublin Airport and Montreal Airport both accept the Mobile Passport Control App, which can add even more to the time savings.