Mobile Passport Control

Eligible travelers can download an authorized application (i.e., Airside Mobile’s Mobile Passport app, CLEAR Pass for CBP Mobile Passport Control app) from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Mobile Passport Control provides a more efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveler. Since the administrative tasks are performed by the traveler prior to the passport control inspection, MPC reduces passport control inspection time and overall wait times. 

Travelers should submit their information upon landing in the United States.

No, travelers must present a valid U.S. or Canadian passport to a CBP officer upon arrival.

Yes, travelers will still be processed by a CBP officer. Travelers using Mobile Passport Control will be directed to a specific processing lane for a streamlined entry process.

No. Travelers will answer similar CBP inspection-related questions electronically via their smartphone or tablet. CBP officers will verbally verify this information. If a traveler has already filled out a CBP declaration form, which the CBP Officer has determined will not be needed, it can be given to a CBP officer for shredding.

U.S. citizens and Canadian citizen visitors can use Mobile Passport Control. Travelers must have a smart phone or tablet that can connect to the Internet or mobile network.

Yes, up to 12 profiles can be created for family members. The authorized applications allow for a single household to submit one MPC transaction, including answers to CBP inspection-related questions.

Yes, the traveler’s passport information and answers to CBP inspection-related questions are submitted directly to CBP via secure encryption protocols. The information you enter on the authorized applications are securely transmitted to CBP which sends a response to the apps, generating the electronic receipt you display to the officer. The authorized apps provide the option to store your profile on your smartphone or tablet for future travel or deleting it after your trip. Please note that the photo taken on the application will need to be updated yearly. CBP recommends travelers review the application’s privacy policy prior to download and use. Only information entered after the traveler acknowledges CBP’s notices (i.e., CBP’s mobile privacy policy, Section 311 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, Disclaimer Statement and the Paperwork Reduction Act Notice) is required to be compliant with CBP’s MPC business requirements.

Travelers will not be able to use Mobile Passport Control if their flight is diverted to a U.S. airport that does not utilize Mobile Passport Control processing. Upon arrival at the diverted airport, travelers will follow standard processing procedures.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mobile Passport Control (MPC) program is built upon public-private partnerships. Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) was the first to sponsor an application (developed by its contractor, Airside Mobile, Inc). CBP worked with ACI-NA and Airside Mobile to ensure their app (i.e., “Mobile Passport”) was developed in compliance with the Program’s business requirements. Currently, the MPC program has approved four different Business Sponsor mobile applications.

Recently, ACI-NA and Airside Mobile made a corporate decision to offer an optional premium service for a fee (i.e., “MP+”). CBP had no role in Airside Mobile’s corporate decision to offer a premium service, charge a fee, and does not collect any fee monies. This new premium service is voluntary and the original free service is still available in all versions of the application. To continue to use the free version of the app, users can ignore the MP+ notices and prompts. 

Airside Mobile’s MP+ users are not afforded any additional privileges during CBP processing. All MPC users will be treated the same by CBP within the Federal Inspection Service area and during inspections. For a more detailed description of the different application features (when comparing the free and premium versions), travelers should consult ACI-NA and Airside Mobile’s website.

CBP will continue to support any Business Sponsor’s interest in developing a MPC compliant mobile application. Business sponsor eligibility is limited to airlines, airports, seaports, and cruise lines. As of June 2020, there is no associated fee to store a traveler’s profile or to use the MRZ scanner via CLEAR Pass for CBP Mobile Passport Control. Irrespective of a Business Sponsor or Developer’s decision to offer a fee based premium service, CBP will only approve applications that also offer international travelers a free MPC service.

No. Currently, the MPC feature within the Airside Mobile Mobile Passport app and the CLEAR Pass for CBP Mobile Passport Control app is free.