The CPB’s Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

When entering O’hare passport control entry this last week, I saw that the line for generic US Citizen passport entry had around 400 people in line. Meanwhile, the Mobile Passport Control line consisted of about 20 people. While the app has been an option for some time now, the adoption of it by the traveling public still seems quite limited. Because it offers such a streamlined option for reentry, my wife and I immediately installed and onboarded the app for our next international travel. Here is the what we learned about the apps, and how they can be implemented on your devices.

What is the Mobile Passport Control program?

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free, secure app that allows allows eligible travelers to submit their travel document, photo, and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP. The use of MPC streamlines the traveler’s entry process into the United States by reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time. Use of MPC does not require pre-approval. Travelers who successfully use the MPC app will no longer have to complete a paper form and may be provided a designated queue. As a result, travelers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion and efficient processing.

Mobile Passport Control, or MPC, expedites the customs and immigration process for U.S. and Canadian citizens at U.S. border entry checkpoints. By using the MPC app, people can avoid filling out paper customs declaration forms and bypass customs and immigration kiosks at U.S. airports and cruise terminals.

Eligible Travelers

Currently, the list of eligible travelers are below. This list will be updated as we expand MPC eligibility.

U.S. Citizens
Lawful Permanent Residents
Canadian B1/B2
Returning Visa Waiver Program Applicants

The CBP Mobile Passport Control App

CBP’s MPC app is a free application that can be downloaded from the Apple App store and Google Play and is currently available for eligible travelers to use upon arrival at MPC approved sites.

How does it work?

According to the CBP, after downloading the MPC Application from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, eligible travelers will be prompted to create a profile with their passport or LPR card information. Upon arrival at eligible Preclearance locations users must select their mode of entry in the application as “Preclearance” before selecting their departing Preclearance Port of Entry.

If a traveler is not using preclearance, upon landing in the United States, travelers will select “U.S. airport” as their mode of entry and then select their arrival airport or seaport and terminal. Travelers will then take a self-photo and answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions. Once the traveler submits their transaction through the app, travelers will then bring their physical passport to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the United States.

Cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is required to send information, but travelers may complete profile(s) without being connected to the internet.

Where can elegible travelers use the Mobile Passport Control?

CBP uses the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) application to streamline the processing of eligible travelers entering the United States. Eligible travelers with a smartphone or tablet may voluntarily download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC)-enabled mobile application (app) from a mobile application store (e.g., Apple App Store or Google Play Store).

The MPC mobile app, is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with approved ESTA. MPC is currently available at the following 52 sites, including 34 U.S. International Airports, 14 Preclearance locations, and 4 seaports of entry:

Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH)
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
Bermuda L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA)
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)
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Dublin Airport (DUB)
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
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 Seaport (MSE)
Minneapolis-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 (WPB)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Port Everglades Seaport (PEV)
Portland 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 (SAJ)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Shannon Airport (SNN)
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Winnipeg James A Richardson International Airport (YWG)

When can I submit my information to the CPB using the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) App?

Travelers should submit their information upon arrival at the port of entry, including preclearance locations.

Does the Mobile Passport Control replace my passport?

No, travelers must present a valid U.S. Passport, U.S. lawful permanent resident card, Canadian passport or a Visa Waiver Program passport to a CBP officer upon arrival.

Will I still have to go through processing lines while using the Mobile Passport Control?

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

Do MPC Travelers still have to fill out a declaration form?

No. Travelers will answer CBP inspection-related questions electronically via their smartphone or tablet. If a traveler has already filled out a CBP declaration form, it can be turned in to a CBP Officer.

Can Groups use the Mobile Passport Control?

Yes, up to 12 travelers can be added under 1 group submission. Group travelers can certainly take advantage of this program.

Is using the Mobile Passport Control secure

Yes, the traveler’s document 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 may display when entering the MPC queue. 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 periodically. 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.

Will my Mobile Passport Control be valid if my flight is diverted to a different airport?

Travelers will not be able to use MPC if their flight is diverted to a U.S. airport that does not utilize MPC processing. Upon arrival at the diverted airport, travelers will follow standard processing procedures. If you were processed by a CBP officer in Preclearance, you would land as a domestic passenger and can proceed to your destination or connecting flight.

The benefits of using the MPC

The Mobile Passport Control app is simple to use. Once your plane lands or cruise arrives, you complete the online form. If you have just landed, you can enter the required information while taxiing to the gate.

You should download the app before your flight. Then, users connect to wireless internet or a data signal. They will then be prompted to enter personal details like passport number, birthday, name, gender and citizenship.

The encrypted Mobile Passport Control app uses a pin or touch/face ID via the settings on a mobile device. It will require taking a photo and completing the questions on the form.

The app transmits this encrypted data to Customs and Border Protection so that when you scan the QR code at the immigration counter or your passport is swiped, your answers automatically appear. This saves time and paper.

A growing number of airports and cruise ports have access to Mobile Passport Control. So travelers can save time because they have already submitted their declaration form via the app and can go directly to an immigration booth.

Some airports have individual lines that speed MPC users to the front instead of making them wait. Others blend users into one line, which can be disappointing when lines are long. When there is a dedicated lane for MPC users, it can be almost as fast (or faster) than Global Entry lines.

While CBP personnel may ask additional questions, the processing can be much faster than the general arrival lanes.

To summarize, the Mobile Passport Control app ensures that International travelers returning to the U.S. will be offered a great alternative to Global Entry, which has an extra cost and takes time to apply for before being approved. For that reason, it may not make sense for infrequent travelers.

Instead, the Mobile Passport Control app — and the shorter line in many locations — becomes the better option for those who want maximum convenience.