By now you may be familiar with Global Entry, the trusted program that helps U.S. travelers move quickly through immigration at many airports. Global Entry offers a faster entry process but requires an application fee and an in-person interview.
There is also Mobile Passport Control, a free app for iOS and Android that helps eligible travelers reduce wait times at participating airports. After downloading the app, arriving passengers complete a digital customs declaration, upload a selfie for identity verification, and receive a QR code that a Customs officer can scan alongside the traveler’s passport.
Mobile Passport Control is free to use and does not require an interview. While it doesn’t provide the same level of expedited processing as Global Entry, it streamlines the arrival procedure and can help you and other passengers move through customs more quickly.
“Think of it like a tollbooth,” John Wagner of U.S. Customs & Border Protection told Travel + Leisure. “Global Entry is your E-ZPass lane; this is your exact-change lane.”
The app first launched at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2014 and is expanding to additional locations. Over the coming months it is scheduled to roll out to many of the busiest U.S. airports, increasing options for travelers seeking a faster entry experience.