What Is Mobile Passport Control?

What is Mobile Passport Control?

Mobile Passport Control, or MPC, is a free official smartphone app from US Customs and Border Protection that lets eligible travelers speed up the process of entering the United States by submitting their passport information and customs declaration electronically before reaching the officer. Instead of filling out paper forms and waiting in the standard line, you use the app to send your details, then use a dedicated Mobile Passport Control lane, which is typically faster. Unlike the paid trusted traveler programs, MPC is completely free and requires no pre-approval, background check, or interview, so any eligible traveler can simply download the app and use it. It is available to US citizens, certain lawful permanent residents, and some visitors, at participating airports and ports of entry, offering an easy way to reduce arrival wait times.

How does Mobile Passport Control work?

Using Mobile Passport Control is straightforward. You download the official CBP MPC app to your smartphone and create a profile with your passport information, which you can store for future trips. When you arrive in the US, you open the app, select your arrival airport, submit your trip details and answer the customs declaration questions, and take a selfie if prompted, then receive an electronic receipt, often with a code or QR code, valid for a short time. You then proceed to the dedicated Mobile Passport Control lane and show your receipt and passport to the CBP officer, who processes you more quickly than the standard line. The app does not store or send your information until you submit on arrival. This simple process trims the time you spend in the immigration hall on entering the country.

How is it different from Global Entry?

Mobile Passport Control and Global Entry both speed up US arrival, but they differ significantly. MPC is free, requires no application, background check, interview, or membership, and you can start using it immediately by downloading the app, making it accessible to far more travelers, including many visitors. Global Entry costs $120 for five years, requires an application, background check, and in-person interview, and is limited to eligible members. In return, Global Entry typically offers the fastest processing through dedicated kiosks and, importantly, includes TSA PreCheck for faster security on departures, which MPC does not. So MPC is the free, no-commitment option that still beats the standard line, while Global Entry is the paid option that is generally faster and adds PreCheck. Frequent international flyers often prefer Global Entry, while occasional travelers appreciate free MPC.

Who should use Mobile Passport Control?

Mobile Passport Control is ideal for travelers who want to speed up their US arrival without paying for or committing to a trusted traveler program. It suits occasional international travelers, those who do not qualify for or do not want to apply for Global Entry, and eligible visitors, since it is free and needs no approval. It is a great backup even for Global Entry members if a kiosk is unavailable. Because eligibility and participating airports can vary, and the official app is the only legitimate one, check the current requirements and download only the official CBP app. A related free option at many airports is Automated Passport Control, which uses kiosks in the arrival hall. For anyone wanting a simple, cost-free way to shorten the immigration wait on entering the US, Mobile Passport Control is well worth using.