Mobile Passport app: How to use it

Quick insights

• The Mobile Passport Control program may allow you to save time when you reenter the U.S. and submit your customs information through an app.
• The program is available to eligible travelers, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
• Travelers who use an older version of the app may continue using it until their subscription expires.

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a program that allows eligible travelers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through a secure, no-cost app. You typically won't need to fill out any paperwork at U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and there may even be a designated line for travelers who use MPC.

You may find that MPC streamlines your entry process into the U.S. and may lead to shorter wait times at the CBP checkpoint. 

Let's take a closer look at how the MPC app works.

Who can use the Mobile Passport Control app

According to the CBP MPC website, the following travelers are eligible for MPC:

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

If you have Global Entry, you may still use the MPC app if you prefer. However, if you begin the entry process with MPC, you may not switch to Global Entry once you arrive at the CBP checkpoint.

Using the MPC app

If you're eligible to use the MPC program, you'll need to download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

You may create a profile and submit your transaction through the app once you land in the U.S. When you create your profile, you'll need to provide your:

• Passport information
• Name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Country of citizenship

Upon your arrival, you may select your arrival airport or seaport and terminal. You'll also need to answer some questions about your travel and take a self-photo.

Once you submit this information as a transaction through the app, you'll receive a QR code. You may show this code and your passport to the CBP officer at the checkpoint as the final step in the inspection process.

Locations that accept the Mobile Passport Control app

As of October 2024, MPC is available at 52 sites. That includes 34 international airports, 14 preclearance locations and four seaports of entry.

Check CBP's MPC page for the latest information regarding available sites where you may use MPC.

Adding family members to the Mobile Passport Control app

You may create as many as 12 profiles for family members through the MPC app. For a family in the same household, you may be able to submit your profiles in a single transaction. You'll need to be traveling together and have the same arrival date to complete a single submission. MPC requires you to create a profile for each family member.

What to do if you paid for the premium version of the old app

Previously, Airside Mobile operated a Mobile Passport app where travelers could submit their documents through the MPC program. Travelers could purchase a premium version of the app that stored their profile information. In February 2022, CBP announced that their MPC app is the only one authorized for entry into the U.S.

If you paid for the premium version, you may be able to use your stored profile until your original subscription expires. Signed up for automatic renewal through the old MPC app? You'll no longer be charged a fee from the app store.

In summary

Eligible travelers may be able to use the MPC app when they return to the U.S. This app expedites the reentry process and could potentially lead to shorter wait times at the CBP checkpoints. You may add up to 12 family members to a single transaction as long as you meet certain requirements. If you previously used a premium version of the old app, you may be able to continue using your stored profile until your subscription expires.