Mobile Passport Control, often called Mobile Passport or MPC, is a free app from US Customs and Border Protection that lets eligible travelers submit their passport details and customs declaration on a phone and use a faster line when they arrive in the United States. It is not a passport, a visa or a replacement for either.
People searching what is mobile passport are usually trying to avoid the long immigration line after an international flight. The app can help, but it has limits: it works only at selected airports and seaports, only certain travelers can use it, and you still speak to a border officer and carry your physical passport. This guide explains what Mobile Passport Control is, who can use it, how to set it up and use it step by step, how it compares with Global Entry, where it works, what it costs, and which mistakes cause problems. The facts come from the CBP’s official app listing on the Apple App Store, an older CBP press release about the Dulles expansion that carries no date, a Kayak article published on 10 December 2025 and a Lonely Planet article published on 22 April 2025 and modified on 1 May 2026. The CBP press release is from the early days of the program and its airport list is out of date, while Kayak and Lonely Planet are secondary sources. We flag where the numbers differ. Always confirm eligibility and locations on the CBP website before you travel. For the document you carry with the app, start with our US passport guide.
What Is Mobile Passport?
It is a free CBP app that speeds up your inspection when you enter the US. The App Store listing says it streamlines your CBP inspection at select US entry locations.
The app lets you create a profile, pick your port of entry, answer inspection questions and take photos of yourself and your group before you reach the officer. Kayak describes it as a free mobile application operated by CBP and says private third-party apps are no longer supported, so download the official one. The old CBP press release says the pilot launched in August 2014 at Atlanta and describes the app as the first authorized app to expedite arrival, with an electronic receipt that includes a QR code. Lonely Planet says it is a free app that US citizens and some other travelers can use to get into a shorter immigration line. It is separate from your passport, so you still need a valid passport for entry. Our difference in visa and passport guide explains how the documents fit together.
Who Can Use Mobile Passport Control?
US citizens, lawful permanent residents, certain Canadian visitors and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with an approved ESTA can use it. Most other foreign nationals cannot.
The table summarizes the groups from the sources.
The old CBP press release says MPC offered US citizens and Canadian visitors only, which shows that eligibility has grown over time. Because eligibility can change, check the CBP page before you rely on it. If you are unsure which documents your trip needs, our visa documents checklist tool can help.
How Do You Use Mobile Passport Control?
Download the official app, create a profile, submit your declaration after you land and show the confirmation to the officer. The steps are simple.
Following Lonely Planet and Kayak, the process is:
- Download the official Mobile Passport Control app from CBP.
- Create a traveler profile by scanning your passport or entering the details. You can store profiles for other people. Lonely Planet says up to 11 others, and Kayak says one submission can include up to 12 people from a single device.
- Before landing you can start the declaration, but you must submit it after arriving, because responses expire after a few hours, says Lonely Planet.
- Answer the customs questions and take a selfie.
- Save the confirmation page or QR code. Kayak calls it a QR code, while Lonely Planet refers to a confirmation page.
- Go to the MPC lane, show your physical passport and the confirmation to the officer. Every traveler in your party must be checked in person.
Kayak recommends submitting as soon as you land. Lonely Planet says the booth step typically takes a couple of minutes. Kayak notes that submitting needs an internet connection, though profiles can be created offline. The App Store lists support for English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.
What Does Mobile Passport Cost?
The app is free. Kayak and Lonely Planet both say there is no fee, application or background check.
The App Store listing also shows the app as free. That makes it different from programs that charge for enrollment. If a website or app asks you to pay for Mobile Passport Control, it is probably not the official app. The old CBP press release also says the app does not require pre-approval and does not collect new information from travelers. Our how much is a passport guide explains what the passport itself costs, which is a separate matter.
Where Does Mobile Passport Control Work?
It works at many major US airports, some seaports and some preclearance locations abroad, but the exact count depends on the source. Always check the CBP list.
Kayak lists 35 US international airports, 14 preclearance locations and four seaports and says CBP keeps adding sites. Lonely Planet says most major international US airports offer MPC and that the CBP list also includes four seaports and 15 foreign airports with preclearance. The numbers differ by one on preclearance and the two sources describe airports differently, so use the CBP page for today’s list. The old CBP release lists 14 airports, which is outdated. At preclearance locations you complete the process before boarding your flight to the US. If your airport is not on the list, you will use the regular line.
How Is Mobile Passport Control Different From Global Entry?
Mobile Passport Control is a free app with no enrollment, while Global Entry is a paid trusted traveler program with an interview. You can use both, says Kayak.
Lonely Planet says Global Entry costs 120 dollars and requires an application, an interview and a background check, and that it includes TSA PreCheck, which MPC does not. Kayak lists the Global Entry fee as 120 dollars for five years. MPC needs no separate enrollment, vetting, interview or biometric collection. Lonely Planet recommends Global Entry to travelers who already have it, and presents MPC as a no-cost alternative with the drawback that not all US airports offer it. Neither replaces your passport. If you travel often, compare the two based on your airports and budget.
What Are the Limits?
You still see a border agent, you must carry your passport and the lane is not always shorter. The app does not guarantee a fast arrival.
Kayak says the lane is usually much shorter than the main line but that this is not guaranteed, and it advises checking eligibility on the CBP site. Lonely Planet says that when the MPC lane is closed during quiet periods, MPC users join the regular line with only a brief wait. The app also does not remove the need to meet entry rules: a visitor still needs the right passport, visa or ESTA. For passport basics, see our passport 6 month rule guide and our passport card vs book guide. A passport card is not accepted for flying home, so carry the book for air travel.
Is Mobile Passport Control Worth Using?
It is worth trying if your airport offers it and you are eligible, because it costs nothing. The main risk is wasted effort if the lane is closed.
Set up your profile before you leave home, so you are not typing passport details in a crowded arrivals hall. Charge your phone and check that you have data or airport Wi-Fi, because Kayak says submitting needs an internet connection. Families can save time by adding everyone to one submission, but every person must be present at inspection. If your flight lands at an airport that is not on the CBP list, skip the app and join the regular line. For travelers who fly often and want TSA PreCheck, Lonely Planet suggests comparing it with Global Entry. Check your passport is valid before any trip, using our how long does it take to get a passport guide if you need a new one.
Does Mobile Passport Control Replace a Passport?
No. You still need a valid passport or other accepted entry document, and the app only speeds the inspection. The name can be misleading.
The confusion comes from the word passport in the name. The app is not a digital passport and does not work as an ID. Lonely Planet says to carry your physical passport, and Kayak says you show the confirmation and your physical passport to an officer. If you have lost your passport abroad, the app will not help you board or enter, and you should follow the steps in our lost passport replacement guide. If you need a passport quickly before a trip, see our expedited passport guide.
How Do You Spot a Mobile Passport Scam?
The official app is free and made by CBP, so any paid look-alike is a warning sign. Be careful with offers.
Be careful when a website or app:
- Charges a fee to download or use Mobile Passport Control.
- Is not published by US Customs and Border Protection.
- Promises to skip the officer or the line entirely.
- Asks for your passport number on a non-official page.
- Sells “priority entry” or an “express pass.”
Download only the official app from your phone’s app store, and check that the developer is listed as CBP. Third-party apps are no longer supported, according to Kayak.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Assuming you are eligible, submitting too early and forgetting your passport cause most problems. Check each point first.
- Using the app when your airport is not on the CBP list.
- Submitting the declaration before landing and letting it expire.
- Forgetting to carry the physical passport.
- Leaving a group member out of the profile or the check-in.
- Downloading an unofficial app.
- Assuming the lane will always be shorter.
- Trusting an old article for the airport list.
- Skipping an ESTA when you need one.
When unsure, check the CBP page and ask the airline. For related topics, see our passport name change guide.
FAQs
What is Mobile Passport?
It is a free CBP app that lets eligible travelers submit their declaration and use a faster US entry line.
Is Mobile Passport Control free?
Yes. Kayak, Lonely Planet and the App Store all show it as free.
Who can use Mobile Passport Control?
US citizens, green card holders, certain Canadian visitors and returning Visa Waiver travelers with an ESTA.
Does Mobile Passport replace my passport?
No. You still carry your physical passport and show it to the officer.
Is Mobile Passport the same as Global Entry?
No. Global Entry is a paid program with an interview. MPC is a free app, and you can use both.
Where does Mobile Passport work?
At many major US airports, some seaports and some preclearance sites. Check the CBP list.
Conclusion
What is mobile passport? It is the free CBP Mobile Passport Control app that lets eligible travelers send their declaration ahead and use a faster US entry line, but it does not replace a passport. US citizens, green card holders, certain Canadian visitors and ESTA travelers can use it at selected airports and seaports. Download only the official app, submit after you land and carry your passport. Check the CBP site for current locations, because the sources give different counts.
