How to Skip the Line with Mobile Passport Control (MPC)

Are you a Canadian or American in line at the airport right now going to the US, and getting sick of the wait? What if I told you there was a way you might be able to get ahead of the customs queue?

Let me make your day easier by introducing you to the US Customs and Border Patrol’s (CBP’s) Mobile Passport Control App.

What is Mobile Passport Control (MPC)?

Mobile Passport Control is an app on your mobile device that can seriously help you save time at the airport. While lineups can get intense, especially when entering the United States, the MPC App can be a huge help in getting ahead of the rush.

Available on both iOS and Android, Mobile Passport Control allows travelers to upload their passports, customs declarations, and a selfie to help expedite their transit through US border control. The app is free to download and anyone can use it.

Employing the MPC app means that you can line up at designated special queues, thus making travel much more convenient. Note that passengers will still need to travel with their passports, even when using the Mobile Passport Control app.

Who Can Use Mobile Passport Control & Where Can It Be Used?

Only certain eligible travelers are allowed to use Mobile Passport Control. There are a couple of categories, so I’d like to take the time to break them down.

The first group are US Citizens and permanent residents such as green card holders. Being in this category automatically qualifies you to use MPC.

The second group is Canadians entering or exiting the United States on B1 (business visitor) or B2 (tourist) visas. As Canadians, we are honored and privileged to be one of the only groups of people freely able to enter and exit the United States for up to six months, as most other countries have to apply for a visa waiver and even then can only stay for 90 days.

What this means is if you’re a Canadian who works in the United States but you aren’t a permanent resident, you’ll want to double-check your specific visa before using MPC to skip the line.

The last group who can use Mobile Passport Control are returning travelers who are citizens of countries that are members of CBP’s Visa Waiver Program. This means travelers from one of the countries on the Visa Waiver Program list in possession of a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) can use the app.

However, the language here says “returning,” so I’d make sure to only use the Mobile Passport Control app if you’re either departing the United States, or returning to visit it a second (or third, or fourth) time.

Please remember: if you’re in a Mobile Passport Control line, every single traveler with you needs to be entered into the MPC system. So if you’re traveling with family or friends, make sure you’ve all installed the app and punched in your info!

Mobile Passport Control is available at all major Canadian airports with direct flights to the United States. MPC used to be available for cruise ships disembarking in the US, and this functionality is still built into the app, but it appears to be inactive for cruise passengers at this time.

It can also be used when disembarking at select US airports prior to clearing customs. Usually, Canadians are pre-cleared in Canada, but if for example, you’re flying to the US from, say, French Polynesia, MPC can be a huge time-saver.

The comprehensive list of airports is available on CBP’s website and is included below for brevity:

How to Use Mobile Passport Control

If this is your first time using Mobile Passport Control, make sure you have your smartphone and passport handy. Your first step is going to be downloading the app on either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Once installed, launching the app will look something like this:

Your next step is to add yourself as a traveler under the “People” tab. Simply click here and then select “Add Traveler” for the next screen:

You can now select whether you want to scan your physical passport or enter the details manually. In the event your passport scan fails, you’ll need to enter your passport information, but in general, scanning will be much faster.

Once the details of all the travelers in your party are entered, it’s time to go back to the home page and make a New Submission:

We will of course select “Airplane” as our method of entering the United States. Next, select all the members of your travel group (such as family members) so that you can enter the lineup and complete your declaration.

CBP will require you to agree to a disclaimer; you can’t proceed without doing so. Next, you’ll put in your purpose for travel and make your declaration, once these are completed, you’ll be able to get in the appropriate lineup.

Once these steps are done, simply meet the CBP officer and answer their questions. Enjoy your time in the United States!

My Experience Using Mobile Passport Control

I made use of CBP’s Mobile Passport Control App most recently in December 2024. Yes, I still need to apply for a NEXUS membership, I have been lazy and realized I was about to imminently suffer for it.

Therefore, dreading the possibility of waiting for an extended period in a long lineup, I Googled if any alternatives were available. CBP’s website was kind enough to let me know about the MPC App, and I downloaded it and uploaded my passport post-haste.

When I flew to Los Angeles out of Calgary, the lineups were very long, as was to be expected coming out of Christmas and going into New Year’s. Therefore I was very grateful to use the totally abandoned Mobile Passport Control line, and within 60 seconds of entering, I was speaking with the CBP official who gave me a warm and friendly welcome to the United States.

Overall, I highly recommend the MPC experience when it’s available, and found it saved me a lot of time.

Conclusion

The CBP Mobile Passport Control App allows eligible travelers who are US citizens and lawful permanent residents, Canadians on B1 business visitor or B2 tourist visas, or returning Visa Waiver Program visitors to the US to enter through dedicated lines.

This app can be a huge time saver and is a great opportunity to take advantage of whenever possible when going to the US from Canada or entering at an eligible airport. Try it today, especially if you’re waiting in line right now!