Last reviewed: September 29, 2026
Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free U.S. Customs and Border Protection app that lets eligible travelers send passport or travel-document information, a photo, arrival details, and CBP inspection answers before they reach the officer.
MPC can shorten the administrative part of U.S. arrival processing at participating locations, but it does not let you skip inspection and it does not replace a passport, green card, visa, ESTA, or any other document required for your trip.
What is Mobile Passport Control?
Mobile Passport Control is a voluntary CBP arrival-processing tool. Instead of waiting until you are at the inspection booth to provide all of your arrival information, you can complete much of that work in the official MPC app and send it electronically to CBP.
At participating locations, travelers then follow MPC signage and complete inspection with a CBP officer. The app can reduce the amount of time spent on routine data entry, but actual wait times still depend on the airport or port, traveler volume, staffing, and whether CBP needs additional information.
Who can use Mobile Passport Control?
CBP currently makes MPC available to these groups:
- U.S. citizens;
- U.S. lawful permanent residents;
- Canadian citizen visitors traveling in B1/B2 status; and
- returning Visa Waiver Program travelers who have an approved ESTA.
Eligibility to use the app does not change the immigration or travel-document rules that apply to the traveler. A Visa Waiver Program traveler, for example, still needs an approved ESTA and an acceptable passport.
What you need before using MPC
- The travel document required for your status. U.S. citizens should have their valid passport available; lawful permanent residents and international visitors must carry the documents required for their admission or return.
- The official CBP MPC app on a compatible phone or tablet.
- A participating arrival location. MPC is not available at every U.S. airport, seaport, preclearance facility, or land crossing.
- Your arrival information and truthful answers to the CBP inspection and declaration questions in the app.
- A current self-photo. Each traveler included in a submission must complete the photo step.
MPC is not a digital passport. Keep your physical passport and any required immigration documents accessible. You will still complete inspection with CBP.
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How to use the Mobile Passport Control app
- Set up your profile before the trip home. Download the official MPC app and scan or enter the travel-document information requested for each eligible traveler you plan to include.
- Select the correct arrival location. Before submitting, confirm that your U.S. airport, preclearance location, seaport, or participating pedestrian land crossing supports MPC.
- Complete the arrival questions and photos. For air travel, CBP allows the submission to be active for up to 4 hours before landing. For participating pedestrian land crossings, the current window is up to 8 hours before arrival.
- Submit the group together when appropriate. One device can include a group of up to 12 eligible travelers in the same MPC submission.
- Follow the app instructions after submission. CBP sends the response to the device. Keep the app available and have each traveler's physical documents ready.
- Use the MPC processing area and speak with a CBP officer. Follow airport or port signage. The officer completes the inspection and may ask questions, review documents, or take another photo for verification.
What information is sent to CBP?
The submission can include travel-document data, arrival or flight information, photos, and answers to CBP inspection and customs declaration questions. CBP uses that information as part of the normal border-inspection process.
Where is Mobile Passport Control available?
MPC availability has expanded beyond airports. CBP's current program includes major U.S. international airports, foreign preclearance locations, participating seaports, and selected pedestrian land border crossings. CBP began rolling MPC out to land-border pedestrians in April 2026 and has continued adding locations.
Because the supported-port list changes, check CBP's live availability list before relying on MPC for a specific trip.
Check current MPC locations on CBP.gov
Mobile Passport Control vs. Global Entry
MPC and Global Entry can both streamline U.S. arrival processing, but they are different programs. MPC requires no enrollment or background check. Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program for pre-approved travelers and includes additional benefits.
| Feature | Mobile Passport Control | Global Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $120 application fee for a 5-year membership; qualifying minors may be free when tied to an eligible parent or guardian |
| Enrollment | No enrollment application | Application, CBP review and enrollment required |
| Background check | No MPC enrollment background check | Required |
| Fingerprints for enrollment | No | Yes |
| What you do on arrival | Use the MPC app and complete inspection with a CBP officer | Use Global Entry processing technology; an officer conversation is not always required |
| Group use | Up to 12 eligible travelers can be included on one device/submission | Each traveler must have their own Global Entry membership |
| TSA PreCheck | Not included | Included for eligible members |
| Best fit | Eligible travelers who want a free arrival tool without applying for a Trusted Traveler Program | Frequent international travelers who want broader recurring benefits and are willing to complete enrollment |
For the broader differences among Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and other programs, see our Trusted Traveler Programs guide.
What does MPC store, and is it secure?
CBP says the MPC app can store profile information such as name, date of birth, citizenship and passport details on the user's own device for future trips. CBP states that it does not have access to that locally stored profile information until the traveler submits a transaction.
When you submit an MPC transaction, the app sends the required travel-document data, arrival information, photos and inspection responses to CBP using secure encryption protocols. CBP uses the submitted information for border inspection and checks it against other government databases as part of determining identity, citizenship or admissibility.
The app can use device location to identify the closest port of entry. According to CBP's privacy policy, the specific location information is used for that selection and is not collected or maintained by CBP.
Read CBP's current MPC privacy policy.
What MPC does not replace
Using MPC does not change the documents required for international travel or U.S. entry. Depending on your citizenship and status, you may still need a valid passport, Permanent Resident Card, visa, ESTA approval, or other immigration document.
If you need help determining which U.S. travel document applies to your trip, start with our guides to the U.S. passport book, passport card, and Trusted Traveler Programs.
Mobile Passport Control FAQ
Yes. CBP's official MPC app is free to download and use. There is no MPC enrollment fee.
No. MPC is an arrival-processing tool. Carry the physical passport and any visa, ESTA, green card, or other document required for your trip.
Yes. CBP currently allows up to 12 eligible travelers to be included in one MPC submission from a single device.
No. MPC can reduce the amount of information that has to be entered during inspection and some locations use designated MPC processing, but wait times vary by port, staffing and passenger volume.
No. Use is limited to participating CBP locations. Check the current CBP MPC page before travel because locations can be added or changed.
No. MPC does not include TSA PreCheck. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck benefits for eligible members.
Yes. Returning Visa Waiver Program travelers must still have an approved ESTA when required. MPC does not replace ESTA.
You cannot use MPC as planned at a non-participating arrival airport. Follow the regular CBP inspection process at the airport where you actually arrive.
Our role: U.S. Passport Service Guide is an independent passport and travel-document information resource. This page explains CBP's Mobile Passport Control process and links to the official CBP sources that govern eligibility, availability and privacy.
