Owais Crawford
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the 3rd US airport to offer Mobile Passport Control. International flights arrive at the airport at two concourses, with all connecting and non-connecting passengers having to process through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before entering the United States of America. CBP has been utilising facial recognition technology to confirm the identity of a limited number of international travellers departing from Seattle since 2020.
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What You'll Learn
International Arrivals Facility (IAF)
The International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is a new, expanded facility designed to enhance the experience of international passengers and advance the region as a leading tourism and business gateway. The IAF is a multi-level, 450,000-square-foot complex located east of the current A Concourse. It features an iconic 85-foot-high aerial walkway that connects the S Concourse to the Grand Hall, providing a seamless connection for arriving passengers.
The IAF is a significant upgrade from the former 1970s-era facilities, which could not accommodate Seattle's growing demand for international travel. The new facility nearly doubles the number of international-capable gates from 12 to 20 and increases passenger capacity to 2,600 passengers per hour. It also incorporates enhanced technologies for faster passport check clearance and has a larger bag claim area with seven carousels, reducing the minimum passenger connection time to 75 minutes.
Upon arrival at the IAF, international passengers will proceed through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing, which includes claiming checked luggage and an inspection/interview by CBP officers. The CBP Trusted Traveler Programs offer expedited travel for pre-approved, low-risk travellers through dedicated lanes and kiosks. Once cleared by CBP, passengers can re-check their luggage for a connecting flight or exit the airport.
The TSA Checkpoint within the IAF is operational from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. daily. Connecting passengers who arrive outside these hours may need to exit the secure side of the airport and undergo additional security screening. The Port of Seattle recommends scheduling at least 120 to 180 minutes between international flights to allow sufficient time for processing and prevent missed connections.
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CBP Trusted Traveller Programs
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the first point of entry for international flights (other than those arriving from a pre-clearance airport) into the United States. All passengers must be interviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and claim all checked luggage before entering the US, including connecting travellers.
There are several programs available:
- TSA PreCheck®: Expedites traveller screening through participating TSA security checkpoints.
- Global Entry: Allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the US. Global Entry members use the kiosks on the mezzanine level above the baggage claim level.
- NEXUS: Allows pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the US and Canada.
- SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection): Offers expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the US.
- FAST (Free and Secure Trade): A commercial clearance program for known low-risk shipments entering the US.
Processing at SEA can take 60 minutes or longer during peak periods, such as holidays and the summer travel season, when multiple international flights arrive daily, typically between 10 am and 3 pm Pacific Time. It is recommended that travellers schedule at least 120 to 180 minutes between arriving on an international flight and their next flight to allow enough time for processing and prevent missed connections.
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Facial recognition technology
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has been utilising facial recognition technology since early 2020 to confirm the identity of a limited number of international travellers departing from the airport.
The airport's International Arrivals Facility (IAF) is where all international passengers, both connecting and non-connecting, must go through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing before entering the United States of America. This includes claiming all checked luggage, undergoing an inspection/interview by CBP officers, and then either exiting to Seattle or transferring to connecting flights.
The CBP also offers Trusted Traveller Programs, which provide expedited travel for pre-approved, low-risk travellers through dedicated lanes and kiosks. These programs include Mobile Passport Control (MPC), which is a free application that eligible travellers can use to submit their passport and customs declaration information through their smartphones or other mobile devices. Another program is Global Entry, which allows members to use a kiosk to clear immigration, customs, and agricultural processing without any paper arrival forms.
Additionally, the TSA Checkpoint in the IAF is open from 6 am to 9:45 pm for connecting passengers. If passengers arrive outside of these operational hours, they may need to exit the secure side of the airport and undergo security screening again.
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Mobile Passport Control
The Mobile Passport Control app was introduced at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2015 to speed up the customs and immigration process for passengers arriving in the US. The app allows travellers to submit their passport information and customs declaration form to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) via their mobile device. They then receive a QR code, which can be presented along with their physical passport to a CBP officer to complete the process. The app is free to use and does not require pre-approval. It is available for both Android and iPhone users.
The Mobile Passport Control app is part of CBP's resource optimization strategy, which is transforming the way CBP does business in land, air and sea environments. The app has been downloaded more than 1 million times over a two-year period. It was developed in partnership with CBP by Airports Council International- North America and their technical partners.
MPC currently offers U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors a more efficient in-person inspection between the CBP officer and the traveller upon arrival in the United States. The app does not replace the need for an interview with a CBP officer, but it does mean that travellers will no longer have to complete a paper form or use an APC kiosk. As a result, travellers will experience shorter wait times, less congestion and faster processing.
The Port of Seattle does not have control over operations or entry requirements for arriving international passengers. Processing can take 60 minutes or longer during peak periods, such as holidays and the summer travel season, when multiple international flights arrive daily, typically between 10 am and 3 pm Pacific Time. When scheduling connections from an international flight, it is recommended that travellers schedule at least 120 to 180 minutes between arriving and their next flight to have enough time for processing and to prevent missed connections.
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Processing times
International passengers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) arrive at the Baggage Claims level in Gina Marie Lindsey Hall, which is on the very south end of the terminal near the international airlines. All international flights arrive at the International Arrivals Facility (IAF), where all connecting and non-connecting passengers must process through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before entering the United States of America. This includes claiming all checked luggage, an inspection/interview by CBP officers, and then either exiting to Seattle or transferring to connecting flights.
The processing time for passengers can vary. During peak periods, such as holidays and the summer travel season, when multiple international flights arrive daily, typically between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Pacific time, processing can take 60 minutes or longer. It is recommended that passengers schedule at least 120 to 180 minutes between arriving on an international flight and their next flight to have enough time for processing and to prevent missed connections.
Once cleared by CBP, passengers will have the opportunity to recheck their luggage for a connecting flight or exit the airport. The International Arrivals Facility uses a 'bags first' process, where travellers claim and bring their luggage with them through U.S. Customs, and then stay to the right to recheck with their airlines. All connecting passengers must then go through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening. The TSA checkpoint in the IAF is open from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., Pacific Time. If a passenger arrives outside of these hours, they may have to exit the secure side of the airport and go through security screening.
To speed up processing times, eligible travellers can use the CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app, which is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play. This allows travellers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through a secure app on their smartphone or other mobile devices. There is a one-time service fee of $100 USD for a 5-year membership.
Another option to speed up processing times is to enrol in the CBP's Trusted Traveller Programs, which provide expedited travel for pre-approved, low-risk travellers through dedicated lanes and kiosks. One such program is NEXUS, which is ideal for frequent travellers between the U.S. and Canada. NEXUS allows pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada, with members using dedicated processing NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada by air and Global Entry kiosks when entering the United States via Canadian pre-clearance airports. NEXUS has a one-time service fee of $50 USD for a 5-year membership.
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Frequently asked questions
All international flights arrive at the International Arrivals Facility (IAF). All connecting and non-connecting passengers must go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and claim their checked luggage before entering the United States. This includes an inspection/interview by CBP officers. Processing can take 60 minutes or longer during peak periods.
The CBP offers a Trusted Traveler Program that provides expedited travel for pre-approved, low-risk travellers through dedicated lanes and kiosks. The Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is a free application that eligible travellers can use to submit their passport and customs declaration information.
The TSA checkpoint in the IAF is open from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Pacific Time. If you arrive outside of these hours, you may have to exit the secure side of the airport and go through security screening again.
