
An airport of entry (AOE) is an airport that serves as a port of entry and provides customs and immigration services for arriving passengers. These services allow the airport to act as an initial point of entry for foreign visitors entering a country. While the term international in an airport's name typically indicates that it is an airport of entry, many airports of entry do not include it in their name. International airports are generally considered ports of entry, similar to land border crossings. These ports of entry, including sterile zones, are under the jurisdiction of the country in which they are located and are subject to its laws and sovereignty, despite certain exemptions from standard customs and immigration regulations.
Is Entri Land the same as an Airport?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A port of entry (POE) is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. |
| Types | International airports, seaports, and land crossings. |
| Requirements | Border security staff, facilities to check passports and visas, and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. |
| Examples | International airports such as those in Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Bangkok. |
| Automated Sections | Some ports of entry have automated sections for residents or citizens, such as the e-Channel in Hong Kong and Macau. |
| Card Usage | The Global Entry card can be used at land borders and some international airports, such as when flying from Canada to the U.S. |
| Jurisdiction | Ports of entry, including transit areas in international airports, are under the authority of the country where they are located and are subject to local laws. |
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What You'll Learn
- Airports of entry (AOE) are airports that serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors
- International zones at ports of entry, including airports, are under the jurisdiction of the country where they are located
- Airports may have designated areas known as transit zones to facilitate the movement of passengers travelling to other destinations
- International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a land border
- Immigration clearance in some ports of entry has automated sections open to the country's own residents or citizens

Airports of entry (AOE) are airports that serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors
An airport of entry (AOE) is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for arriving passengers on international flights. These services allow the airport to serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors to a country.
In general, a port of entry (POE) is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has border security staff and facilities to check passports and visas and to inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a land border. Seaports can be used as ports of entry only if a dedicated customs presence is posted there. The choice of whether to become a port of entry is up to the civil authority controlling the port.
The word "international" in an airport's name usually means that it is an airport of entry, but many airports of entry do not use it. For example, Osaka International Airport ended all international services and became a purely domestic airport after the opening of Kansai International Airport in 1994, but it kept its original name of "Osaka International Airport". Many airports in the nearby region have the same situation, like Taipei Songshan Airport. Songshan retained its official Chinese name, Taipei International Airport, after Chiang Kai-shek International Airport opened (now Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport).
For the European Union, flights between countries in the Schengen Area are considered domestic regarding passport and immigration checks. Several international airports have only intra-Schengen flights. Several of these have occasional charter flights to foreign countries. If you are flying into the Schengen area from abroad, you will be processed by immigration at the first airport at which you land. If you are continuing by air to another destination in the zone, you will fly as a “domestic” passenger. No further immigration processing will be needed.
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International zones at ports of entry, including airports, are under the jurisdiction of the country where they are located
International zones at ports of entry, including airports, are subject to the jurisdiction of the country in which they are located. Airports are not considered international territories, and are not "no man's land". They are subject to the laws and sovereignty of the country in which they are situated. This means that local laws apply, and any unlawful acts, such as contraband possession, are liable for prosecution under the laws of the country in which the airport is located.
International zones at ports of entry, including airports, are usually exempt from local immigration and customs laws. This means that transit passengers can usually connect to international flights without clearing customs and immigration controls, and they often do not require a visa. However, some countries require transit passengers of certain nationalities to hold a direct airside transit visa.
Sterile zones, or transit areas, are areas where departing passengers have not formally exited the country, and arriving passengers have not yet formally entered it. These zones are typically found in international airports, seaports, and land crossings. They are under the authority of the country in which the airport is located, despite their exemption from typical customs and immigration laws. These transit areas serve multiple purposes, such as facilitating the transfer of passengers travelling to additional destinations, holding individuals being deported or denied entry, and providing temporary waiting spaces for those seeking asylum.
The presence of international zones or transit areas in airports can vary depending on the country and the specific airport. For example, Geneva Airport in Switzerland has facilities for French travellers, and EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg has a binational sterile zone, including a customs road allowing passengers to access the airport from Switzerland without passing through French customs control.
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Airports may have designated areas known as transit zones to facilitate the movement of passengers travelling to other destinations
An airport of entry (AOE) is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for incoming flights, allowing it to serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors. Ports of entry typically have border security staff and facilities to check passports and visas, and to inspect luggage to prevent contraband from being imported.
International zones at ports of entry are areas not fully subject to the border control policies of the state in which they are located. These zones are under the jurisdiction of the country in which they are located and local laws apply. International zones can include special economic zones and sterile zones, which are exempt from customs rules.
Sterile zones are areas at ports of entry where arriving international passengers have not formally entered the country by clearing arrival customs and immigration controls, and departing passengers have formally exited the country by clearing exit immigration control. Transit passengers can usually take connecting international flights in the sterile zone without clearing customs and immigration controls and, in most cases, do not require a visa. However, some countries require transit passengers of certain nationalities to hold a direct airside transit visa. For example, nationals of countries other than the United States and Canada require at least a C-1 transit visa or an ESTA to transit at a U.S. airport. Similarly, transiting at a Canadian airport generally requires a visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for nationals of countries other than Canada or the United States.
Some international airports, such as those in the United States and Canada, do not have international transit zones, and all passengers arriving on international flights are subject to customs and immigration inspections.
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International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a land border
A port of entry (POE) is a place where one can lawfully enter a country. International airports, road crossings, and rail crossings on a land border are usually ports of entry. These entry points typically have border security staff and facilities to check passports and visas, and to inspect luggage to prevent contraband from being imported.
International airports are usually ports of entry, as they provide customs and immigration services for incoming flights. Airports of entry are usually larger than domestic airports and often feature longer runways and facilities to accommodate heavier aircraft. The word "international" in an airport's name usually indicates that it is an airport of entry, but many airports of entry do not include it in their name. For example, Osaka International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport are no longer international airports but have retained their original names.
In some countries, immigration procedures at ports of entry are carried out by the armed forces rather than specific immigration officers. Some ports of entry have automated sections open to the country's own residents or citizens, such as the e-Channel in Hong Kong and Macau, and Global Entry at some airports in the United States. On some international borders, the concept of a port of entry does not exist or is not applied to countries with free-crossing pacts.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many jurisdictions introduced biosecurity measures on internal borders, such as quarantine requirements and prohibitions on interstate travel. Each country has its own laws and regulations for the import and export of goods, which are enforced by customs authorities. Customs enforcement at borders can include collecting excise tax and preventing the smuggling of dangerous or illegal goods.
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Immigration clearance in some ports of entry has automated sections open to the country's own residents or citizens
A port of entry (POE) is a place where people can lawfully enter a country. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a land border. Airports of entry (AOE) provide customs and immigration services for incoming flights, allowing them to serve as an initial point of entry for foreign visitors.
The Global Entry program, run by US Customs and Border Protection, allows travellers to bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination. Global Entry can also be used as a domestic travel ID, in the same way as a passport card can be used in place of a driver's license.
Singapore's automated system is called the enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS). It is available to Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and other registered travellers. Foreign visitors whose fingerprints are registered on arrival may use the eIACS lanes for exit clearance. The Biometric Identification of Motorbikers (BIKES) System at land checkpoints can be used by residents and work pass holders entering and leaving Singapore by motorcycle.
South Korea's Smart Entry Service (SeS) is a voluntary program that allows pre-approved travellers to proceed through South Korean immigration using biometric information included in their passports at eGates. Eligible applicants register their fingerprints and facial image in advance and must agree to the use of their registered personal information.
In Indonesia, automated border control gates (autogates) were first installed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in 2012. The autogates can be used by Indonesians, nationals of visa-free countries, and nationals from non-visa-free countries who have obtained a visa on arrival. Foreigners must have an e-passport to use the system.
In the US, customs officers have the authority to ask about a person's immigration status to determine whether they have the right to enter the country. US citizens need only answer questions establishing their identity and citizenship. Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) must answer questions establishing their identity and permanent residency, but they cannot be denied entry for refusing to answer other questions. Non-citizen visa holders or visitors may be denied entry if they refuse to answer officers' questions. US citizens cannot be denied entry for refusing to provide passwords or unlock devices, but this may lead to delays or further inspection.
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Frequently asked questions
A port of entry (POE) is a place where people can lawfully enter a country. It usually has border security staff and facilities to check passports, visas and luggage. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a land border.
An airport of entry (AOE) is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for arriving passengers. These services allow the airport to act as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors entering a country.
International zones or transit areas are designated areas within ports of entry, including airports. They are designed to facilitate the movement of passengers travelling to other destinations, provide holding areas for individuals being deported or denied entry, and serve as temporary waiting areas for those seeking asylum.
























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