Airports With Us Customs Preclearance: The Full List

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance program allows passengers to go through immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections before boarding US-bound flights at their departure airport. This process is intended to streamline border procedures, reduce congestion at American ports of entry, and facilitate travel into airports that otherwise lack immigration and customs processing facilities for commercial flights. Preclearance operations are currently in place at eight Canadian airports, including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto (Pearson), Vancouver, and Winnipeg, as well as Dublin and Shannon in Ireland, Bermuda, Aruba, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Dublin Airport, Ireland

Dublin Airport in Ireland is one of 15 airports outside of North America that offers a US Preclearance facility. The US Preclearance facility is located on the ground floor of Terminal 2, which is also where all US-bound flights depart from.

The US Preclearance facility allows passengers travelling to the US to undertake all US immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections at Dublin Airport prior to departure. This includes passengers who are connecting through another US airport to their final destination. Passengers who have completed US Preclearance in Dublin will arrive in the US as domestic travellers, allowing them to avoid immigration queues upon arrival and collect their baggage immediately.

To use the US Preclearance facility, passengers must present their boarding card to enter the US Preclearance area. They will then complete the TSA security screening, which includes removing all footwear if the passenger is between the ages of 12 and 75. After this, passengers must present their passport and boarding pass to a US Preclearance officer for inspection. Passengers are advised to arrive at the terminal at least 3 hours before their long-haul flight, and to allow more time if they are checking bags or travelling in a group. It is also recommended that passengers check with their airline for check-in desk and bag drop opening hours.

The US Preclearance facility also includes a dedicated area for purchasing food products to bring on board. Passengers are advised to check the prohibited food item list before purchasing any food items, and to carry all food items in their hand luggage.

Shannon Airport, Ireland

Shannon Airport in Ireland has had US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pre-clearance since 2010. Initially, this service was only available for private non-revenue flights, but in 2011 pre-clearance was extended to charter (non-scheduled commercial) flights. Shannon's pre-clearance facility is also available for use by private aircraft.

The pre-clearance process is designed to streamline border procedures, reduce congestion at US ports of entry, and facilitate travel into US airports that may not be equipped to handle international travellers. After clearing at Shannon, travellers can fly to around 200 airports in the US. This list of available airports continues to grow.

Pre-cleared passengers can skip CBP and TSA inspection lines upon arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flight or final destination. They can also accept tighter connection windows at US airports and are less likely to miss a domestic connection. Pre-cleared passengers with connecting flights also benefit from having their baggage checked through to their next destination.

To make use of the pre-clearance facility at Shannon Airport, it is recommended that travellers coordinate their pre-clearance via their ground handler, who can provide all necessary information to CBP on their behalf. It is important to ensure that all information needed for pre-clearance is forwarded to CBP Shannon or the ground handler in advance, and that CBP Shannon is updated on any schedule, crew, or passenger changes.

Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada

Toronto Pearson International Airport, located in Canada, has offered U.S. Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) preclearance since 1952. This service allows travellers to clear U.S. customs and immigration before boarding their flight, bypassing the need for further inspection upon arrival in the U.S.

The US CBP preclearance process at Toronto Pearson International Airport is available for passengers departing from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. CATSA security screening begins at 3:00 a.m. for passengers from both terminals, followed by US CBP processing from 3:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Passengers can expedite their departure experience by downloading the US CBP Mobile Passport Control app and submitting their information digitally before travelling. Additionally, NEXUS cardholders and passengers with mobility issues can take advantage of dedicated lines at U.S. customs by presenting their boarding pass and valid documentation.

The introduction of US CBP preclearance at Toronto Pearson International Airport has been part of a broader initiative to streamline border procedures, reduce congestion at American ports of entry, and facilitate travel into smaller U.S. airports that may lack the infrastructure to handle international travellers efficiently. Preclearance also offers benefits such as easier domestic connections, cost savings, and increased market access for airlines.

When arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport on an international flight, including from the U.S., passengers are screened by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). This process involves confirming one's identity and declaring any goods being brought into the country. The CBSA offers primary inspection kiosks (PIKs) and eGates to streamline this process.

Belfast International Airport, UK (planned)

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance program involves the strategic placement of CBP officers at designated foreign airports to inspect travellers before they board US-bound flights. This allows travellers to bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checks upon arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination. The program aims to streamline border procedures, reduce congestion at ports of entry, and facilitate travel into US airports that may not be equipped to handle international travellers.

As of March 2025, the US Customs and Border Protection website lists 15 locations that have pre-clearance into the United States: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg in Canada.

The US and foreign governments are in talks to further expand the Preclearance program to additional airports. One of the airports under consideration is Belfast International Airport in the UK. As part of the Windsor Framework and the supplemental Safeguarding the Union paper, the Government of the United Kingdom will explore talks to establish US Preclearance at Belfast International Airport. Currently, there are no non-stop flights between Belfast and the United States.

The introduction of Preclearance at Belfast International Airport could bring several benefits to travellers and the aviation industry. Firstly, it would save time for travellers flying from Belfast to the United States by allowing them to clear customs and immigration before departure, avoiding long lines upon arrival. Secondly, it would enable direct routes to additional US airports that do not have a CBP port of entry, increasing market access and providing more travel options for passengers. Finally, it could result in cost savings by utilising less expensive US domestic gates and providing more flexible arrival times at US airports.

However, it is important to note that as of March 2025, Belfast International Airport is not listed as one of the planned Preclearance locations on the US Customs and Border Protection website. The implementation of Preclearance at Belfast International Airport would require significant remodelling or the construction of a new facility to support the necessary infrastructure and personnel.

Eight other Canadian airports

Preclearance allows travellers to undergo US customs, immigration, and agriculture inspections before departure, simplifying connections and reducing wait times upon arrival in the US. This process is available at 15 airports worldwide, including two in Ireland: Dublin and Shannon. Both airports allow US-bound commercial flights to arrive at domestic terminals, bypassing international terminals.

Dublin Airport's Terminal 2 is purpose-built for preclearance, allowing passengers to complete US immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections before departure. Passengers are advised to arrive at the terminal three hours before a long-haul flight.

Shannon Airport also has a preclearance facility available for commercial and private aircraft.

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