Lois Larson
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program has preclearance facilities in several foreign airports. This allows passengers to bypass CBP and TSA inspections upon arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flights. 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 travelers. As of 2023, there are 14 international airports with preclearance facilities in six countries, including Canada, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of foreign airports with US customs | 14 or 15 |
| Number of countries with US customs in their airports | 6 |
| Countries with US customs in their airports | Ireland, Aruba, Bermuda, United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi), Bahamas, Canada |
| Airports in Canada with US customs | Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg |
| Airports in other countries with US customs | Dublin, Shannon, Nassau, Bermuda, Abu Dhabi |
| Airports in the US without customs facilities for processing commercial flights | LaGuardia Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| Airports in the US with Global Entry | Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Lambert - St. Louis International Airport, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Providence – T.F. Green International Airport |
| Airports in Canada with preclearance facilities | Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport |
| Airports exploring talks to establish US preclearance | Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, El Dorado International Airport, Belfast International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
As of 2023, there are 14 international airports with US Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities in six countries. These include 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 Taiwanese government is also considering establishing a US border preclearance system at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
It is important to note that passengers unfamiliar with the preclearance process may encounter long lines and delays at CBP preclearance facilities, potentially causing them to miss their outbound flights to the US and any connecting flights. Precleared passengers may still be subject to re-inspection at the discretion of CBP upon arrival in the US.
The CBP also offers trusted traveller programs such as Global Entry, which expedites the processing of pre-approved, low-risk travellers through designated airport kiosks at major US airports, including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK), among others.
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Preclearance process
The preclearance program aims to streamline border procedures for flights entering the US, reduce congestion at ports of entry, and facilitate travel into US airports that may not be equipped to handle international travellers. The process involves the strategic stationing of Customs and Border Protection (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) inspections upon arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.
Preclearance has been in operation since 1952 and has proven benefits for stakeholders in the air travel industry. It offers cost savings, easier domestic connections, and increased market access to desirable US destinations. However, one drawback is that passengers unfamiliar with the process may not arrive early enough at the foreign airport, causing them to miss their outbound flights.
To implement preclearance, foreign airports must undergo significant remodelling or build new facilities to support the process. This includes agreements between CBP and the airport operator outlining roles, responsibilities, and cost-sharing, as well as agreements between TSA and the host government regarding aviation security screening.
As of 2025, there are 15 preclearance locations in 6 countries: Ireland (Dublin and Shannon), Aruba, Bermuda, the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi), the Bahamas (Nassau), and Canada (Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg).
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Benefits of preclearance
The preclearance program has several benefits for both travellers and airports.
Firstly, it streamlines border procedures for flights entering the United States, reducing congestion at ports of entry. This is especially beneficial for smaller airports that may not have the infrastructure to handle large numbers of international travellers and their luggage. It also means travellers can bypass Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination. This can save time and reduce the risk of missing connecting flights due to delays at border control.
Secondly, preclearance allows for new direct routes to over 150 US airports, even if they do not have a CBP port of entry. This increases convenience and flexibility for travellers, as well as creating new opportunities for airlines and airports to expand their route networks.
Thirdly, preclearance can enhance security. The use of innovative technologies, such as facial recognition biometrics, can expedite passenger processing, facilitating the efficient movement of travellers while maintaining robust security measures. Greater collaboration between the US and host governments can also be facilitated through daily interactions with local law enforcement partners and other government authorities.
Finally, preclearance can provide a competitive advantage for airports and airlines offering US-bound travel. By providing a faster, more efficient service, they can attract more passengers and gain a competitive edge over competitors in the US-bound travel market.
While preclearance offers these benefits, it is important to be aware of potential drawbacks. For example, passengers unfamiliar with the process may not allow enough time for preclearance, potentially missing their flights. There may also be instances where precleared flights are unable to take off due to circumstances beyond their control, such as worsening weather conditions, resulting in additional complications and delays.
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Drawbacks of preclearance
Despite the benefits of the preclearance program, there are several drawbacks. One of the main issues is that passengers who are unfamiliar with the process may not arrive at the foreign airport early enough, leading to long lines and delays in the CBP preclearance facility. This could cause passengers to miss their outbound flights to the US and any connecting flights. This problem was highlighted in an incident in 2013 when a Toronto-to-New York flight was forced to return to the gate due to worsening weather conditions, and pre-cleared passengers had to pass through CBP preclearance again.
Another drawback is the potential impact on asylum seekers. The preclearance program has been accused of deterring the arrival of potential asylum seekers, who are protected under the 1951 Refugee Convention's provisions on non-refoulement once they reach their destination.
Furthermore, implementing preclearance requires significant remodeling or the construction of new facilities, which can be costly for foreign airports. Airports must also share the costs related to operating and administrative expenses and provide facilities and equipment that meet CBP technical design standards.
Additionally, pre-cleared passengers may still be subject to re-inspection at the discretion of CBP upon arrival in the US, which can cause further delays and inconvenience.
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Airports with Global Entry
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States by accessing the Global Entry processing technology at selected airports.
At airports, program members proceed to the Global Entry lanes where processing technology will be used to expedite the members by capturing a photo to verify their membership. Once the photo has been captured, the member will receive on-screen instructions and proceed to a CBP officer who will confirm that they have successfully completed the process.
Global Entry is available at many airports in the U.S. and worldwide. Some of the airports that offer Global Entry include:
- Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
- Lambert - St. Louis International Airport (STL)
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Providence – T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Toledo Express Airport (TOL)
- Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- New York Stewart International Airport (SWF)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
The preclearance program aims to streamline border procedures for flights entering the United States, reduce congestion at ports of entry, and facilitate travel into U.S. airports that may not be equipped to handle international travellers otherwise.
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Frequently asked questions
The preclearance program is a strategic initiative by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to station officers and agriculture specialists at foreign airports to inspect travelers before boarding U.S.-bound flights. This streamlines border procedures, reduces congestion, and facilitates travel into U.S. airports lacking immigration and customs processing facilities.
Preclearance allows travelers to bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon arrival in the U.S. and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination. Precleared passengers with checked baggage also benefit from having their baggage screened and transferred to connecting flights.
There are 14-15 preclearance locations at airports in six countries: Ireland (Dublin and Shannon), Aruba, Bermuda, the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi), the Bahamas (Nassau), and Canada (Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg).
Passengers unfamiliar with preclearance may not arrive early enough at the foreign airport or may encounter long lines and delays, potentially missing their outbound flights to the U.S. and any connections. Preclearance has also been criticized for potentially deterring the arrival of asylum seekers, who are protected under the 1951 Refugee Convention's non-refoulement provisions.
