Despite what its name suggests, Mobile Passport doesn’t replace your hard-copy passport—you still need to bring that along when entering or leaving another country—but what it does is still wonderful. It replaces the traditional paper customs declaration form you fill out upon reentering the U.S. via plane or ship.
Normally, this process involves flight attendants or ship crew members handing you a lengthy form, one that can feel pretty complicated even if you’re not transporting livestock or bringing in a suitcase full of native flora. Mobile Passport, which is officially authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, bypasses this inconvenience by moving the entire process to your phone—and thus speeding it up considerably.
To start, upon your arrival back to the U.S., tell Mobile Passport whether you’re entering via plane or ship. Then enter your information either by scanning your hard-copy passport or inputting everything manually.
From there, Mobile Passport will prompt you with a series of questions based on your circumstances. As a bonus time-saver, submit one form for all family members traveling with you. And that’s it—from there, you can finish the domestic arrival process and head on home.
Mobile Passport currently works in at least 25 airports and four cruise terminals, and it’s constantly adding more in an effort to save you precious time—and when you’re coming home from a long journey, every minute helps.