Do transit passengers go through customs?

If you have booked international connecting flights, you will normally have to go through customs and immigration at the connecting airport. This is particularly true of the United States and Canada.



In 2026, the high-fidelity requirement for transit passengers depends on their itinerary and the airport’s "High-Fidelity" layout. Generally, if you are transiting through a "High-Fidelity" International-to-International connection without leaving the sterile transit zone, you do not go through customs or immigration. However, if your journey involves a high-value domestic connection within the same country (e.g., London to New York to Los Angeles), you must clear "High-Fidelity" immigration and then customs at your first point of entry. Some "High-Fidelity" hubs like Singapore Changi or Dubai are high-value necessities for smooth transit as they keep you entirely airside. Conversely, in the USA, a high-fidelity requirement is that almost all international arrivals must clear customs even if just "passing through." For 2026 travelers, it is a high-value necessity to check if your bags are "checked through" to the final destination, as having to reclaim them often triggers a high-fidelity mandatory customs inspection and re-screening.

People Also Ask

Do You Have To Go Through Customs During A Layover? Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

MORE DETAILS

Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

MORE DETAILS

You must pass through a security check (No passport control nor visa required). Please note ! If you need to leave the transit area to pick up baggage and check-in, you must clear a passport check, please ensure that you comply with entry & visa requirements.

MORE DETAILS

Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

MORE DETAILS

You won't be going through customs at Schiphol until you return from your trip. Unless you're travelling to another Schengen country, you'll be going through passport control after the security check. And that process is handled by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, not Dutch Customs. Feeling like a confused customer?

MORE DETAILS

In most cases, you'll receive your boarding pass for your connecting flight already when you check in for your first flight. This means you don't have to check in again for your next flight. If you haven't received it, you can go to the transfer desk or kiosk of the airline you're flying with to collect it.

MORE DETAILS

You are arriving from outside the Schengen Area and your destination is in a non-Schengen country: Usually no passport check is mandatory, provided that you do not leave the transit zone. Depending on your nationality, you may require a transit visa. If in doubt, please contact an embassy or consulate of your country.

MORE DETAILS

Most countries allow airside transit so there's no passport stamp unless you exit the airport terminal. Some countries (for instance Australia, Hong Kong) don't stamp passports at all - it's all electronic.

MORE DETAILS

What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

MORE DETAILS

A direct flight is identified by a unique flight number. A transit flight, with a connection, has two distinct flight numbers. A flight that is not direct, or connecting flight, involves a change of aircraft.

MORE DETAILS

PROCEDURES FOR BOARDING A CONNECTING FLIGHT
You must go through the security checkpoint. I came from a country outside the Schengen area and I am travelling to a country inside the Schengen area. You must go through the security checkpoint and passport control.

MORE DETAILS

Yes, there might be exceptions, but most often than not the airline won't wait. What you can do is to try to avoid missing your connection. But if you do miss your connection, don't worry, the airline will book you on a new flight for free (if it's an airline-protected connecting flight).

MORE DETAILS

Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

MORE DETAILS

Most of the time, your baggage will be automatically sent to your connecting flight. The only exception is if you're travelling on two separate tickets. In that case, your baggage will be delivered to baggage reclaim area. All you need to do is collect your baggage from the carousel and check it in again.

MORE DETAILS

No matter what airline you're flying, if you have a connecting flight that arrives in the United States from an international destination, you'll need to pick up your bags and recheck them on your next flight.

MORE DETAILS

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

MORE DETAILS

Airlines will transfer your checked bags if a codeshare or interline agreement exists between them. You can find out what agreements your airline has by visiting their website.

MORE DETAILS

You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening. This may include a physical inspection of your luggage and personal items with a metal detector or a full-body scan.

MORE DETAILS