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Do you go through customs at departure or arrival airport?

5. When do you go through customs on international flights? Usually, you go through customs when you exit the airport at your final destination. However, if you have a layover in a different city in your destination country, you may need to go through customs before your connecting flight.



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At a Glance: Customs control is the process of regulating the entry of items into a country. Passengers generally go through customs when entering a country, not when leaving.

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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.

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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.

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Chances are coming from the US you will deplane and be bussed to the terminal (congratulations!) and will have to go through passport control, collect your luggage and customs (usually there is no check at customs). In that case, it could take from 45 minutes to 90 minutes. Your arrival time is a very busy time.

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Allow enough time: Customs can be time-consuming, especially during peak travel periods. Make sure you allow enough time to clear customs and get to your connecting flight. As a general rule, it's best to allow at least two hours for international layovers.

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With Global Entry, you simply scan your passport or U.S. permanent resident card at a Global Entry kiosk, complete the customs declaration form, scan your fingerprints and move onward onto U.S. soil. This can be a major time saver when the customs line is long at busy airports or during high-volume travel periods.

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The release process can vary depending on the type of imported goods but typically involves paying any customs duties or taxes owed. Once the release paperwork has been completed, the importer can take possession of the goods and move them to their final destination.

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For example, if your final destination is Paris, France, but you have a layover in Madrid, Spain, you will actually go through customs in Spain, not France. Then, when you arrive in Paris, you won't go through customs a second time. You will be free to grab your bags from the terminal and leave the airport.

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France and Italy are signatories of the Schengen Agreement. Among other things, that means you go through immigration and customs once. You will go through immigration in Paris, but not in Florence. You will go through customs in Florence, but not in Paris.

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Meat of any sort including chicken or pork products (fresh, packaged, canned, vacuumed sealed, jarred) is not allowed. US Customs is very strict about this. Liquid milk and liquid dairy products – Not allowed unless intended to be used as feed for infants and children (butter is allowed).

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Like Global Entry, Germany's EasyPASS allows travelers to bypass customs interviews and move through automated border control at seven German airports (Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Cologne/Bonn, Dusseldorf, Berlin-Schönefeld, Berlin-Tegel, and Hamburg) with 153 eGates: All you have to do is scan your passport, glance at ...

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