For the most part, it's passport control first..then you retrieve luggage (luggage claim)..then customs! Wouldn't worry much about someone grabbing your luggage..as mentioned, by the time you go through passport control, chances are you'll still be waiting for your luggage once you get to baggage claim!

The order of passport control and baggage claim depends entirely on the country you are entering and their specific border security model. In most European and Asian countries, you go through passport control first, then collect your bags from the carousel, and finally pass through customs. This ensures your identity is verified before you are "released" into the baggage area. However, at many U.S. airports, such as Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) with its "Bags First" International Arrivals Facility, the process is reversed for efficiency. You collect your checked luggage immediately after deplaning and then take it with you to the passport control and customs kiosks. This allows for a single, unified exit point. In 2026, many airports are also utilizing "biometric gates" or "Mobile Passport Control" apps that can speed up the immigration phase, but the physical reality of waiting for your suitcase remains the same. Always follow the overhead signage upon arrival, as "Immigration" or "Passport Control" is typically your very first interaction with the destination country's government.