It usually takes less than 20 minutes to get through customs. Wondering how long customs take? The good news is that it's a speedier process than in the past. The bad news is that the time it takes can vary wildly depending on which airport you travel through and when you land.

In 2026, the time it takes for bags to pass through customs has been significantly reduced due to the implementation of AI-driven X-ray scanners and electronic declaration systems. For the vast majority of international travelers who have "nothing to declare," the process is nearly instantaneous; after retrieving your luggage from the carousel, you simply walk through the Green Channel, which often uses facial recognition to match your identity to your digital customs declaration submitted mid-flight. This walk-through takes less than 30 seconds. However, if you are flagged for a manual inspection or enter the Red Channel to declare goods, the process can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the complexity of the paperwork and the queue. In 2026, many countries have moved to "Baggage Rules 2026" protocols, where advanced data sharing between airlines and customs allows most "risky" bags to be screened behind the scenes before they even reach the belt, streamlining the exit for 95% of passengers.