How long does it take to go through customs in Frankfurt?

Airport guidelines also suggest a minimum of 45 minutes for international connections, but given the size of the airport, allowing 60-90 minutes would provide a more comfortable buffer.



As of early 2026, the time to clear customs and passport control in Frankfurt (FRA) has become highly variable due to the full implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). For non-EU travelers (including US, UK, and Canadian citizens), first-time registration of fingerprints and facial scans can lead to wait times of 45 minutes to 3 hours during peak morning arrival waves (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM). Once your biometrics are in the system, future entries are faster. After passport control, the "Customs" (nothing to declare) walk-through usually takes less than 5 minutes. However, with the opening of Terminal 3 in April 2026, transit times between terminals have increased; the SkyLine connection can take up to 10 minutes. For a supportive 2026 experience, budget at least 90 minutes for any international-to-domestic connection in Frankfurt to account for these new biometric processing delays.

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For passengers arriving on international flights: The average wait time for customs clearance at Frankfurt Airport is around 30-45 minutes. However, this can vary depending on the time of day and the volume of passengers being processed. It is important to note that if you are.

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You check your bags through to Dusseldorf which is where you go through customs, although customs in Europe is seamless. Simply go through the nothing to declare line and you're done. You'll go through immigration in Frankfurt where your passport is stamped and will most likely have to go through security as well.

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Usually the best time is to arrive at a minimum of 2 hours, baring in mind that if you arrive to Frankfurt on an international flight then you will have to go through security as you have arrived to your first port of the EU.

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Airport guidelines also suggest a minimum of 45 minutes for international connections, but given the size of the airport, allowing 60-90 minutes would provide a more comfortable buffer.

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Lufthansa and all its partners are located under one roof in Terminal 1 and at Pier A, which has been built exclusively for Lufthansa. Both terminals are only a few minutes away from each other by shuttle bus or by the 'SkyLine' elevated railway.

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EasyPASS and EasyPASS-RTP EasyPASS/EasyPASS-RTP lets you clear border checks faster. Thanks to this automated system, travelers can pass through in seconds. You place your e-passport or personal ID on the document scanner, which reads and authenticates digital data stored on it.

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If you are subject to a customs inspection, you are obliged to inform the customs officer about the provenance, the economic beneficiary and the intended use of any cash or equivalent means of payment you are carrying, even if the total amount does not exceed the 10,000 euros threshold.

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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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The bad news is that the time it takes can vary wildly depending on which airport you travel through and when you land. Customs will take a lot longer if a bunch of flights all land at the same time, but, on average, it takes about 20 minutes or less to get through customs.

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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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The minimum connecting time for a flight in Frankfurt is 45 minutes. However, it is always a good idea to allow more time, especially if you are traveling during peak hours or if you are flying to a different terminal.

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Frankfurt is the busiest airport by passenger traffic in Germany. It covers 2300 hectares, has four runways and two huge (HUGE!!) terminals and sees (normally) around 60 million passengers pass through it every year.

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All concourses at both terminals are connected (both landside and airside) by a free Sky Train (monorail). There is also a free shuttle bus. Luggage carts are not allowed on the Sky Train. The transfer between Terminal 1 and 2 on foot takes around 15 minutes.

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Arriving from and connecting to an airport within the Schengen area: Usually no passport control is required. Arriving from and connecting to an airport outside the Schengen area: Usually no passport control is required, if you don't leave the gate area.

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Typically, customs clearance takes less than 24 hours, however, there are times where it can take several days or weeks for goods to be inspected. When is customs clearance needed?

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Terminal 1 is the older and larger one of the two passenger terminals. The landside is 420 metres long. It has been enlarged several times and is divided into concourses A, B, C and Z and has a capacity of approximately 50 million passengers per year.

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The airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is older and larger and is primarily used by Lufthansa and its associated companies for both international and domestic flights. Terminal 2 hosts both international and domestic flights. Terminal 3 is under construction and should be fully operational by 2023.

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