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.

In 2026, the standard procedure for international travel is that you go through customs and immigration at your first point of entry into a country (or a collective customs zone like the Schengen Area). For example, if you are flying from New York to Paris with a connection in London, you will clear UK immigration and customs in London if you have to change terminals or re-check bags, but if you are on a "through-ticket" to France, you will clear your final EU immigration in Paris. The "Immigration" phase involves checking your passport and visa, while "Customs" is the second step where you declare physical goods, currency, or agricultural items. There is a notable exception for travelers heading to the United States from select airports in Canada, Ireland, the Caribbean, and the UAE; these airports have "Preclearance" facilities where you go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection before you board the plane. This allows you to land at a domestic terminal in the U.S. and walk straight out as if it were a local flight. In 2026, travelers should also be aware of the new EES and ETIAS systems in Europe which have digitized much of the entry process.