Baggage claim is in between passport control and customs. The reason you have to claim your baggage before customs, is to give you a chance to declare the required goods. Additionally, it gives customs a chance to identify suspicious passengers, and then pick them for checks on the way through.

For international arrivals in 2026, baggage claim almost always comes before customs. The standard sequence after your plane lands is: (1) Passport Control/Immigration, where your documents are verified; (2) Baggage Claim, where you retrieve your checked suitcases; and (3) Customs, where you walk through a "Green" (nothing to declare) or "Red" (items to declare) channel with all your belongings. This order is necessary because the Customs officers need to inspect you and your luggage together to ensure you aren't importing prohibited items or exceeding duty-free limits. In 2026, many major airports in the U.S. and India have digitized this process; for example, India's "Baggage Rules 2026" now allow you to file your customs declaration via the ICEGATE app before you even land. Once you have your bags, you simply tap your digital declaration at the customs exit. The only major exception is "Pre-clearance" airports (like those in Canada or Ireland), where you clear both immigration and customs before you even board your flight to the United States.