US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers work at certain foreign airports so that travellers can be inspected before they board a US-bound flight. The programme has operated since 1952. This update follows CBP's own page, and the list of airports is longer than in the 2015 version of this article.
How it works for you
- You are inspected abroad, before boarding, instead of on arrival in the US.
- When you land you skip the CBP and TSA lines and go straight to a connecting flight or to your final destination.
- Connecting times in the US can be shorter as a result.
Where it operates
CBP lists 16 sites in 6 countries:
| Country | Airports |
|---|---|
| Canada (10) | Billy Bishop Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg |
| Ireland (2) | Dublin, Shannon |
| Bahamas | Nassau |
| Bermuda | L.F. Wade International |
| Aruba | Queen Beatrix International |
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi |
Scale and benefits
- More than 600 CBP officers and agriculture specialists work at these sites.
- In 2025 preclearance handled more than 22 million travellers, about 14.6% of all commercial air travellers to the US.
- Airlines gain access to domestic gates in the US and can fly to more than 160 US airports, including some without a CBP port of entry.
Good to know
- Operating hours and phone numbers differ by location, so check the table on CBP's page before you travel.
- The CBP INFO Center answers general questions at 1-877-227-5511 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm Eastern). From outside the US call +1 202 325 8000.
Questions and comments