15 Places You Can Go Through US Customs Abroad in 2025

If you've ever flown to the US from abroad, you may remember having to go through customs after landing.

Going through customs in the States means:

• Waiting in line.
• Typically, answering a couple of questions about your trip.
• Getting your identity verified.
• Going through security.
• Declaring items purchased abroad.
• Getting your passport stamped.

If your first point of entry into the US is a connection, meaning you still have another flight to go before your final destination in the States, you also have to collect your checked luggage and re-check it.

After a long flight, this necessary step of the journey can feel like a hassle.

Did you know that there are places where you can go through US Customs before you even enter the US?

This means that you go through something called pre-clearance, which allows you to arrive in the US as if it were a domestic flight.

No security at arrival, no long lines, no checks with border control officials after such a long flight, because you'll have already done it all before you even boarded the plane.

Where you can go through US Customs abroad

There are 15 locations where you can go through US Customs abroad, meaning before you board your flight to the States.

These locations are:

Canada

• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Halifax
• Montreal
• Ottawa
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Victoria
• Winnipeg

The Caribbean

• Bahamas - Nassau
• Bermuda
• Aruba

Ireland

• Dublin
• Shannon

United Arab Emirates

• Abu Dhabi

How it works

When you land in the States, you have to go through US Customs. This is standard and fairly straightforward, but it can feel like another exhausting step in the long journey.

When you go through pre-clearance or US Customs abroad, you can get it all out of the way before your flight.

Instead of knowing you have more long lines to wait in, security to go through, bags to claim, and items to declare the moment you land, you can allow yourself to totally relax on your flight, knowing you've already done it all.

When you go through US Customs abroad, you can land in the States and head straight to collect your bag or to your next gate if you're connecting.

Plans to expand

While there are 15 locations abroad that offer pre-clearance now, there are plans to expand these offerings as they can benefit everyone involved, from travelers and workers to the airports themselves.

In fact, on the official site, there is a section where airlines and governments can show their interest in offering this service in their airport(s).

It isn't ours to say what the next location will be (or if there even will be one), but we will report on it should another open up. Make sure you're following the Official Travel Guide by Insurte for all of the latest information.

FAQs: US Customs abroad

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