New App Makes Clearing Customs and Border Control in Miami a Breeze

Miami International Airport (MIA) has announced that qualifying passengers traveling through the airport can now use the Mobile Passport app, for iOS and Android devices, which speeds up the process of clearing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

This is the latest tech advancement at MIA designed to simplify and enhance the passenger experience. MIA follows Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, which was the first U.S. airport to introduce the Mobile Passport app last August.

U.S. citizens with a valid U.S. passport, and Canadian citizens with both a valid Canadian passport and B1 or B2 visa status, can use their smartphone or tablet to submit their passport and customs declaration information using the app instead of traditional paper forms.

Once downloaded to the device, the app prompts travelers to set up a profile using information contained in their passport. Families traveling together can create multiple profiles. With a complete profile, passengers can use the Mobile Passport app to answer standard customs declaration questions, then submit their information via mobile or Wi-Fi connection when they land. There are dedicated lanes at Customs and Border Protection in MIA for Mobile Passport app users.

Mobile Passport Reader/MIA

“MIA lobbied hard to be one of the very first U.S. airports to offer Mobile Passport to our passengers, and our partners at CBP and ACI-NA are to be commended for partnering in this effort,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. “MIA is the perfect fit for Mobile Passport: we are America’s second-busiest port of entry, handling more than 20 million international passengers each year, and our organization is wholeheartedly committed to bringing the latest travel technology to our airport.”

Over the past two years, MIA has launched a number of tech innovations to improve the terminal experience. In 2013, MIA introduced Automated Passport Control kiosks to speed up the immigration process. The airport now has 36 kiosks and will add 44 of the self-service devices this year. In 2014, MIA launched its MIA Airport Official mobile app, for iOS and Android devices, which gives real-time flight information and other helpful airport terminal information, like shopping and dining options and way-finding tools.

This past September, MIA became the first airport in the world to deploy beacon technology across the entire terminal, the airport has stated that it plans to integrate the beacon network into later versions of its mobile app.

The airport also recently introduced a new English and Spanish e-magazine, MIA Connections, for tablets and mobile devices.

The Mobile Passport app is borne of a partnership between CBP, Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and app developer Airside Mobile.

“Since its debut last summer, Mobile Passport has transformed the Customs clearance process for eligible travelers arriving in the United States,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Mobile Passport has proved to be an outstanding example of the kind innovation that occurs when industry and government work together to achieve cost-effective solutions. We are very pleased to announce that Miami International Airport is the next gateway to accommodate this technology, and we look forward to additional airports coming online throughout 2015.”