Top 5 things you need to know about the united states customs and border protection’s new digital declaration pilot
The united states customs and border protection is testing a new system that lets travelers submit digital customs forms before landing, aiming to cut wait times at major airports.
- The pilot is currently live at select international airports, allowing passengers to fill out their declaration via a mobile app instead of paper forms.
- CBP officials confirm the data is encrypted and shared only with authorized agents, reducing physical contact and improving efficiency.
- Travelers still must present their passport and face CBP officers, but the digital form pre-validates key data to speed up processing.
- Early reports show average wait times dropping by up to 30% during peak hours at participating terminals.
- The program is expected to expand to 20 more airports by mid-2025, with full national rollout pending a security review.