Got a flight with a layover coming up and wondering if you’ll hit customs during the stop? You’re not alone. My guide breaks down when you need to go through customs, how it works, and even clears up confusing terms like “customs vs. security.” Let’s make your layover less stressful.
Do You Have to Go through Customs on a Layover?
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Whether you go through customs during a layover depends on 2 things: 1️⃣ your final destination and 2️⃣ the country you’re laying over. In most cases, you only need to clear customs once in the last country. However, some countries (such as the United States or Canada) require you to go through customs at your first stop, even if you are transferring to another country.
For instance, if you fly from Tokyo to Brazil and make a stopover in Miami, you will clear customs in Miami (the first stop in the United States). But if you fly from Sydney to London and make a stopover in Dubai on the way, you can skip the customs in Dubai and clear customs directly in London (your last stop).
Scenario | Do You Go Through Customs in the Layover Country? |
Layover in Country A, final destination is Country B (different from A) | Only if Country A requires it (e.g., U.S., Canada) |
Layover in Country A, final destination is Country A | Yes—at your first stop in A |
Layover in Schengen Area (Europe), final destination is another Schengen country | Yes—at your first Schengen stop |
Customs Rules for layovers in Popular Countries (Canada, EU, etc.)
Here’s how customs works in common layover spots like Europe (London, Paris, etc.), US, Canada, Tokyo and so on:
European Customs Rules
Navigate customs in Europe's unique Schengen and non-Schengen zones
Paris (France)
SchengenNo if flying outside Schengen (e.g., Paris → Toronto)
Frankfurt (Germany)
SchengenNo if flying outside Schengen (e.g., Frankfurt → Dubai)
Reykjavik (Iceland)
SchengenNo if flying outside Schengen (e.g., Reykjavik → Boston)
London (UK)
Non-SchengenYes if connecting to a UK city (e.g., London → Edinburgh)
Americas Customs Rules
Customs regulations for North and South American destinations
U.S. (New York, Miami, LAX)
Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal)
Mexico (Mexico City, Cancun)
Yes if final destination is Mexico
Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro)
Yes if final destination is Brazil
Argentina (Buenos Aires)
Yes if final destination is Argentina
Chile (Santiago)
Yes if final destination is Chile
Asia & Oceania Customs Rules
Customs regulations for Asian and Oceanian destinations
Tokyo (Japan)
Yes if final destination is Japan
Bangkok (Thailand)
Yes if final destination is Thailand
China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou)
Yes if final destination is China
Singapore
Yes if final destination is Singapore
India (Delhi, Mumbai)
Yes if final destination is India
Sydney (Australia)
Yes if final destination is Australia
Auckland (New Zealand)
Yes if final destination is New Zealand
Dubai (UAE)
Yes if final destination is UAE
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How Long does it take to Go through Customs on a Layover?
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The waiting time at customs varies, but it is planned to be between 30 minutes and 2 hours. The following are the factors that affect it:
- Airport scale: Busy airport hubs often take longer. Smaller airports are faster.
- The time of day: Morning and evening rush hours (the time when most international flights land) mean having to wait in longer queues.
- Season: Holidays (such as summer or Christmas) are busier than off-peak hours.
What Happens during Customs for a Layover/Connecting Flight?
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Going through customs during a layover is similar to clearing customs at your final destination, just shorter (if you’re connecting). Here’s what to expect: First of all, you need to queue up with other passengers. Officers will check your passport, boarding pass and visa (if necessary) and ask some basic questions: "How long will you stay?" Or "What is the purpose of your trip?"
Then, you need to declare any items you are carrying (such as food, gifts or expensive items). If asked, you will pass your bag through the scanner. Once you pass the security check, you either have to go to the boarding gate (if you are staying at the airport) or leave the airport for the city center (if you are staying at the airport for a long time).
Step | What to Expect |
1. Line up | Wait times vary—busy airports (like JFK) can take 30+ minutes; smaller ones (like Reykjavik) might take 10. |
2. Document check | Officer reviews passport, visa, and flight details. |
3. Declaration | Answer questions about items you’re carrying (no need to declare most personal items). |
4. Baggage scan (if needed) | Some travelers are randomly selected to have bags checked. |
Do you have to collect your bag for a layover connecting flight?
It depends on whether your bags are “checked through” to your final destination.
- If checked through: Your luggage will go directly to the last city and does not need to be retrieved at a stopover. This situation is quite common if you are flying with the same airline or partner.
- If not checked through: You’ll need to pick up your bags during the layover, go through customs (if required), then re-check them for your next flight. This happens more often with separate tickets or non-partner airlines.
Pro tip: Ask the check-in agent at your first flight if bags are “interlined” to your final stop—this avoids surprises.
Layover vs. Stopover: What’s the Difference?
Layover and stopover are both breaks between flights, but their length will change the way you handle customs:
- Layover: Usually no more than 24 hours (some airlines say no more than 12 hours). Most people stay at the airport, so you only need to clear customs when required by the country (such as the United States).
- Stopover: More than 24 hours (sometimes more than 48 hours). Many travelers leave the airport to explore, which means you have to go through customs to leave and then pass through security checks (not customs) when you come back.
| Type | Length | Do You Need to Go Through Customs? |
|---|---|---|
Layover | <24 hours | Only if required by the layover country |
Stopover | >24 hours | Yes—if you leave the airport |
Do you go through customs before or after your flight?
You should go through customs after the plane lands, not before. The reasons are as follows: Customs will inspect the items you bring into a country, so they will only be inspected when you arrive.
- For international flights: You clear customs at the first point of entry into a country (for example, if flying from Atlanta to Chicago, the customs is in Atlanta).
- Domestic flights: No customs is required; only security checks are needed.
Is Customs the Same as Security?
No, customs and security checks are completely different - although they are both part of airport procedures.
- Security is all about safety. Before boarding any flight (domestic or international), you have to go through it. They check your bag for weapons, more than 3.4 ounces of liquid or other prohibited items. This is to ensure the safety of the aircraft.
- Customs is about what you’re bringing into a country. This happens when you arrive in a new country (or your final destination). They inspect restricted items such as fresh food, large amounts of cash or illegal items. This is to protect the country's laws, economy or environment.
Think this way: Safety ensures flight safety. The customs controls the borders of this country.
Visa Requirements for Customs during Layover
You might need a visa even if you don’t leave the airport. Here are key rules:
Country | Visa Rules for Layovers |
U.S. | Most non-citizens need a transit visa, even if staying in the airport. |
Schengen Area (Europe) | No visa needed if you stay in the international area (airport before customs) and layover is under 24 hours. |
China (Beijing, Shanghai) | 240-hour visa-free transit for many nationalities (e.g., U.S., UK) in certain cities—no visa needed to leave the airport. |
India | Transit visa required for layovers over 24 hours, or if switching airports (e.g., Delhi to Mumbai). |
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FAQs about Customs Rules during Layover
Do you have to go through customs on a layover in Europe?
It depends on whether the layover is in the Schengen Area (most EU countries) or not. Schengen layover: If your final destination is in the Schengen Area (e.g., Paris to Rome with a layover in Frankfurt), you clear customs once—at your first Schengen airport (Frankfurt). Non-Schengen layover: If your layover is in a non-Schengen country (e.g., London, which is in the UK, not Schengen) and your final destination is Schengen, you’ll clear customs at your final Schengen stop.Do you have to go through customs on a layover in Canada?
Yes, if your layover is in Canada and you’re arriving from another country. Canada requires all international travelers to clear customs at their first Canadian airport, even if connecting to another Canadian city. Example: Flying from London to Vancouver with a layover in Toronto? You’ll go through customs in Toronto, then re-check bags (if needed) for the flight to Vancouver.Do you have to go through customs on a layover in Paris?
Paris (Charles de Gaulle or Orly) is in the Schengen Area, so rules follow Schengen customs guidelines: If your layover is in Paris and your final destination is another Schengen city (e.g., Paris to Berlin), you clear customs in Paris. If your final destination is outside the Schengen Area (e.g., Paris to Tokyo), you skip customs in Paris and clear it in Tokyo. Note: If you leave the airport during a Paris layover (even for a few hours), you’ll need to go through customs to exit—and then security (not customs) when returning.Do you have to go through customs on a layover in Iceland?
Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, so customs rules match other Schengen countries. If your layover is in Reykjavik and your final destination is within Schengen (e.g., Reykjavik to Oslo), you clear customs in Reykjavik. If your final stop is outside Schengen (e.g., Reykjavik to New York), you skip customs in Iceland and go through it in New York. Iceland’s Keflavik Airport is small, so customs lines are usually shorter than in bigger European hubs—plan for 15–30 minutes.Do I have to go through customs for a connecting flight?
Whether you go through customs during a layover depends mostly on your final destination and the country of your layover. As a general rule: if your layover is in the same country as your final destination, you’ll go through customs once—at the end. But if your layover is in a country you’re passing through (not your final stop), you usually skip customs unless you leave the airport or the country requires it.