Mobile Passport Control is free, and when Global Entry’s $120 is worth it
The CBP app is free and works at 63 sites. Global Entry costs $120 for five years and adds PreCheck. Which one suits a frequent flyer.
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Mobile Passport Control is a free app that lets eligible travellers skip the paper form and queue for a passport check when they re-enter the US, while Global Entry costs $120 for five years and also includes TSA PreCheck. MPC works at 63 sites, including most of the big international airports. It suits US citizens and a few other eligible travellers who do not hold a trusted-traveller card. CBP’s own comparison is the source for everything here, read 3 October 2026.
- MPC costs nothing and needs no application or background check.
- Global Entry is the one that includes PreCheck for domestic flights, and it is what most frequent flyers want.
- MPC still requires a CBP officer interaction, which Global Entry does not always need.
- Use MPC if you are not eligible for, or not yet approved for, a trusted-traveller programme.
Who can use Mobile Passport Control?
US citizens, US lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 visitors, and Visa Waiver Program travellers with an approved ESTA. CBP lists those groups as eligible. Mobile Passport Control is a free app; CBP does not charge to use it.
Which airports and sites take it?
63 sites in all, including 37 US international airports, 15 preclearance locations, four land ports, four seaports and three departure locations. CBP names Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Miami and New York JFK among them. Check the CBP site for your own airport before you fly, because the list of sites can change.
How does it compare with Global Entry?
MPC is free and quick to set up; Global Entry costs $120 for five years and does more. CBP’s comparison shows that Global Entry includes a background check and TSA PreCheck, while MPC has neither. MPC also always involves an officer, where Global Entry at a kiosk sometimes does not.
Is MPC worth using if I can get Global Entry?
Use Global Entry if you travel often and want PreCheck; use MPC if you only need a faster re-entry. MPC is also the bridge while your Global Entry application is pending, as CBP itself suggests. Read our comparison of PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR before paying for either.
CBP pages change. Confirm the eligibility rules and your airport on cbp.gov before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mobile Passport Control free?
Yes. CBP describes it as a free app.
Who can use Mobile Passport Control?
US citizens, US lawful permanent residents, Canadian B1/B2 citizen visitors, and Visa Waiver Program travellers with an approved ESTA.
How much does Global Entry cost?
$120 for a five-year membership, according to CBP’s comparison.
Does MPC include TSA PreCheck?
No. CBP lists PreCheck as included with Global Entry, not with MPC.
Keep reading
Which trusted-traveller programme is worth it.
TSA's own daily count, and which days to avoid.
Passport validity and entry rules by destination.
Sources: CBP, Mobile Passport Control page and comparison with Global Entry (cbp.gov), read 3 October 2026: eligibility, free app, 63 sites and their types, Global Entry fee and PreCheck inclusion. This is general information; check cbp.gov before you travel.
Photos via Pexels: Brian James (cover), Kenneth Surillo, Matthew Turner, Zheng Xia.
Written by
Anjali ShresthaPokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. More from this author →
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