New, Faster International Arrival Process Launches At Philly Airport

PHILADELPHIA — Travelers returning from overseas to the Philadelphia International Airport will now experience a new kind of screening process that uses facial comparison technology and biometric software, officials said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Philadelphia International Airport Wednesday announced the launch of Enhanced Passenger Processing technology at the airport

Through the facial comparison tech and biometric software, Enhanced Passenger Processing gives United States citizens a touchless, seamless, and secure arrival experience when reentering the country from international flights. Officials said citizens experience the same high level of security assurance with fewer steps and reduced processing times.

This new process is available at 15 U.S. airports, six CBP Preclearance airports in Aruba, Canada, and Ireland, five seaport ports of entry, and one land border crossing.

Customs officials said they have seen a 25 percent decrease in wait times for citizens returning to the country since launching the process in August 2025.

When a United States citizen arrives at the inspection area, auto-capture cameras operated by customs officers capture their photo using biometric facial comparison technology. Within seconds, the system compares the live image to photos already in CBP's holdings, such as a passport photo, verifies the traveler's identity and citizenship status, runs law enforcement vetting, and creates a crossing record.

While the process is rapid and touchless, CBP officers are still on hand to instruct passengers on the process and assist them during screening.

Any passenger wishing to not participate in the new process must notify a customs officer. They will then go through the standard international arrivals process.

"EPP is an innovative, secure, biometric solution designed to streamline the international arrivals experience for U.S. citizens while enhancing Customs and Border Protection’s national security mission and enforcement capabilities," Cleatus Hunt Jr., Customs and Border Protection's Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, said. "PHL Airport is a major transatlantic hub. Travelers arriving at PHL Airport will feel the benefits of this new technology in shorter wait times, faster processing through CBP arrivals inspection, and the improved ability to make their connecting flights."

The Philadelphia International Airport's Information Technology Department worked with Customs and Border Protection to implement Enhanced Passenger Processing. The airport has a number of Wi-Fi and networking infrastructure upgrades underway to support new technology such as the EPP.

“PHL is proud to be one of the airports selected to offer EPP for the millions of US citizens that arrive on international flights," a representative for the Philadelphia International Airport said. "As a major transatlantic hub, being able to quickly process through customs and head home or to a connecting flight is one of the best guest experiences we can offer travelers. Thank you to CBP for training our Customer Care Team on the new process so that we can support passengers who have questions and continue to provide exceptional service to our guests."