Do I have to go through immigration for a connecting flight in Europe? (2024)

Do I have to go through immigration for a connecting flight in Europe?

If you're short on time, here's a quick answer to your question: Generally, yes you do have to go through customs on international connecting flights, except in special cases like connecting in the EU or some preclearance airports.

Do You Have To Go Through Customs During A Layover? Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

As an EU national, you enjoy the right of free movement. This means you're entitled to travel, work and live in another EU country. If you're a citizen of a Schengen country – which is most EU countries – you're also free to travel to other Schengen countries without the need for border checks.

Most (but again, not all) airports connect international terminals airside. When you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you'll always have to exit and reenter security as you'll need to go through customs and immigration (unless you have gone through preclearance aboard, which is rare).

You are arriving from outside the Schengen Area and your destination is in a non-Schengen country: Usually no passport check is mandatory, provided that you do not leave the transit zone. Depending on your nationality, you may require a transit visa.

Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

If you have booked international connecting flights, you will normally have to go through customs and immigration at the connecting airport.

5. When do you go through customs on international flights? Usually, you go through customs when you exit the airport at your final destination.

You won't be going through customs at Schiphol until you return from your trip. Unless you're travelling to another Schengen country, you'll be going through passport control after the security check. And that process is handled by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, not Dutch Customs.

For domestic-to-domestic layovers, you normally won't have to go through security again during your layover. However, for all international layovers, you will normally have to go through security again, but this will depend on individual airport policy.

What happens if you miss a connecting flight due to delays?

If you have been delayed for more than five hours and no longer wish to travel then you are entitled to a refund. If you are a transfer passenger and missed your connection flight because your first flight was delayed, you are also entitled to a flight back to your original departure point.

Two to three hours is the minimum recommended time for an international layover, but more might be needed.

A port-of-entry is the first airport you land at in the US Even if you have a connecting flight, you need to go through the immigration procedure, pick up your luggage, re-check it and get on the next flight.

Airport guidelines also suggest a minimum of 45 minutes for international connections, but given the size of the airport, allowing 60-90 minutes would provide a more comfortable buffer.

Whether you are a U.S. citizen or not, you need to go through both customs and immigration control. You may not need to fill in a customs declaration form. When going through passport control, there are different lines depending on the country that issued your passport.

If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, in most cases you have the right to be rebooked for free on the next available flight. In the EU you also have the right to ask for a refund and flight back to your point of departure if you no longer want to travel.

If your destination airport is indicated (e.g. MIA), then your luggage is checked through to your final destination. If the airport indicated is CDG or ORY, you need to collect your luggage in Paris and check it in again.

If your layover is in the same country, you generally do not have to go through customs again. However, if your layover is in a different country, you will typically have to go through customs and immigration. Another factor that may influence whether you go through customs is the airport you are connecting through.

You'll get through customs in a couple of minutes (unless you are stopped for extra checks). It's immigration that can take time. If you have booked this as a single ticket and you meet the minimum connection time then the airline is responsible for getting you on the next available flight at no extra cost.

In most cases, you'll go through customs and immigration after your flight first arrives in a new country, but there are exceptions. For example, some countries have mutual agreements intended to help speed travelers through the process, so you may go through customs and immigration before you board.

Do I have to go through customs for a connecting flight in Rome?

You will go through all immigration and customs formalities when you arrive in Rome. You will have to collect your baggage and take it through customs, then walk over to the Alitalia domestic flight terminal and check-in for your Venice flight.

Arriving from and connecting to an airport outside the Schengen area: Usually no passport control is required, if you don't leave the gate area. Arriving from the Schengen area and connecting to an airport outside the Schengen area: Passport control is required.

CONNECTING FLIGHTS

If your baggage is checked through to your final destination, that's where you clear customs. If you're collecting your baggage and checking in to your next flight yourself, you need to pass through customs at Heathrow.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Schiphol's largest carrier, recommends a minimum connection time of 40 minutes for flights within Europe and 50 minutes for an international flight.

Do you have to go through security again for connecting flights? That depends! If you travel to a non-Schengen country, you'll need to go through additional security and passport checks. If you stay within the Schengen region, no additional checks are needed.