If you’ve ever stood in line for an hour at JFK, LAX, or Miami (more than once, Miami) after a long international flight, you’ll immediately get the appeal of US Pre-Clearance. It’s exactly what it sounds like: at international airports which offer US Pre-Clearance, you clear US Customs and Border Protection before you board your flight. When you land in America, you walk straight out like a domestic arrival. No queues, no drama, no wondering if you’ll make your connection.
I’ve used pre-clearance at Dublin Airport multiple times, and it genuinely enhances the arrival experience in the US. Not revolutionary, but better.
Watch
🎬 Key Moments from the Video
- [01:31] “When you land in New York, you’re treated as a domestic arrival. No immigration queues.”
- [03:12] “If you have Global Entry, there’s automated kiosks. You’re through in about two minutes.”
- [04:24] “Arrive at the airport 30 to 45 minutes earlier than you normally would.”
- [05:07] “No queues, no immigration kiosks, no stress. Land, walk, leave.”
Video captured May 2025. Details subject to change.
What Is US Pre-Clearance?
US Pre-Clearance means you go through full US immigration and customs at your departure airport, not when you land. You face the same questions, the same officers (they’re actual CBP agents stationed abroad), and the same process you’d normally do on arrival. The difference? You do it before boarding.
When you land in the US, you’re treated as a domestic passenger. No immigration hall, no customs queues, no standing around exhausted, wondering why it’s taking so long. You disembark and leave the airport.
As of 2025, only a handful of airports outside North America plus some Canadian airports offer this:
Airports With US Pre-Clearance
Ireland:
- Dublin (DUB)
- Shannon (SNN)
Caribbean:
- Aruba (AUA)
- Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
- Bermuda (BDA)
Middle East:
- Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Canada:
- Calgary (YYC)
- Edmonton (YEG)
- Halifax (YHZ)
- Montreal (YUL)
- Ottawa (YOW)
- Toronto (YYZ)
- Vancouver (YVR)
- Winnipeg (YWG)
That’s it. Dublin is one of only two European airports with this facility, which makes it particularly useful if you’re flying from anywhere in Europe to the US via Ireland. In fact, I lived in London for a few years, and I could never quite understand why Heathrow doesn’t have the same facility. Dublin is the best gateway to the US, honestly.
How US Pre-Clearance Works at Dublin Airport
US Pre-Clearance signs are very visible at Dublin Airport
I’ll use Dublin as an example, since it’s where I’ve used pre-clearance most often; however, the process is similar at other locations (I’ve tested Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Shannon).
After check-in, you head upstairs in Terminal 2 to go through Dublin Airport security as normal, and then follow the signs to US Pre-Clearance. After duty free and the main shops, you swerve to the left and take the lift or escalator downstairs. There’s plenty of signs. And when you reach the right level, there are massive US flags everywhere pointing you towards US Pre-clearance!
The Process
- Queue for pre-clearance - Once you have passed regular security and made your way to the US Pre-Clearance area, there is a queue or line for US Pre-Clearance screening. Depending on the time of day, queues can be long. As there’s so many morning flights to the US, that tends to be the busiest.
- Document check - A CBP officer checks your passport, visa (if required), and ESTA or other travel authorisation. They’ll ask the usual questions: purpose of visit, where you’re staying, and how long you’re there.
- Biometric screening - Fingerprints and photo, same as you’d get on arrival in the US.
- Customs declaration - You declare anything you’re bringing into the US. If you’re flagged for secondary screening, it happens here.
- Proceed to your gate - Once cleared, you’re done. When you land in the US, you just walk out.
Important: Cameras and phones are not allowed in the pre-clearance area. CBP takes this seriously, so don’t try to film or photograph anything once you’re inside.
Timing: How Early Should You Arrive?
Plan to arrive at the airport earlier than you would for a standard international flight. I’d suggest:
- Without Global Entry: Arrive 3 hours before departure (instead of the usual 2-2.5 hours).
- With Global Entry: Arrive 2.5 hours before departure.
Pre-clearance queues can be unpredictable. I’ve cleared in 15 minutes on a quiet afternoon, and I’ve waited 45 minutes on a busy morning. Better to have time to spare than to risk missing your flight. If you have spare time, you could always check out Dublin’s 51st and Green Lounge after screening.
Global Entry Makes This Even Faster
If you have Global Entry, the pre-clearance process is significantly faster. Instead of queuing to see an officer, you use automated kiosks. Scan your passport, answer a few questions on screen, get your receipt, and you’re through. The whole thing takes about 2-3 minutes unless you’re flagged for secondary screening.
Who can get Global Entry?
- US citizens and permanent residents
- Citizens of other countries, including the UK, Germany, India, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Singapore, Mexico, Switzerland, and South Korea.
The program costs $120 for five years and includes TSA PreCheck for domestic US flights. If you fly to the US more than once a year, it’s worth it. Find out more and how to apply in my Global Entry post.
What Happens When You Land in the US
This is where pre-clearance really pays off.
When you land, whether it’s JFK, Newark, Boston, Chicago, LA, or anywhere else, you disembark and walk straight out. No immigration queues, no customs hall, no waiting. You’re treated exactly like someone flying in from another US city.
I call this “Land and Leave.” After a 6-7 hour transatlantic flight, being able to walk straight out of the airport within 10 minutes of landing is genuinely one of the better travel experiences you can have. Plus domestic arrivals are usually closer to ground transport options, which is a wee bonus.
Compare that to arriving without pre-clearance, where you could easily wait 30 minutes to over an hour depending on how busy it is and how many international flights have just landed. That delay mixed with jetlag is a pain.
Is US Pre-Clearance Worth It?
For me, absolutely. The trade-off is simple: spend a bit more time at your departure airport in exchange for walking straight out when you land in the US. In fact, I’d even be tempted to pick Dublin Airport versus a route to the US starting in the UK.
If you’re flying from Dublin, Shannon, or any of the other pre-clearance locations, take advantage of it. Arrive early, clear immigration before boarding, and enjoy the Land and Leave experience when you arrive.
And if you’re a frequent traveller to the US, seriously consider Global Entry. It makes pre-clearance even faster and removes most of the stress from the process.
Where to Stay Near Dublin Airport
If you have an early morning flight from Dublin and want to stay near the airport the night before, there’s really only one place to stay that you can walk from to Terminal 2 (they also have a shuttle):
Where to Stay in the US
Standard comfy room in the Hampton Inn Brooklyn
Flying into New York? Here’s where I stay:
- Manhattan: The Refinery Hotel in Midtown >>
- Brooklyn: Hampton Inn Brooklyn Downtown >>
Final Thoughts
US Pre-Clearance isn’t going to revolutionize your life, but it does make travelling to the US noticeably better. Clearing immigration before you board means you land as a domestic passenger, and that “Land and Leave” experience after a long flight is worth the extra time at departure.
If you’re flying from one of the 15 airports with pre-clearance, use it. And if you travel to the US regularly, get Global Entry to make the process even smoother.
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