US Pre-Clearance facility

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Abu Dhabi Airport

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Terminal 3 in Abu Dhabi Airport is a purpose-built facility that allows U.S.-bound passengers to undertake all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi before departure.

 Abu Dhabi International Airport is one of only a handful worldwide that offers the CBP facility. Having cleared CBP, guests can check through their baggage to their final destination in the United States. On reaching the U.S., guests will be treated as domestic arrivals, allowing faster processing at their arrival airport.

Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks

Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that expedites the entry process for U.S., Canadian and eligible Visa Waiver Program international travellers by providing an automated process through CBP’s Primary Inspection area.

When flying with Etihad Airways, you can use the APC self-service kiosks to submit your Customs declaration form and biometric information. APC is a free service. It does not require pre-registration or membership and maintains the highest levels of protection when handling personal data and information.

Travellers using APC experience shorter waiting times and faster processing when passing through Abu Dhabi International Airport.

 

Overview of requirements

If you are travelling to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you must:

·       Apply for authorisation to travel under the VWP using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ESTA website no less than 72 hours before travel.

·       Add API (Advance Passenger Information) to your booking up to 1 hour before the first flight on your itinerary.

·       Know the restricted and prohibited merchandise you can bring to the U.S.

·       Hold an individual machine-readable passport and a confirmed return or onward ticket (or e-ticket) for departure from the United States within 90 days.

·       Complete the relevant CBP Customs Declaration form at Abu Dhabi International Airport on the day of departure.

If you are travelling to the U.S. with a valid visa, you must:

·       Know the required documents for your trip.

·       Know the restricted and prohibited merchandise you can bring to the U.S.

·       Complete the relevant CBP Customs Declaration form at Abu Dhabi International Airport on the day of departure.

Service highlights

Department of Homeland Security U.S. Visit Program

This program applies to all visitors. It does not apply to U.S. citizens or U.S. legal residents. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers will use an inkless fingerprint scanner to read the fingerprints of these visitors automatically. The Customs and Border Protection officer will also take a digital photograph. This biographic and fingerprint data will verify the visitor's identity. For additional information, visit www.dhs.gov/us-visit

U.S. Immigration – Terminal 3 (T3) Abu Dhabi International Airport

Select flights to the U.S. must pre-clear U.S. Customs and Immigration in Terminal A before departure.

Please review the U.S. pre-clearance requirements before arriving at the airport.

All Guests departing or transferring through Terminal A to a flight with US Pre-Clearance will be processed as usual in Terminal A for their check-in, passport control and security processes and will then be shuttled from Departure Gates F in Terminal A to the US Pre-Clearance facility, located in Terminal 3.

The entrance to the U.S. Pre-clearance facility is adjacent to gates 58-61. Please proceed to the facility no later than 60 minutes before departure.

Duty-free goods, including cigarettes and alcohol, cannot be sold on board flights which pre-clear U.S. Customs and Immigration in Abu Dhabi. Do not buy Duty-Free liquor or perfumes over 100ml.

 In limited quantities, liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGS) are safe to bring on board an aircraft. Each traveller is allowed one bag to limit the total volume of liquids, aerosols and gels. Consolidating products into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to clear all items quickly.

 

U.S. Premium Lounge

First and Business Class guests travelling from Abu Dhabi to destinations in the United States can now use our U.S. Premium Lounge after clearing U.S. Immigration and Customs. The lounge offers comfortable seating and light refreshments while waiting for your flight.