Global Entry vs Mobile Passport Control: Which One Can Save You Time at U.S. Immigration?

Whether you’re an American returning home for the summer, an Italian planning your first trip to the United States, or a frequent business traveller crossing the Atlantic, one thing everyone hopes for after a long flight is a quick arrival through immigration.

Fortunately, there are two programmes designed to make entering the United States faster: Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control (MPC). While they are often mentioned together, they work quite differently and are available to different travellers.

Here’s what you should know before your next trip.

Global Entry: The Fastest Option for Frequent Travellers

If you travel to the United States regularly, Global Entry is considered the gold standard.

Operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the program allows approved members to bypass the standard immigration queues by using dedicated kiosks or eGates at participating airports.

Benefits include:

Expedited immigration clearance
Dedicated Global Entry lanes
No paper customs declaration
TSA PreCheck® for eligible domestic U.S. flights

However, Global Entry isn’t available to everyone.

Applicants must complete a background check, pay an application fee and attend an interview before approval.

The program is currently available to:

U.S. citizens
U.S. lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders)
Citizens of selected partner countries

At the time of writing, Italy is not a participating Global Entry country, meaning Italian citizens travelling solely on an Italian passport are generally not eligible to apply.

Mobile Passport Control: A Free Alternative

For many travellers, Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is one of the best-kept travel secrets.

Unlike Global Entry, MPC is:

Free
No membership required
No interview
No annual fee

Simply download the official Mobile Passport Control app before arriving in the United States.

During your flight—or immediately after landing—you complete your passport details and customs declaration electronically. Upon arrival, you’ll receive a digital receipt to present to a CBP officer.

At many participating airports, MPC users can access dedicated processing lanes, often reducing waiting times considerably.

Who Can Use Mobile Passport Control?

Mobile Passport Control is available to:

U.S. citizens
U.S. lawful permanent residents
Eligible Canadian visitors
Eligible travellers entering under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA)

That means many Italian passport holders travelling on an approved ESTA can use MPC when arriving at participating U.S. airports.

Don’t Forget Your ESTA

Italian citizens travelling to the United States for tourism or business generally do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Instead, they must obtain an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before departure.

An ESTA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry into the United States, but it is a mandatory travel authorisation for eligible travellers under the Visa Waiver Program.

Apply only through the official U.S. government website:

Official ESTA Application
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

More information about the Visa Waiver Program:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html

At a Glance

	Global Entry	Mobile Passport Control
Cost	Paid	Free
Application required	✔ Yes	✖ No
Background check	✔ Yes	✖ No
Interview	✔ Yes	✖ No
Available to most Italian travellers	✖ No	✔ Yes (travelling on ESTA)
Faster immigration	✔ Yes	✔ Yes
Best for	Frequent U.S. travellers	Occasional visitors

Which One Is Right for You?

If you’re a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder who travels internationally several times a year, Global Entry is well worth considering.

If you’re an Italian travelling to the United States for business or a holiday, Mobile Passport Control is an excellent free option that can help you move through immigration more efficiently without the need for interviews or membership.