# How does immigration/customs work for private jets? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 24, 2023, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469 "2023-07-24T13:17:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/21 "2023-07-25T01:03:16Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Before 9/11, when things were pretty informal (you didn’t need a passport to enter Canada–or to return to the US, my brother flew his family of five up to Montreal in the private plane he owned. I didn’t do much cross-country flying after getting my pilot license, and certainly not to the USA. But IIRC the procedure I read was there was a list of airports - including smaller ones - where customs was available, and it was up to the pilot to notify customs and ensure there were ready to meet the plane when flying in on a pivate small plane. > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Didn’t he take most of those girls from the U.S. mainland to the U.S. Virgin Islands? Well we know he took at least one 17-year-old to the UK? My point was about those super-rich types who had the right strings and got the “respect due billionaires”. Someone writing about the experience said they never came face-to-face with some European (Swiss?) customs. I assume regular peons or business drudges on small jets go through normal customs not unlike the herd of commercial travellers. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > FAA standard is block-to-block. IIRC that’s how the FBO’s charge for renting a small plane too, since the engine run time is the detail that determines time between servicing, > [@Velocity](#): > > If the agent is just glancing at your passports, he wouldn’t be able to tell if one of you had a warrant for your arrest. I assume the same sort of electronic preclearance detail applies for flight plans filed for private jets? ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/22 "2023-07-25T09:20:30Z")
A couple friends of mine drive for a Middle Eastern royal family when they are in the UK. They drive right from the public roads through some gates and right up to the aircraft without any stops or checks. There may be a customs/immigration official waiting for them on the plane, but I sort of doubt it when dealing with kings and queens. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/23 "2023-07-25T12:21:14Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > There may be a customs/immigration official waiting for them on the plane, but I sort of doubt it when dealing with kings and queens. Depending on their title(s), I assume that falls in the category of diplomatic immunity? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/24 "2023-07-25T14:04:52Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > If the agent is just glancing at your passports, he wouldn’t be able to tell if one of you had a warrant for your arrest. The % of people entering the country on a daily basis via private aircraft is a miniscule % of the total people entering the country via commercial aircraft and physically crossing a border. It’s about risk mitigation and applying appropriate tools where the greatest risk is. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/25 "2023-07-25T14:24:37Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Depending on their title(s), I assume that falls in the category of diplomatic immunity? I know the King of UK does not have to have a passport as he is the one that (theoretically) issues them in his name. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/26 "2023-07-25T17:26:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I know the King of UK does not have to have a passport as he is the one that (theoretically) issues them in his name. “You want to see my official passport? Someone fetch me a pen and paper and I’ll write one.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/27 "2023-07-25T18:06:48Z")
Cruise ships also deal with immigration/customs for everyone aboard for each place they stop. It’s (IME) taken care of at sea near, but not at, the docks. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/28 "2023-07-25T18:15:40Z")
Considering that some cruise ships have 4,000 + passengers, I’d imagine that this is quite the exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/29 "2023-07-25T19:01:47Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > “You want to see my official passport? Someone fetch me a pen and paper and I’ll write one.” Brilliant (meant in the Brit way). ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/30 "2023-07-25T19:03:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Cruise ships also deal with immigration/customs for everyone aboard for each place they stop. It’s (IME) taken care of at sea near, but not at, the docks. I had a question about that but I fear it would be a hijack. We went on an international cruise out of the US and arriving back in the US. I was ready with receipts and whatnot but there was no customs on arrival. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/31 "2023-07-25T19:22:32Z")
You don’t say: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nXw-vcfxO5A/maxresdefault.jpg "Chevalier!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXw-vcfxO5A) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/32 "2023-07-25T19:27:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Cruise ships also deal with immigration/customs for everyone aboard for each place they stop. It’s (IME) taken care of at sea near, but not at, the docks. Not my experience. Customs is handled flying back into the US. Passports are handled by the cruiseline and as long as you have your Cruise ID/Keycard you can get off the dock. The foreign country simply looks at it on entry. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/33 "2023-07-25T19:53:00Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Not my experience. Customs is handled flying back into the US. Passports are handled by the cruiseline and as long as you have your Cruise ID/Keycard you can get off the dock. The foreign country simply looks at it on entry. Apparently your cruise ship didn’t bring you back to the US. Mine did, and yes, customs was sorted out at the boat. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/34 "2023-07-25T19:55:49Z")
And in my cruise mentioned above arrived back in the US, there was no customs. And no customs aboard the ship. Not even a declarations page. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/35 "2023-07-25T22:03:28Z")
There is definitely customs at the cruise ship ports of San Francisco and Los Angeles, where I’ve disembarked several times. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/36 "2023-07-25T22:13:19Z")
What I was talking about was the harbor master (?) boating out to the ship and meeting with an officer aboard. They do paperwork involving the passengers and crew members. Until this is complete the ship cannot dock. If you are awake as the ship approaches an island (in the Caribbean), the ship stops dead in the water a few miles out. An official comes aboard and clears the ship for entry. Passengers are typically oblivious to this, but each individual aboard has (via paperwork) cleared the country’s customs. /hijack. Hehe. Hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/37 "2023-07-25T22:56:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > hijack. Hehe. Hijack. First time I’ve ever seen a kayaker hijack a cruise ship. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469/38 "2023-07-26T20:31:22Z")
I’ve seen his pic; he’s mighty fierce-looking. Big too. 😁 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-immigration-customs-work-for-private-jets/987469.md?page=1)