Do Private Jets Go Through Customs? NJ Flyer Guide

Private aviation can make international travel feel remarkably straightforward. You arrive at the airport, step into the aircraft, settle into your seat, and eventually find yourself somewhere much farther from home. But crossing an international border by private aircraft still involves customs and immigration requirements. The difference is that the process looks different from what most travelers experience at a major commercial airport.

So, do private jets go through customs? Yes. Private aircraft traveling internationally must comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements, including Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) manifest requirements. For private aviation, the pilot or aircraft operator, not an individual passenger, is responsible for transmitting the required manifest information.

If you’re flying internationally from or to New Jersey, understanding the process before departure can make the experience much smoother. 

What Is the eAPIS Manifest and Who Has to File It?

First, it’s helpful to distinguish between APIS and eAPIS.

APIS stands for Advance Passenger Information System. CBP requires APIS manifest transmissions for private aircraft arriving into and departing from the United States. eAPIS is the CBP web portal that private flyers can use to submit that information electronically.

The manifest includes information about the aircraft and the people traveling aboard it. And here’s an important point for passengers: you generally aren’t the person filing the eAPIS manifest. The private aircraft pilot or operator is responsible for transmitting the required information to CBP. CBP’s private-air APIS guidance specifically identifies private aircraft pilots or their designees as the parties responsible for submission.

That doesn’t mean passengers have nothing to do. Passengers need to provide the operator with accurate information and appropriate travel documents in time for the operator to complete the required filings. A typo in a passport number or other traveler information can create an unnecessary headache, so accuracy matters.

Timing Rules: The One-Hour Manifest Requirement

This is one of the details international private flyers should not overlook.

For private aircraft, CBP requires the applicable APIS manifest to be transmitted no later than 60 minutes before departure. Current CBP materials state that private aircraft pilots must submit the required advance arrival or departure manifest information through an approved electronic data interchange system, with the 60-minute requirement applying to the relevant international departure. The takeaway: Don’t treat the 60-minute requirement as a target departure countdown. Build the manifest process into your preflight planning to allow everyone more time. 

Flying Private Internationally: Requirements and Documents to Have Ready

International travel requires more preparation than a domestic flight, even when you’re traveling privately. Before departure, passengers should be prepared to provide the aircraft operator with the information needed for the APIS submission. Travelers should also have valid passports and any visas or other entry documents required by their destination. Depending on the country you’re visiting, additional requirements may apply. Some destinations have specific rules involving visas, customs declarations, agricultural restrictions, or other documentation.

Private Aircraft Customs Clearance Process: CBP and User Fee Decals

Once you arrive in the United States, the aircraft and people aboard it must go through the applicable CBP inspection process. CBP officers review the information transmitted through APIS and process the aircraft and travelers at the port of entry. CBP explains that travelers arriving in the United States generally clear customs at their first U.S. port of entry.

For private aircraft, clearance is a coordinated process involving the aircraft operator, CBP, and the airport or port of entry. There is also an important financial and administrative requirement for private aircraft owners: the Private Aircraft User Fee Decal.

CBP Decal Requirements for Private Aircraft Owners

CBP requires private aircraft arriving in the United States to have the appropriate annual user fee decal, or otherwise comply with the applicable per-arrival fee requirements. CBP’s current information explains that decals serve as evidence that the annual U.S. entry user fee has been paid.

Because fees and procedures can change, aircraft owners should check the current information directly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and use the DTOPS system for current decal and payment information rather than relying on an outdated fee amount.

What Happens When You Return to New Jersey?

Let’s say you’re flying home to New Jersey after an international trip. You can’t simply land at your local airport and skip the customs process. Your international arrival must be planned around an airport where CBP processing is available, unless a specific applicable arrangement says otherwise. Once CBP clearance is completed, you can continue on to your final domestic destination.

At Monmouth Jet Center, we provide aviation and FBO services for private aircraft, pilots, passengers, and Part 135 operators. Whether you’re planning a domestic business trip or preparing for an international private flight, thoughtful planning starts well before you reach the runway. We take the time to ensure our private jet passengers are well informed of the customs, so you can reach your destination without stress and on schedule. 

Contact our team or visit our website to learn more about flying your private jet with us: https://monmouthjetcenter.com/