SFO Airport Immigration & Customs Wait Times
Typical passport-control wait at San Francisco International Airport is about 16 minutes. Based on U.S. CBP data from the last 90 days, through 2026-10-18 — updated daily, not live.
How long will customs take at SFO?
Most travelers landing around 5 AM on Sundays wait about 22 minutes at passport control; the slowest usually wait up to ~44 min.
Last Sunday (Oct 18): no international arrivals at 5 AM
Busiest around 5 AM (~22 min). Quietest around 12 AM (~6 min).
Wait-time data: U.S. Customs & Border Protection — Airport Wait Times. Averages over the last ~90 days, refreshed daily — not a live feed. Not affiliated with CBP.
Meeting someone at SFO? Find out when to leave
SFO Immigration at a Glance
💡 Tips for Clearing Customs Faster at SFO
- ✓ Apply for Global Entry — about 14% of travelers here already use it and clear passport control in minutes.
- ✓ Have your passport and any customs declaration filled out and ready before you reach the booth.
- ✓ Where available, the free Mobile Passport Control app can put you in a faster lane.
- ✓ Visitor (non-U.S.) lines run longer here — about 23 minutes vs. 11 for U.S. citizens.
- ✓ If you can pick your flight, avoid arrivals around 5 AM, the busiest hour for customs at SFO.
- ✓ Connecting to a domestic flight? Budget extra time — you must clear customs and re-check your bags before your next leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does customs and immigration take at SFO?
On average, passport control at San Francisco International Airport takes about 16 minutes, based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection data over the last 90 days. Waits are longest around 5 AM (typically ~25 minutes) and shortest around 12 AM. Actual times vary with the number of international arrivals and booths open.
When is the best time to clear immigration at SFO?
The quietest passport-control times at SFO are typically around 12 AM. The busiest window is around 5 AM (typically ~25 minutes), so if you can choose your arrival, avoid that hour. Pick your day and landing time in the planner above for the typical wait.
Is Global Entry worth it at SFO?
About 14% of arriving travelers at SFO already use Global Entry, which lets you skip the regular passport-control line and typically clear in a few minutes. If you fly internationally even a couple times a year, it usually pays for itself in time saved.
Are these SFO immigration wait times live?
No. These are historical averages from CBP's Airport Wait Times program, which publishes with about a two-day lag. This page is refreshed daily so the typical patterns and the most recent available day stay current, but the figures are not a real-time feed.
Wait-time data source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Airport Wait Times. Figures are historical averages, not live, and are for informational purposes only. Not affiliated with CBP.