Going through Customs for the first time - what to expect
We have made it to Osaka Japan. It was a long flight, my knees ached, but I did get hours of interrupted reading, which was rare for me.
My husband, Mark, had filled out the customs paperwork as we stood in the Japanese Customs line. He decided guessing on the name of the hotel where we were staying, and only roughly providing the address would be okay.
It was not.
I was first in line to address the Customs official for the two of us and was held up for about 15 minutes as the officer tried to sort out our paperwork. He was not happy with the lack of accuracy in our documents.
He spoke minimal English, and I spoke minimal Japanese. Paper copies of our conference registration and hotel reservation saved the day, but there were still a lot of questions. At some point I figured out that he was essentially trying to ask, “Who’s the idiot that filled out your forms?”. Once I figured out his question, I pointed to my husband, still in line, cluelessly smiling with a big hearty grin and waving at us. The customs officer looked from Mark to me, shook his head smiling, and pointed to the declaration form and said “Next time, ah…you do.”
Travel is one of those things you have to learn, especially international travel. Mark had only been to Canada when I met him. I’ve had the pleasure of giving him the world and have had the patience to let him learn how. Today’s lesson was, repeat after me, “Don’t guess the names of places on your Customs forms!”
Tips for going through Customs for the first time:
Biggest tip: Pack a pen in your hand luggage!
“Customs” is short hand for process of legally allowing you entry into another country. If you need a passport to visit the country, you will be going through Customs. This is usually another check point in the airport/cruise ship/border crossing station process. If you’ve gone through a TSA security check point as part of air travel in the US, the Customs process it will be very similar. You need to fill out some documents, you need your ID, you stand in line (sometimes a big one) and then you have a short interaction with a Customs offial. Your luggage may or may not be inspected. Once you have ‘cleared Customs’ your passort will be stamped with your entry permission which signals anyone looking at your passport that you are officially a guest in the country. Sometimes the Customs room and process can look intimidating. Security forces in many other countries are armed with military style weaponry. Asking a machine gun wielding guard for information can seem intimidating, but look past the weaponry, they are present for your protection and want you to get through the process without drama.
Know the Customs Regulations before you go: Research and understand the customs regulations of the country you are entering. Different countries have different rules about what you can and cannot bring in. Check the official customs website of the country for up-to-date information. Search, “Items not allowed in [county name].” The list will always include weapons, certain medications, and possible certain food, or agricultural items. Sometime these items can be a head scratcher, but don’t EVER think, “I’m sure it will be fine to bring this.”
Complete Your Customs Declaration Form: Most countries require travelers to fill out a Customs declaration form (link to US sample form). It’s pretty basic, but each country will have a different format and unique key questions. You will always be asked for your home address, some sort of personal identification numbers, where you will be staying, and how long you will be visiting and then ‘items to declare’. Be honest and accurate when declaring items. Most tourists type travelers will have nothing to declare. If you're unsure about what to declare do a bit of internet searching ahead of time. Large amounts of cash are often considered a declarable item (amounts vary by country). Expensive purchases you made in country are also of note. If you are traveling and intend to buy something expensive on your trip (Like greater than $1000) do your research on what the ‘Duty and Tax’ implications could possible be for your large purchased items.
Some times the airline you are flying with hand Customs forms out during the landing process. Fill them out as soon as possible. When you get shuffled into the Customs hall there will not be tables to sit at, or pens, or really anything to assist the form filling process. If you weren’t able to fill out the form on the plane, you will be doing on your travel companions back, or a wall.
If you brought your own pen (tip #1), you will be the most popular person in line.
Some modern Customs control points have moved to computerized kiosks. This speeds things up a bit, and takes some of the frenzy out of the scene.Keep Important Documents Handy: Keep your passport, visa, and any other travel documents easily accessible. You'll need them when you reach the customs desk.
Arrive Early: Customs lines can be long, especially during peak travel times. Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare, especially if you have a connecting flight.
Don't Bring Restricted Items: Leave prohibited or restricted items at home. This includes items like firearms, certain types of food, or illegal drugs. Note: Some RX drugs legal in US are illegal in other countries. For instance, many ADHD drugs are illegal in Japan. CBD, while considered benign in the US, is restricted in other counties.
Follow the Red/Green lines: In many customs areas, there are separate channels for travelers. Green typically means you have nothing to declare, while red means you have items to declare. Follow the appropriate channel based on your situation. Green is faster :)
Stay Calm and Courteous: When interacting with customs officers, remain calm, polite, and cooperative. It’s likely that you will be sore and tired from your plane ride, but put your most adults foot forward. Answer their questions truthfully and to the best of your ability. There will often be a language barrier. Patience is paramount.
Again, be Patient: Customs lines can be slow, and you might have to wait. Be patient and keep in mind that customs officers are doing their job to maintain security and enforce regulations.
Learn Basic Phrases: If you're traveling to a country where you don't speak the language, learn some basic customs-related phrases to help with communication.
Prepare for Inspection: Customs officers may randomly select travelers for inspection. Be prepared for your luggage to be opened and inspected. Pack your bags neatly and keep similar items together. This will make it easier for customs officers to inspect your belongings if necessary. Don’t put yourself in a situation where your dirty underwear will be thrown out for all to see.
Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with your rights as a traveler. Customs officers should treat you with respect, and you have the right to ask questions or request a supervisor if you encounter any issues.
Seek Assistance if needed: If you're unsure about any aspect of the customs process, don't hesitate to ask a customs officer or an airport staff member for assistance. They may be carrying a machine gun, but there are there to help.
Pro Tip: If you are transferring from one flight to another, and your transfer location is a foreign airport, you will be going through Customs in that country as well, even though you will not be staying. This can be nerve wracking, confusing, and long…. The airport often has ‘facilitators’ stationed in these areas who pay attention to the flights that are leaving soonest. Keep your ears open for your connecting flight being yelled out. If your departure time is close, and you hears your flight being called, get your hand up in the air, and they will extract you from the line and move you to the front of the line. This kind of attention and personnel are NOT always the rule. Sometimes you are in a line from hell and no one cares if you missed your flight. If you think you will not make your flight, mention it to someone (without getting out of line), and if you can’t find someone, start doing some searching to find the next available flight. That way once you arrive (late) to your gate, you will be informed as to the options. Being the ‘easy’ people will get you better service. The hoard of other late, and angry, people who were in line with you will take time to sort out. Be the easy people.
