What you need to know about going through international travel customs with kids

To some parents, the thought of navigating immigrations and customs with kids is intimidating. For some, the first experience in customs will be during a trip to Mexico, or Canada. For all of us, it can be tiring, especially after a long travel day (or night). But by knowing what to expect (and having the forms and documents you need) going through travel customs with kids can be a breeze. Here’s what you need to know:

going-through-customs-with-kids

1. Finding customs will be easy.

To frequent travelers, this may be obvious, but I’ve been asked by several parents how they’ll know where customs is. The answer: you can’t miss it. Airport security won’t let you. Once you deplane, the only way to go will be through immigrations and customs (through an international arrivals terminal). On the way, don’t delay, if you can help it. There are usually restrooms just before you enter the customs line, but if everyone’s good to go, it’s best to keep moving to avoid a long line.

2. You’ll go through Passport Control/Immigration first.

Get in the line that applies to you (foreign citizen or American citizen, depending on where you are and who you are). Have your customs declaration form ready (one per family, given to you on the plane), plus everyone’s passports. Keep your cell phone off, and pay attention to when it’s your turn. Keep all carry-on luggage with you (just as you would elsewhere in the airport).

When it’s your turn, hand the immigration agent all the passports and the customs declaration form, and be ready to answer some basic questions, such as why you’re in the country, how long you’ll be there, and where you’re staying. The agent may ask questions of your children, as well. He or she will give you the customs declaration form back.

3. Head next to pick up your bags (if you have any).

Again, you won’t be able to miss this step. On the other side of immigration, the baggage carousels will be waiting. Get your bags before heading to customs. If your bag is delayed (bummer!) be sure to have your baggage claim form handy. You will have to pick up your bags whether or not you’re in your final destination. If you’re connecting to another flight, get the bags, go through customs (explained below), then follow signs to ‘connecting flights’ or ‘luggage drop off’.

4. Go through customs.

Get in the proper line (do have something to declare, do not) and turn in your customs declaration form. Declare everything you might have bought in the country, including duty-free items. Our souvenirs never add up to much, and we’re always waved through without much fanfare.

5. Head out and connect with your next flight or ground transportation!

That wasn’t so bad, was it?

If you’re traveling without your children’s other parent:

Learn from my mistakes, because this is where we’ve hit a snag. If you share custody of your children (either in a custody arrangement or as married parents), but you’re traveling without the other parents, you MUST have a signed letter stating that you have permission to take your children out of the country. If possible, get it notarized. We were delayed and ‘interrogated’ (using that term loosely) when I neglected to have a letter from my spouse on a recent trip to Canada.

If your teen is traveling alone:

In addition to his or her passport and customs declaration form, any teen traveling without a parent or guardian should also have a notarized letter from both parents (if both have custody) explaining his or her purpose in the country. He or she should also have a document with the names, addressees, and phone numbers of whomever he or she is meeting in the country. We also send our son with a photocopy of his passport, carried in a different bag on his person.

Will your child be flying as an unaccompanied minor? Read our tips for kids flying solo.

Photo credit: J Aaron Farr

Logan International Airport

If you find yourself weather delayed or otherwise engaged in the waiting game with your kids this winter at Logan International Airport in Boston, MA, a respite by the name of KidPort can be found in Terminal A. This large play area is located next to Alaska and Delta airlines, it spans between gates 13-22. There’s also a food court, shops and restrooms nearby. The floor is that soft spongy stuff parents love, and there are lots of big, foam climbing structures. In fact, it’s probably the best play area I’ve seen!

Date last visited: January 2011

Hours and admission: Open ’round the clock!

Directions: View a map of the airport here.

Find an airport play space where you’ll be traveling!

Copenhagen Airport

Copenhagan kids' space

The reviewer's daughter in Copenhagen's family space.

If you find yourself with time to kill with a baby, toddler, or child at Copenhagen Airport (International) this busy family travel season, an oasis awaits on the upper level overlooking the food court. (The only caveat is the lack of an elevator, so if you’re traveling with a stroller, be prepared to carry it.) Inside, your kids can expend some energy with the giant-sized Lego blocks, explore the play space, or relax watching TV (our reviewer reports Dora the Explorer on a constant loop)!

Date last visited: August 2010

Hours and admission: Open ’round the clock!

Directions: View a map of the play space here. (It’s marked as area 6.)

Find an airport play space where you’ll be traveling!

Portland International Airport (PDX)

We’re back again with another great airport find! Portland International Airport (PDX) has a large play area in Terminal C, right past a food court with plenty of food options. You’ll see a fairly large play structure, plus activity panels for younger kids and lots of seating for grown-ups.

pdx-play-area

Theres another in the main terminal, but there’s a catch: Reviewer Julie Hagstrom writes, “It is just BEFORE you go through the big line for security and where passengers come out to meet people so if you are going to meet anyone at the airport and their plane is delayed the kids can play while you wait! If you are the traveler, you would play here only if you had plenty of time to go through security and get to your gate.”

It has a large climbing/sliding structure and other smaller toys to explore (great for toddler eye-level). Just be sure you have plenty of time to get through security before you get too comfortable here.

Date last visited: April 2016

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open whenever the terminal is open.

Bathrooms: Nearby.

Food Services: Just on the other side of security, you can find Panda Express, several pizza places, and a Jamba Juice. (Wendy’s and Starbucks aren’t far away, too!)

Website: http://www.portofportland.com/PDX_home.aspx

Terminal Map: http://www.portofportland.com/PDX_Terminal_Map.aspx

 

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

Photo courtesy of MSP International

Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport

Travelers through Minneapolis-St Paul are lucky enough to have not one, but two airport play spaces available to them (although we all know the truly lucky depart on their planes without any airport waiting with small kids at all!). Both play spaces feature a great play area with a huge plane, slide, and climbing area in addition to an air traffic control tower and beautiful murals of the Minneapolis skyline. The first is located by gate C12 (right by the tram stop to the other concourses). There is an A&W, Godfather’s Pizza and bookstore right next to it. If you have over an hour to kill in this airport it is definitely worth seeking it out.

The second play space is located on Level 2, inside security, at the Humphrey Terminal and includes a giant suitcase designed to educate young and (parental) travelers alike.

Date last visited: February 2010

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open during concourse hours.

Bathrooms: Nearby. Also: a Nursing Mothers Room is located at the Lindbergh Terminal on Concourse C near the play space. To obtain access, nursing moms should go to the Travelers Assistance desk across from Gate C12. The assistant will provide you access to the room, located at the north end of the Concourse Connector above the C rotunda food court and near the elevators.

Food Services: Several choices (see description above).

Website: http://www.mspairport.com/

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas, TX

If you find yourself with a few anticipated (or not anticipated) hours to kill in an airport, you could do much worse than Dallas-Fort Worth International. For starters, DFW’s Sky Link rail system makes moving from terminal to terminal a breeze (and commutes within the same terminal take only a minute or two). In Terminal B, you’ll find the Pepsi Junior Flyer’s Club, a 685-square-foot aviation-themed play area complete with a padded floor, raodway, bridge, car, plane, and air and traffic control tower. (Two other, smaller, clubs exist in Terminals C and D.)

DFW's Sky Link transit system

DFW’s Sky Link transit system

Date last visited: December 2009

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open whenever the terminals are open. Non-supervised.

Bathrooms: Nearby.

Food Services: Within the four terminals at DFW are no fewer than six McDonald’s restaurants. That’s not newsworthy, but this is: the one in Terminal D (and perhaps others) is equipped with video games such as Mario Kart, a soccer game, a Harry Potter game, and a version of Mario’s Yoshi games. The best part? They’re FREE.

Website: http://dfwairport.com/

If anyone has visited the Junior Flyer’s Club recently and has a photo to share, please let us know!

Salt Lake City International Airport

Why airport play spaces are so poorly publicized, I have no idea, but more often than not, parents simply have to stumble upon them (if they’re lucky). Sarah of Musings of Mother Hood was one of those lucky few while enduring a three-hour layover at Salt Lake City International Airport with her baby. God bless the Salt Lake City airport,” she wrote. “This little play area was right outside our gate and I honestly don’t know that we would all have made it through three of the longest hours of our lives without it.

The reviewer's son explores a play space at SLC International. Courtesy of Musings of Mother Hood.

The reviewer’s son explores a play space at SLC International. Courtesy of Musings of Mother Hood.

In fact, Salt Lake City International has three play spaces, although you’d never know it by browsing their website maps. They’re located on Concourses A, B, and E, one of which doubles as an arts-and-crafts corner, providing easels and chalkboards. The others, such as the one Sarah encountered, feature plastic foam cars and airplanes, plastic play structures, and even a fairy tale playhouse.

Date last visited: March 2009

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open 24 hours, non-staffed.

Food Services: The usual airport fare is located nearby each play space, including Krispy Kreme, California Pizza Kitchen, and Burger King.

Website: http://www.slcairport.com/

Airport Maps: http://www.slcairport.com/airport_maps.html

Find more airport play spaces by clicking on our Airport tab!

Logan International Airport

Logan's KidPort Play Area

Logan’s KidPort Play Area

Boston, Massachusetts

If you find yourself flying this holiday season, a layover in Boston wouldn‘t be the worst luck in the world. Logan International Airport’s KidPort is a kid’s paradise, conveniently located in the Terminal C departure area. Sponsored by Boston Children’s Museum, this is much more than a play area; it’s a hand’s-on learning experience. Of course, after being cooped up on a plane and in waiting areas for hours, your kids (and you) won’t care as much about that as they do about the chance to burn some energy. They can check out the kid-geared exhibit on airline travel and play on the airplane and baggage claim slides. There’s also a control tower exhibit and “What’s Outside?“ window display. If you’re bored, stretch your mind at the magnetic poetry wall. And infants and toddlers have a separate play area of their own.

Worth noting: There is a smaller version of Kidport located in the Satelite Building by Gate A18.

Date last visited: June 2009

Hours and Admission Prices: Free and unsupervised; open at all hours.

Food Services: Several food options are available in the terminal, including a panini restaurant and a pizza place.

Website: http://www.massport.com/logan/default.aspx

Prague Airport (Ruzyne International)

K leti¡ti street 1019/6,
161 00 Praha, Czech Republic

When it comes to airport play areas, Europe sure gets it right. Prague Airport (Ruzyne Intl.) is no exception. In the center of section G4, you’ll find this:

Prague Airport play structure for ages 1-3

Prague Airport play structure for ages 1-3

It was a lifesaver for reviewer Laura Carvajal when waiting out a five hour layover with her preschool-aged daughter this week. Set in the middle of the hallway, the play structure is divided into two sections by age. The one for older kids includes obstacles and multiple levels that lead to a big slide, taking kids back to the bottom to start the cycle again…and again!

Important to Note: For some reason, this play area is not marked anywhere on airport maps. Trust us, it’s there!

The reviewer's daughter burns some energy!

The reviewer’s daughter burns some energy!

Date last visited: December 2009

Hours and Admission Prices: Free

Bathrooms: Nearby

Food Services: Many food options are located in the terminal (including McDonald’s and KFC).

Website: http://www.pragueairport.co.uk/

 

Zurich International Airport

Zurich, Switzerland

The reviewer's daughter takes a break from flying. Would you believe she's in an airport?

The reviewer’s daughter takes a break from flying. Would you believe she’s in an airport?

The Zurich/Kloten International Airport is one of the few in the world to offer staffed nursery and play centers for their youngest fliers. Called “family services”, the two playspaces are located in Transit A, between the transfer desk and special assistance desk, and in Ground 1, right past security clearance next to the entrance to gates 6069 (Dock E, level 3, above gate E45).

A Play Station to entertain older kids...and dads.

A Play Station to entertain older kids…and dads.

Says reviewer Laura Carvajal, This (playspace) is much simpler than the Madrid one but wonderful nonetheless. It’s basically one large area with everything you’ll need for the infant-toddler range. There are changing tables (free diapers in the drawers below) and also a kitchen area with plates, utensils, a microwave…very well equipped!”

Plenty of room to stretch little legs!

Plenty of room to stretch little legs!

Date last visited: August 2009

Hours and Admission Prices: Free, and open every day. Transit As hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Dock Es hours are 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (April to end of October, until 8 p.m.)

Website: http://www.zurich-airport.com/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-151