Both border tools run on your phone, so a working data connection on arrival is a practical backup. An eSIM installed before you fly is one way to have it. North America eSIM mobile data for Mobile Passport Control and ArriveCAN is a preparation step, not an entry requirement.
Whether you can use either tool at your airport, and what it needs from your phone, must be confirmed on the official pages. Rules and airport participation change, and this guide cannot confirm them for your trip. Below you will find what each tool is, what to save before departure, and why your physical passport stays essential.
What Mobile Passport Control and ArriveCAN Advance Declaration do
Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a phone app from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It is designed to let eligible travelers handle some arrival steps on their phones. Eligibility, supported locations and features can change, so check the current app listing and CBP pages.
CBP has published a news release about Mobile Passport Control changes. Treat it as a general announcement to read. It does not replace the current rules, so confirm details in the official app.
Advance Declaration is a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) feature offered through ArriveCAN. To see which travelers and airports it applies to, start with the CBSA's border technology overview and its border technology menu.
Visas, ESTA, eTA and similar authorizations are separate matters. Confirm those on official government sites, because they change often.
Do you need North America eSIM mobile data for Mobile Passport Control and ArriveCAN?
This guide does not treat either tool as an entry requirement. Whether a given step needs a connection depends on the app and its current instructions, so read those before you fly. Mobile data simply gives you a way to follow them if you are not on Wi-Fi.
The table below is a checklist of what to confirm, not a statement of current rules.
| What to check | Mobile Passport Control (U.S.) | Advance Declaration in ArriveCAN (Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | Canada Border Services Agency |
| Is it open to you? | Check eligibility in the official app and on CBP pages | Check eligibility on the CBSA pages |
| Is your airport included? | Check the current list of supported locations | Check the current list of participating airports |
| What can be done at home? | See what the app lets you enter before travel | See what the CBSA pages say about timing |
| What to save offline | Passport number, flight number, first-night address | Passport number, flight number, first-night address |
Can you rely on airport Wi-Fi at arrival?
You can try, but this guide does not assume any airport offers it. Wi-Fi may be slow, ask for a sign-in, or be out of range where you queue. Availability varies by airport.
Mobile data on your own phone removes that uncertainty. It also helps with other arrival tasks, such as opening a map, messaging a ride or contacting your hotel.
Completing a profile vs. submitting arrival information
These are two separate jobs. Completing a profile means entering basics such as your name and passport details. Submitting arrival information means answering the border questions for this specific trip.
The profile is the part you may be able to finish at home, where Wi-Fi is reliable. Whether arrival information can be submitted early depends on the tool and its current rules. Read the app's own instructions rather than assuming either way.
Install eSIM before departure: what to download and save
- Check the official pages. Confirm your arrival airport participates and that you are eligible. Use the CBP and CBSA links above, not a third-party summary.
- Confirm your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. Run it through the eSIM device compatibility checker before you buy anything.
- Install the eSIM before departure, on Wi-Fi. You need a connection to add the plan. Our guide on whether to install your eSIM before travel explains validity timing.
- Download any official app from its official store listing. Enter passport details from your physical passport and check the spelling.
- Save key details offline. Screenshot confirmations, your first-night address and your flight number. Keep them in your photos or notes app.
- Pack your physical passport in hand luggage. Do not leave it in checked bags.
- On arrival, switch the travel eSIM line on. Then follow the app's prompts. If the connection does not start, our guide to fixing an eSIM that is not working after landing walks through quick fixes.
- If something does not load, follow officer and signage instructions. Staff can tell you what to do next.
Why your physical passport still matters
Treat any app as a helper for your arrival, not a replacement for your passport. Border officers decide what they need to see. Keep your passport and any entry documents within reach, and follow their instructions.
A dead battery or a lost connection should not leave you without the basics. Charge your phone before landing, and consider a power bank.
How to set up a travel eSIM line for arrival day on iPhone and Android
Do this before you leave, while you are on Wi-Fi. Menu names vary by phone model and software version, so use your phone maker's help pages if your screen looks different.
iPhone
- Open Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Service, depending on your software).
- Select the travel eSIM plan and make sure the line is turned on when you are ready to use it.
- Choose the travel eSIM as the line for cellular (mobile) data.
- Open that line's settings and enable data roaming for the travel eSIM line only.
Android
- Open Settings > Connections (or Settings > Network & internet) and find your SIM settings.
- Make sure the travel eSIM is switched on.
- Set it as the SIM used for mobile data.
- Open that SIM's settings and enable data roaming for the travel eSIM only.
To keep your home number for calls and texts, leave that line on but keep data roaming off for it. Our guide on which line should have data roaming on covers the details.
Does the plan start when you install it or when you land?
It depends on the plan. Some plans start their validity period when the eSIM is installed. Others start on the first connection in the destination.
Do not assume one rule. Read the validity terms on the plan page before you buy, and plan your install date around them.
How much data do you need for arrival day?
We have no measured figure for how much data the border apps use, so check each app's own notes. Much of your arrival-day use is likely to come from maps, messages and rides after you leave the airport.
The figures below are rough illustrative estimates. They are not tied to any source or test. Real use varies by app, video quality and settings. Your phone's own usage stats, under Settings > Cellular or Mobile Service on iPhone, or Settings > Connections or Network & internet on Android, show what you actually use.
| Activity | Rough data per hour (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Messaging (text and photos) | About 5-30 MB |
| Maps and navigation | About 5-20 MB |
| Social media browsing | About 60-150 MB |
| Video calls | About 300-800 MB |
| Video streaming | About 500 MB-3 GB, depending on quality |
A short stop with maps and messaging needs far less than a trip with daily video calls.
Which eSIM for USA and Canada fits your trip?
If you visit only one country, compare United States eSIM plans or Canada eSIM plans. If you cross the border, browse North America eSIM plans instead.
Before you choose, check these items on the plan page:
- The list of covered countries. Make sure both the U.S. and Canada appear if you will visit both.
- Whether the plan is data-only or also includes voice or SMS.
- Whether hotspot sharing and top-ups are allowed. These differ by plan.
- How long the plan lasts and when validity starts.
Prices and options change, so rely on the live plan page. Speeds and coverage are not guaranteed, especially in remote areas.
Arrival-data checklist
- Phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked.
- Travel eSIM installed over Wi-Fi before departure.
- Travel eSIM set for mobile data, with data roaming on for that line only.
- Official app downloaded and profile completed, if you choose to use it and are eligible.
- Screenshots of confirmations, accommodation address and flight details saved offline.
- Physical passport and any required entry documents in hand luggage.
- Phone charged, or a power bank packed.
- A plan to follow officer and signage instructions if an app or connection does not work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need mobile data to use Mobile Passport Control?
A connection may help with some steps, but check the current CBP app for its own instructions. Which steps can be done early depends on the app and its rules. Mobile data is a backup, not a stated requirement in this guide.
Is ArriveCAN Advance Declaration required to enter Canada?
This guide does not present it as an entry requirement. Eligibility and airport availability can change, so check the CBSA pages for current details. On arrival, follow officer and signage instructions.
Can I rely on airport Wi-Fi instead of an eSIM?
You can try, but availability, speed and sign-in steps vary by airport. Having mobile data ready gives you a fallback if Wi-Fi is weak or out of range.
Do the apps replace my physical passport?
Plan to carry your physical passport regardless. Officers decide what they need to see, so keep your passport and other entry documents in hand luggage and follow their instructions.
Should I install my eSIM before leaving home?
Usually, yes. Installing over Wi-Fi before departure means you do not depend on airport Wi-Fi to set it up. Check the plan page, because some plans start validity at install and others on first connection.
Can I use one eSIM in both the U.S. and Canada?
Some plans cover both countries and others cover one. Check the countries listed in the plan details before you buy.
