Where To Find Customs at Atlanta Airport (ATL): A Local’s Guide to International Arrivals

If you’re flying into Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) from another country, you’ll go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the International Terminal – Concourse F. For most travelers, that’s the simple answer—but how you actually get there depends on where your flight arrives and whether Atlanta is your final stop or just a connection.

This guide walks you through exactly where customs is at Atlanta Airport, how the process works, and what to expect if you live in Atlanta, are visiting the city, or just connecting through.

Quick Overview: Where Is Customs at Atlanta Airport?

All international arrivals that require customs and immigration are processed in the International Terminal at ATL, primarily in:

• Concourse F – International Terminal
• Some flights may use Concourse E, but you are directed to the same customs and immigration processing area connected to the International Terminal.

Here’s the big picture:

Understanding ATL’s Layout: Domestic vs. International

Hartsfield–Jackson has two main terminal “sides”:

• Domestic Terminal (North & South) – for most U.S. flights
• Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F) – for most international departures and all international arrivals requiring customs

Key points:

• Customs and immigration are only for arrivals, not departures.
• If you’re landing from outside the U.S., you’ll be funneled to Concourse F’s CBP facility, even if your plane parks at Concourse E.
• If you’re flying out of Atlanta to another country, you usually clear customs when you land in that country, not in Atlanta.

Arriving Internationally: Step-by-Step to Customs at ATL

1. When Atlanta Is Your Final Destination

If you live in Atlanta or you’re staying here after your flight:

1. Land at ATL
   • Your plane may park at Concourse F (International Terminal) or sometimes Concourse E.
2. Follow signs for “Arrivals,” “Passport Control,” or “U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”
   • Signs will clearly guide you toward Immigration/CBP.
3. Immigration (Passport Control)
   • U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and visitors line up separately.
   • If you’re enrolled in Global Entry, look for the Global Entry kiosks or lanes.
4. Baggage Claim (International Arrivals)
   • After passport control, you’ll enter a dedicated international baggage area for arriving flights.
   • Collect all checked luggage before customs.
5. Customs Inspection
   • You’ll pass through U.S. Customs, where you may be asked about your trip, items you’re bringing in, and your declarations.
6. Exit into the International Terminal arrivals area
   • Once cleared, you enter the public arrivals hall of the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal.

From there, you can:

• Get picked up by car or rideshare
• Use MARTA (with a connection—more on that below)
• Use airport shuttles to go to the Domestic Terminal or parking lots

2. When You’re Connecting to Another U.S. City

If Atlanta is not your final stop and you’re catching a domestic flight after arriving from abroad, you still go through customs in Atlanta.

Your flow looks like this:

1. Land at ATL (Concourse F or E)
2. Follow signs to “Immigration” / “Passport Control.”
3. Clear immigration with CBP.
4. Pick up your checked bags at the international baggage claim.
5. Go through customs with luggage in hand.
6. Re-check your bags for your connecting flight
   • There are designated baggage re-check counters right after customs for onward U.S. flights.
   • Airline staff will direct you to the correct belt or desk.
7. Follow signs for “Connecting Flights”
   • You will be directed to the Plane Train or shuttle bus that connects to the domestic concourses (T, A–D) and Concourse E.
8. Clear security again at the domestic side if required
   • After being processed, you may go through TSA security again before accessing your next gate.

This process is standard for most passengers transiting through ATL from an international flight to a domestic one.

How to Get to the International Terminal (Concourse F)

Even though customs is only for arrivals, Atlanta residents and visitors often need to find the International Terminal to:

• Meet someone who just cleared customs
• Depart on an international flight
• Park closer to an international arrival

International Terminal – Address & Basic Info

Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F)
6000 N Terminal Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30320

This side of the airport has:

• CBP customs and immigration arrivals hall
• International baggage claim
• Ticket counters and TSA screening for many international departures

Reaching the International Terminal by Car

If you’re picking someone up after customs:

• Set your GPS for the International Terminal or “6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320.”
• Use the signs on I-75 or I-85 for “International Terminal”, which route you to the east side of the airport (separate from the Domestic Terminal).

There’s:

• Short-term parking near the International Terminal
• Designated passenger pickup lanes close to the arrivals hall

Meeting Someone Who Just Went Through Customs

If a friend or family member is arriving from an international flight and ending their trip in Atlanta, they will:

1. Land at ATL
2. Go through immigration and customs in Concourse F
3. Exit into the International Terminal arrivals area

For pickup:

• Plan to meet them at the International Terminal arrivals level, not the Domestic Terminal.
• Make sure they know:
  • They must clear customs before they see you.
  • It can take some time depending on how many flights arrive around the same time.

If they are connecting to another U.S. city, they may not come out into the public arrivals hall at all; instead, they’ll go back into the secure side to catch their next flight.

Domestic Flights vs. International Flights: When You Use Customs

To avoid confusion, here’s what does and does not involve customs at ATL:

You Will Go Through Customs at ATL If:

• You arrive in Atlanta on a flight directly from another country and:
  • Atlanta is your final destination, or
  • You’re connecting to another U.S. city.

Common examples for Atlanta residents/visitors:

• Coming home from Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, or Africa directly into ATL
• Visiting Atlanta from abroad and landing here for the first time in the U.S.

You Will NOT Go Through Customs at ATL If:

• You are only flying domestically, even if your final trip overall is international.
• You are departing from Atlanta to another country; CBP customs happens when you arrive in that country, not when you leave Atlanta.
• You are coming from another U.S. city where you already went through customs there before connecting to ATL (for example, connecting through another U.S. gateway first).

Customs vs. TSA Security: Different Locations, Different Purposes

It’s easy to mix up customs with TSA security, especially at a busy airport like ATL.

• TSA (Transportation Security Administration)

  • Handles security screening of passengers and carry-on bags before boarding.
  • Located at the Domestic Terminal (North and South) and at the International Terminal for departing passengers.
  • You go through TSA before you fly out, not when you land.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • Handles immigration (passport control) and customs checks for international arrivals.
  • Located at the International Terminal arrivals area (Concourse F) at ATL.
  • You go through CBP after you land from outside the U.S.

If you’re simply catching a regular domestic flight from Atlanta (for example, ATL to New York or Los Angeles), you do not use customs—you only pass through TSA security on departure.

Helpful Tips for Clearing Customs at Atlanta Airport

A few practical pointers that locals and frequent international travelers through ATL often keep in mind:

• Have documents ready early
  • Keep your passport, immigration forms (if required), and any supporting documents easily accessible as you exit the plane.
• Use Global Entry if you qualify
  • If you’re a frequent international traveler and enrolled in Global Entry, look for the dedicated kiosks or lanes to speed up immigration.
• Declare items accurately
  • Be honest about food, alcohol, tobacco, and other goods you’re bringing into the U.S. to avoid issues during customs inspection.
• Plan extra time for connections
  • If you’re connecting through Atlanta, build in enough layover time to:
    • Clear immigration
    • Collect and re-check bags
    • Go through security again if needed
    • Reach your next gate
• Know where to wait if you’re a pickup driver
  • Traffic can be tight around both the Domestic and International Terminals. Use short-term parking if you want to meet someone in the arrivals hall after they exit customs.

Getting From Customs to Downtown Atlanta and Beyond

Once you’ve cleared customs and stepped into the International Terminal arrivals hall, you have several options to get into the city or other parts of metro Atlanta.

1. Airport Shuttle to Domestic Terminal and MARTA

The MARTA rail station is at the Domestic Terminal (West side), not directly at the International Terminal.

To reach MARTA from customs:

1. Exit into the International Terminal arrivals area.
2. Follow signs for Airport Shuttle to Domestic Terminal.
3. Take the shuttle to the Domestic Terminal / Ground Transportation Center.
4. Walk to the MARTA Airport Station.
5. Take the Red or Gold line northbound toward downtown and midtown.

This is often the most straightforward option for:

• Visitors staying in Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead
• Locals returning home along MARTA corridors

2. Rideshare, Taxi, or Prearranged Car

After customs:

• Follow signs for Ground Transportation at the International Terminal.
• You’ll find:
  • Taxi stands
  • Rideshare pickup areas (for services like Uber and Lyft)
  • Lanes for limos and pre-booked car services

This is ideal if:

• You have heavy luggage
• You’re heading to areas not served well by MARTA
• You’re arriving late at night

Can You Contact Customs at Atlanta Airport?

If you have specific questions about bringing items into the U.S., customs declarations, or special situations, those are handled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which operates the customs and immigration facilities at ATL.

While individual phone numbers may change, you can:

• Look for “U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Atlanta, GA” for general contact options.
• Visit CBP’s public information lines or contact CBP through their official channels for guidance on:
  • What you can bring into the U.S.
  • Rules for currency, food, plants, or animals
  • Entry documentation requirements

For most routine travel questions (like “Where is customs?” or “Which terminal do I use?”), airport information desks at ATL and posted signage inside the terminals can also help once you’re on-site.

By focusing on the International Terminal – Concourse F as your reference point, you’ll know exactly where customs is at Atlanta Airport and what to expect whether you’re coming home to Atlanta, visiting the city for the first time, or passing through on your way to another U.S. destination.