- Lakeland Linder International Airport is classified as a User Fee Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As such, aircraft arriving from any foreign port in the western hemisphere located south of 33 degrees north latitude (Western US) or 30 degrees north latitude (Eastern US) must have an approved overflight exemption. Aircraft arriving from foreign ports in the western hemisphere located north of 33 degrees north latitude (Western US) or 30 degrees north latitude (Eastern US) (Canada, Iceland, Greenland) and the eastern hemisphere (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Islands of Oceania) do not require an approved overflight exemption.
- All aircraft must also obtain landing rights by notifying CBP via email at [email protected] or by phone at 863-647-4870 or 863-647-4871 (Lakeland Office) or 1-800-973-2867 (Tampa Sector) no later than 7:30pm the day prior to your planned arrival into Lakeland. In general, all operators will need to complete the following to obtain landing rights at Lakeland Linder International Airport.
- Aircraft operators can also apply for a Border Overflight Exemption through eApis at https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov.
- Private Aircraft User Fee compliance is required through the purchase of an annual CBP Private Aircraft User Fee decal via the CBP Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) at https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov.
- File your Aircraft Arrival Request (https://eapis.cbp.dhs.gov/eapis/auth)
- For general CBP questions (e-mail [email protected])
- The U.S. Customs Office at Lakeland Linder International Airport is open Thursday - Monday from 11:30am to 7:30pm. Please note that a US Customs Officer is not always present during those operating hours. Should you need assistance and the Lakeland office is closed, please contact Sector Communications at (800) 973-2867 and ask to speak with the Tampa Airport Duty Supervisor.
- Afterhours Fees: Aircraft arriving outside of the posted operating hours will be charged a $400 (USD) flat fee (inclusive of taxes and credit card fees). An Airport Operations representative will meet you at your aircraft once you have processed through U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect a credit card payment.
- For arrivals to the United States, after the transmission of the APIS manifest, pilots of GA aircraft must secure CBP permission to land through direct communication with the CBP port of arrival prior to departure from the foreign port or place. Pilots of GA aircraft seeking to arrive in the United States from a foreign port or place are responsible for securing permission to land after having successfully transmitted a compliant inbound APIS manifest. This may be achieved directly or through a third-party. For ALL international arrivals at ALL airports, pilots MUST contact the responsible CBP port of arrival directly to secure permission to land, better understand local operating procedures and requirements that may affect the flight and confirm compliance with local procedures and port capacities. If changes to an already transmitted APIS manifest are necessary, pilots of GA aircraft are responsible for updating CBP. Tail number changes and/or traveler additions or substitutions require updated or amended APIS transmissions and direct confirmation or reconfirmation of CBP permission to land. For additional information please visit https://www.cbp.gov/travel/general-aviation-processing.
- For a current list of restricted or prohibited items, acceptable travel documents and other information please visit https://www.cbp.gov/.
- Non-US Citizens needing electronic I-94 or ESTA information may obtain that information at https://www.cbp.gov/travel.
- Non-US Citizens needing to adjust their immigration status may contact US Citizenship and Immigration Services at https://www.uscis.gov/.