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Security & borders controls

Security & borders controls: key steps before boarding

Two mandatory steps must be completed before boarding: security inspection of the passenger and their carry-on baggage, and border control. Learn what to do and what items and products are prohibited to ensure you pass the security control before boarding.

Hand luggage and personal effects checks at our airports

All the information you need to get through security checks faster, including information on items prohibited in the cabin.

More information

Border controls

Get your documents ready to pass through security checks with complete peace of mind, and save time with the automated checks named PARAFE.

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Cabin baggage and personal effects controls

What do I need to check before passing the controls? before going through security control?

Travel documents

Before going through security control, make sure you have the right travel documents ready.

Items prohibited in the cabin

In order to save time at security control, check the list of authorised and prohibited hand luggage items.

We are travelling as a family

We have a special system for families: dedicated queues in some of our terminals, free educational games and books.

How do security checks work?

Step 1 Boarding pass
Present your passport and boarding pass.
Step 2 Baggage
Get ready to place your carry-on baggage and personal belongings in the trays provided.
Step 3 Yourself
Walk through the detector once invited to by the security staff.

Step 1 Boarding pass

Present your passport and boarding pass.

Step 2 Baggage

Get ready to place your carry-on baggage and personal belongings in the trays provided.

Step 3 Yourself

Walk through the detector once invited to by the security staff.

Anticipate security controls at our airports!

To save time, get ready to place your carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols in a closed clear bag (max 1 l) in the trays provided. Containers in excess will be confiscated and destroyed. Please note that you will need to remove the clear bag from your carry-on bag during the security inspection.
You will save a lot of time during this step.

IMPORTANT

"Urgence attentat" level of the Vigipirate plan has been activated in France. Security has been strengthened, and random checks may be performed by security personnel, in accordance with EU regulations. This may add to wait times when approaching the boarding area. Which is why we recommend getting an early start and arriving at the airport at least two hours before your flight departure time.

The French border crossing

All passengers have to go through border control when entering or exiting the Schengen Area, whether travelling by air, sea or land. Border checkpoints are supervised by border guards.

Their job includes:
- verify the authenticity of the travel documents presented.
- check national, European, and international databases.

Cross the border more easily and quickly with the automated “PARAFE” system

Paris Aéroport, in conjunction with the French government, has equipped all terminals at its Paris airports with the "PARAFE" airlock system. It is an airlock that enables passengers to cross borders and have their identity papers verified without assistance. This enables automated entry to and exit from the country and makes border controls more efficient. .

Am I eligible to use the PARAFE airlocks?

It's quite simple! To use our automated border control airlocks, you need only fulfil the 3 eligibility requirements:

Hold a biometric passport

Be over age 18 if departing from Paris or over 12 if arriving in Paris from a foreign country

Be a national of one of the eligible countries

Is my country is eligible?

To check whether your country is eligible for automated border control, just refer to the map and lists below:

Puce-Orange Countries eligible upon Departure and upon Arrival
Puce-Bleue Countries eligible upon Departure

The eligible countries, whether for arrivals or departures, include all the countries of the European Union, as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. You are also eligible if you are a national of one of the non-EU countries listed below:

Countries eligible upon arrival:

Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Peru, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, UK, United States.

Countries eligible upon departure:

Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Equator, Georgia, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Monaco, Morocco, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, East Timor, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Zimbabwe

What if I am not eligible for automated border control?

If your nationality is not on the above list, then your country is not eligible for automated border control. If this is the case, just take the usual passport control route and go to the Border Police, where an officer will meet you to check your documents.

What If your are travelling with family?

If you are travelling with children under the age of 18 when departing or under the age of 12 when arriving, please address one of the Border Police officers to be taken through the family checkpoint.

If I am eligible, how do I use the PARAFE airlocks?

Place yourself in front of the PARAFE airlock, making sure to remove any accessories you may be wearing (hat, glasses, mask, etc.)

Open your passport to the photo page, place it on the reader and enter the airlock when the doors open

Look straight ahead into the camera as requested on the screen and follow the instructions