Arrivals at JFK could soon be much faster. The New Terminal One, a large international terminal under construction on the airport’s south side, plans to introduce a biometric fast lane for incoming passengers, designed to reduce passport-control wait times to just seconds for many travelers. Officials say the feature will debut with the terminal’s first phase, expected to open later in 2026.
In a press release, iProov and the New Terminal One announced a partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to bring Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) to the arrivals hall. According to the companies, EPP will match eligible U.S. citizens’ live images to passport photos already on file so they can be cleared in a matter of seconds, without any pre-enrollment or fee, and with the ability to opt out. "Travelers are crossing the border in a few seconds, without needing to wait in long lines or fumble for documentation," iProov CEO Andrew Bud said in the release.
How the biometric fast lane functions
Enhanced Passenger Processing relies on auto-capture cameras and facial-comparison software to check a traveler’s live image against passport photos held by CBP, automating much of the existing Simplified Arrival process. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the system runs identity confirmation and vetting checks in seconds and creates a crossing record, which is intended to free officers to concentrate on higher-risk travelers. CBP says anyone can decline EPP and will be routed to a standard inspection lane instead.
What it will look like at New Terminal One
The New Terminal One plans to embed EPP directly into its arrivals halls when the first phase opens, with project partners stating that the terminal will start with 14 gates and is expected to grow to about 2.6 million square feet. That buildout is part of the Port Authority-led, multibillion-dollar redevelopment of JFK and was highlighted in the terminal’s announcement from iProov. For additional detail on the sheer scale and construction footprint.
Already tested at Terminal 8
EPP is not entirely new to JFK. American Airlines and CBP first rolled out a facial-matching flow at Terminal 8 in mid-2025 as a pilot program, and early users reported noticeably quicker processing times. That initial rollout was covered by local outlets and industry press, including Time Out, which credited the trial with shaving seconds or even minutes off reentry for eligible travelers. Airport and airline officials say those early tests helped shape how EPP will be woven into the New Terminal One arrival experience.
Privacy and oversight
Biometric tools like EPP have been a lightning rod for privacy advocates and some lawmakers, who are wary of scope creep and how personal data might be stored or reused. Coverage of CBP’s EPP expansion has repeatedly raised those concerns while noting that the agency is attempting to walk a line between tighter security and smoother passenger flows, as per BiometricUpdate. CBP, for its part, says EPP functions as a verification tool at the point of inspection and that travelers always retain the option to stick with a traditional manual passport check.
EPP vs Global Entry
EPP is not a replacement for Global Entry, and the two work very differently. EPP is designed to speed up processing at arrival with no advance application, interview or fee. Global Entry, by contrast, is a Trusted Traveler program that requires enrollment, vetting and a paid application. The details of the Global Entry program, including its $100 application fee, are laid out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, while media coverage has cast EPP as a free and fast alternative for many returning U.S. citizens, as noted by Time Out. For frequent flyers, Global Entry will still offer perks like pre-approval and linked TSA PreCheck for domestic travel, but EPP could make the standard passport lane an occasional backup rather than the norm at the new terminal.
Travelers will still need a valid passport, and airport staff and signage are expected to guide passengers through the EPP option once the New Terminal One opens. If the technology works as planned, it could significantly reduce international arrival wait times at JFK while maintaining a manual lane for those who prefer the traditional process.
