Heading into Paris CDG from outside the EU? Heard of the long waits due to EES? We analysed the data to help you understand how long you may have to wait.
Note that these wait times refer to inbound passengers, depending on where you’re from, this is often referred to as Passport Control, Customs or Immigration.
The Averages
Overall, passing through CDG immigration is reasonably efficient. The general average wait time sits at a very manageable 8 minutes, and during active hours between 5 am and 9 pm, it hovers around 11 minutes. In fact, a reassuring 83 percent of travellers make it through in under the short threshold of 15 minutes. However, averages only tell part of the story, and timing your journey poorly can lead to significantly longer queues.
Worst (and Best) Times
The time of day you arrive drastically impacts your experience at the border.
- The quietest hour is 5 am, with an average wait of 1 minute.
- Late afternoon offers a wonderful lull, particularly at 5 pm when waits drop down to an average of 4 minutes.
- The busiest hour is 8 am, where the average queue stretches to 28 minutes.
- The morning rush is generally heavy, with 7 am averaging 19 minutes and 9 am averaging 16 minutes.
Travel Days to Look Out For
When booking your flights, the day of the week can make a subtle but noticeable difference to your wait time.
- The quietest day to arrive is Wednesday, with an average wait of just 7 minutes.
- The busiest day is Tuesday, pushing the average wait up slightly to 9 minutes.
Terminal Breakdown
Charles de Gaulle is a massive, sprawling transport hub, and your experience will vary depending on which terminal you fly into. Knowing your terminal’s specific wait times can help you plan your onward transport and manage your expectations before you even step off the plane.
- Terminal 2A and Terminal 2C are the most relaxed, both boasting a tiny average wait of 3 minutes, with peak waits of 76 minutes and 69 minutes respectively.
- Terminal 1 sits comfortably in the middle with a 7-minute average, though its peak wait can reach 109 minutes.
- Terminal 3 and Terminal 2B share an average wait of 9 minutes, but Terminal 2B holds the record for the highest peak wait at 127 minutes. Terminal 3 peaks at 101 minutes.
- Terminal 2E is the busiest on average, with a typical wait of 11 minutes and a peak wait hitting 112 minutes.
Peak Lines Wait Times
The typical daily peak reaches 85 minutes, meaning on any given day, the queues will swell significantly at rush hour. If you arrive during a major surge, particularly at Terminal 2B, you could face the absolute peak wait of 127 minutes.
Some Tips
To ensure a stress-free start to your French getaway, we highly recommend booking a flight that lands on a Wednesday. Aim for an arrival either at the crack of dawn around 5 am, or in the late afternoon around 4 pm or 5 pm, when average waits are just 4 to 5 minutes. Avoid Tuesday morning arrivals at 8 am if you possibly can, and always pack a little extra patience if you are flying into Terminal 2E or Terminal 2B.
To mitigate EES related friction before you travel, download the EU’s official Travel to Europe mobile app to pre-register your passport and travel details. Doing this in advance drastically reduces the time you spend with the border agent.
Finally, keep an eye out on our live page for Passport CDG to see how long wait times currently are.