CBP Launches Enhanced Passenger Processing at Nashville International Airport

(NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) U.S. Customs and Border Protection has launched Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) at Nashville International Airport, putting a new biometric arrivals system into daily use for international flights. CBP said the system went live in early August after a series of local announcements and tests, and is fully operational as of August 13, 2025.

The upgrade—known as EPP—marks a new phase in the Simplified Arrival program, which matches a traveler’s face to official records to speed inspection while keeping security checks in place. CBP described the move as a key step in its Airport Modernization plan, meant to improve screening, reduce manual steps, and keep officers focused on higher‑risk cases rather than routine document checks.

How EPP Works

EPP uses auto‑capture facial recognition to take a photo of each traveler before they reach a CBP officer. The system then runs a biometric match, checks travel eligibility, and performs enforcement screening in real time.

• For many U.S. citizens, this process fully automates Simplified Arrival, so the CBP officer already has the result by the time the person steps forward.
• Officers remain on the line to guide people, answer questions, and handle exceptions.
• Any passenger may opt out by telling an officer and will be processed through the standard entry procedure (passports and manual checks).

CBP and airport staff emphasize that the opt‑out choice is available to all travelers.

Arrival Flow at BNA

CBP and airport officials describe a straightforward flow for arrivals using EPP:

1. After landing, passengers follow signs to the EPP area before reaching a CBP officer.
2. The system automatically photographs each traveler with auto‑capture facial recognition.
3. EPP runs a biometric match and checks records for travel eligibility and enforcement concerns.
4. If cleared, the traveler proceeds to a CBP officer, who completes the inspection and admits the person if all requirements are met.
5. Those who do not wish to use EPP tell a CBP officer and go through the standard manual process.

The agency stresses that officers are still in charge. EPP prepares information in advance, but the final decision remains with the officer at the booth.

• Travelers who use wheelchairs, parents with infants, and people unfamiliar with facial capture can ask officers for help at any point.
• If the system cannot confirm a match, the officer will handle the case with the usual documents.

Deployment Context and Performance

CBP first noted EPP availability at the airport on August 8, 2025, with a formal local release on August 11 confirming the unveiling. By August 12, multiple outlets and CBP social channels reported the system was live for all international arrivals.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Nashville deployment fits a broader national rollout that began in the late 2010s and accelerated in 2024 and 2025 as more U.S. airports adopted biometric entry tools.

• CBP has not yet published Nashville‑specific wait time data.
• National reporting shows EPP and similar systems have cut average processing times by up to 30% at other major airports since 2024.
• CBP processes close to one million travelers each day across U.S. ports of entry, so time savings at primary lines matter as international travel grows.

What It Means for Travelers and Officers

For passengers at Nashville International Airport, EPP is designed to make entry quicker and more touch‑free. Fewer handoffs and less document handling can be especially helpful after long flights.

• Examples of benefits:
  • A family returning from vacation may complete identity checks before reaching the officer, keeping the line moving and reducing stress.
  • A touring musician arriving with gear may reach secondary processing more quickly because initial checks were already completed.

For CBP officers, automation means more time for high‑risk cases and complex interviews—work that directly supports border security.

• Officers can focus on system‑flagged risks, behavior cues, and interviews needing more care.
• Supervisors can adjust staffing in real time to ease bottlenecks during peak arrivals.
• Airport operations leaders expect EPP to improve throughput, shorten lines, and reduce crowding during busy windows.

Travel industry groups generally support the approach—so long as the opt‑out option is clear and easy—noting that quicker entry can improve a city’s first impression and keep connections on schedule.

Privacy, Choice, and Accessibility

Privacy and choice remain active topics of public discussion.

Civil liberties groups point to the opt‑out pathway as a necessary safeguard for people who prefer not to have a photo taken for biometric matching.

CBP maintains that EPP follows strict rules for data use and that signage and officer guidance inside the hall explain the process. At Nashville, officials say staff will help older adults, non‑English speakers, and families move through lanes without pressure to choose one path over another.

Timeline and Next Steps

The EPP rollout at Nashville comes amid a nationwide expansion. CBP has indicated plans to bring the system to more airports in late 2025 and 2026, with steady upgrades to biometric tools and data protections.

• Feedback from the BNA launch—covering speed, accuracy, signage, and officer staffing—will guide further adjustments.
• Security experts praise the model’s ability to flag potential risks earlier in the line.
• Privacy advocates continue to monitor policies on photo capture and retention.
• Travel groups want clear terminal explanations so visitors know what to expect immediately after deplaning.

For official program details, CBP’s Enhanced Passenger Processing page outlines how the system works and what passengers can expect: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/enhanced-passenger-processing-epp.

Travelers with case‑specific questions can contact the CBP Nashville Field Office through the agency’s local offices directory, or reach the airport’s customer service team for terminal information, hours, and wayfinding.

Bottom Line

In the near term, the measure of success will be felt in the line itself: shorter waits, fewer touchpoints, and steady officer engagement where it matters most. For now, EPP at Nashville International Airport is up and running—speeding routine checks and giving officers space to concentrate on the small share of travelers who need extra review. CBP and airport leaders say the combination—technology up front, people at the core—will shape how international arrivals enter the United States in the years ahead.