I wanted to get a sense from everyone how long the wait is in customs when we fly from JFK into Rome? Thanks, Rick.

Hi rg,

Customs takes no time at all - just walk through the gate marked "Nothing to Declare".

The delays are caused by waiting for your luggage and about 1/2 hr at passport control.

I think it depends on when you are going. We had virtually no line for passport control. We walked right up, got our passports stamped, and were done in about 20 seconds. But we were there in both March and December, both off-peak times.

Tracy

Thanks IRA and Tracy. We're arriving Saturday morning at about 11:30 so it will probably be crowded.

Had family members arrive in Rome last Sunday morning. They were laughing as the passport control consisted of an officer reading his paper. He didn't even look up.

We didn't get our passports stamped or fill out any forms in customs. We got the head-bob and mysterious "prego" while they pointed to the door.

The actual passport checks and (non-existant) customs inspection take no time at all. But the FCO is notorious for the slow delivery of luggage to the baggage reclaim - 30 min to one hour is by no means uncommon.

Arriving: Did an hour just at Passport Control last March. It was a mob scene when I 1st arrived but it got better after they closed 1 of the 4 booths.

Departing: 35min at Passport Control. Even the EU Passport Control had a very long line.
And for our added enjoyment the heat was cranked-up (I noticed blowing heat from the floor vents while putting my shoes on after Security), it was ~70F outside?

Both times was on a Sunday ~11:00 AM.
Yea, it wasn't my best arrival or departure at FCO . Regards, Walter

The line got better after they CLOSED one of the booths????

I should have re-read it and worded it better, I was trying to make a wisecrack .
"and it got *even better* after they closed 1 of the 4 booths", meaning the 'mob scene' .
Regards, Walter