Paris CDG Airport Arrivals

The Terminals at Paris CDG Airport

The bustling Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has three terminal buildings. Although services are well organized and the airport strives to meet passengers’ needs, it is a vast air hub, with terminals divided into sub-sections and transfers between them often being time-consuming and complicated. As a result, some passengers find the travel experience overwhelming.

Terminal 1 is the oldest building at CDG Airport. It serves international flights, with gates spread across seven satellite buildings. Arrivals are located on Level 5. Terminal 2, on the other hand, handles the majority of Air France flights, along with routes operated by other SkyTeam alliance members. It is divided into seven sub-terminals, named T2A to T2G. Finally, charter and low-cost flights primarily operate from terminal 3, with arrivals located on the terminal’s north side.

The complimentary CDGVAL airport train connects terminals 1 and 2 and Roissypôle (the multimodal transportation hub housing the RER B Station, the bus terminal, and several hotels), as well as some sections of T2 and the car parks. Free airport shuttles provide transfers between the seven sub-terminals of T2. The T2A to T2F sections are located within walking distance of each other. Conversely, T2G can only be accessed via the airport shuttle buses.

CDG Airport Airlines

The CDG Arrival Procedures

The arrival procedures at Paris CDG Airport are significantly more straightforward for EU nationals arriving from a Schengen destination. The same process also applies to Swiss, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Liechtenstein citizens traveling to Paris Airport from a Schengen country. As soon as they disembark the plane, they must follow the signs to the baggage claim area. If they have checked luggage to retrieve, they can collect it there. Numerous information screens display the baggage belt assigned to each flight. Alternatively, they can exit the airside zone of their terminal and reach the Arrivals hall, where the meeting points are also located. After that, they must proceed to the correct stop or pick-up point, depending on their chosen mode of transportation.

Taxi ranks can be found outside T1’s Exit 24, T2A’s Exit 6, and the Arrivals hall of T2B. Moreover, taxis can be picked up at T2C’s Exit 14, T2D’s Exit 7, T2E’s Exit 10, T2F’s Exit 11, the Blue Gate of T2G, and the exit doors of terminal 3. The RoissyBus stops at T1’s Exit 32, T2A’s Exit 9, T2D’s Exit 11, and T2EF’s Exit 8, while passengers arriving at terminal 3 can catch the bus from the Roissypôle Bus Station. Local buses and night lines also link the airport to Paris. Finally, the RER B Train travels to Paris. There are two railway stations at Paris Airport. Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 is located at Roissypôle, accessible on foot from terminal 3 and via the CDGVAL train from terminal 1. On the other hand, Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV can be found in terminal 2, between sections  T2C/D and T2E/F.

However, EU citizens, as well as nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, who land at Paris Roissy Airport from a non-Schengen destination must go through different procedures. After disembarking the plane, they proceed to the border control (immigration), where their passports or IDs are checked. Travelers who are older than 18 and hold a biometric passport can benefit from the PARAFE automatic passport control system. Passengers over 12 years old, when accompanied by an adult, can also use the e-gates, where they must scan their passports and undergo facial recognition to proceed. E-gates can significantly reduce waiting times during passport control. In addition to EU, Swiss, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Liechtenstein nationals, citizens of certain other countries can also use the system.

Once they complete border control, passengers can reach the baggage claim area to collect their luggage. Customs offices are located at T1’s Hall 6 (CDGVAL level), and at the Ground level of T2F and T3.  They are responsible for monitoring the import and export of goods into France. If you have items to declare— such as cash, gold, casino chips exceeding 10.000€/11560$, expensive computers and electronic devices, plants, animals, and food products —you must wait in line at customs. Cash declarations can also be submitted online via the DALIA form. Customs clearance is the final step in the Paris CDG Airport arrival process. After that, passengers can proceed to the public Arrivals hall, exit the terminal, and make their way to Paris.

Finally, if you are a non-EU citizen traveling from a destination beyond the Schengen zone, you’ll go through a slightly different procedure. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in effect since October 12, 2025, replacing passport stamping during border control. Please note that it doesn’t apply to Swiss, Norwegian, Liechtenstein, Icelandic, Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, and San Marino nationals. Thus, travelers must provide their biometric data (fingerprints, facial scan, etc.), along with their passport details, at the automatic machines. Immigration officers are also present and may ask additional questions depending on the case. The system applies only to travelers on a short stay in the EU (a total of 90 days within a 180-day period). The data collected is kept to optimize border control and ensure compliance with the maximum allowed stay. Once you complete the procedure, you’ll need to collect your baggage and go through customs to exit the airport’s post-security zone.

Our Tip: Passengers arriving at Paris Airport must hold a passport valid for at least three months beyond their expected departure from France.

The CDG Baggage Claim Areas

All terminals feature baggage claim zones, equipped with several baggage belts where passengers can retrieve their luggage. Numerous information screens scattered throughout these zones display the baggage carousel assigned to each flight. The baggage claim area in terminal 1 is located in the central circular section on Level 5. On the other hand, the baggage claim zones in all other terminals can be found on their Ground levels. Luggage trolleys are available in the areas, as well as in several other points within the CDG Airport. Therefore, if you are traveling with a lot of or heavy luggage, you won’t have difficulties transferring to the bus stop, train station, taxi rank, car park, or your pick-up point.

The Pick-Up Zones at CDG Airport

Are you planning to pick up passengers arriving at Paris Airport? Parking directly outside the terminals isn’t an option. Instead, the airport offers designated areas for pick-ups, conveniently located a short distance from each terminal’s Arrivals. These zones provide 10 minutes of free parking and are open from 03:30 am to 12:30 am. After the 10-minute free time frame, parking fees apply. Only card payments are accepted. Keep in mind that parking in these areas is allowed for up to 90 minutes. After that time, your vehicle may be towed. Alternatively, the short-term parking lots serving the terminals are also free for the first 10 minutes and offer more affordable rates for longer stays.

Our Tip: Make sure to arrive at the correct terminal for your pick-up. Check which terminal your loved ones’ flight arrives at to avoid wasting time driving around the airport complex.

Keep Track of Your Flight

Keeping track of the flight your family or loved ones are arriving on is essential when planning your journey to the airport for pick-up. Moreover, staying informed about potential delays and cancellations can help you maintain peace of mind and ease your worry when someone you care about is in transit. Our flight status table can keep you updated on the flight timetable at Paris Roissy Airport. Check all arrivals by searching for the flight number, the departure or arrival airport, the arrival time, or even the airline. Additionally, the airport’s website provides constantly updated information on arriving and departing flights, while in some cases, you can receive notifications via WhatsApp or email regarding changes to the flight timetable.

FAQs

How long does it take to go through customs at Paris Airport?

Customs clearance isn’t usually time-consuming, especially if you don’t have items to declare. Even if you do need to declare goods, waiting times are generally short. Overall, immigration (passport control) is considered the most time-consuming part of the arrivals process.

Where is the arrival area at CDG?

Each terminal houses Arrivals within its premises. T1’s Arrivals can be found on its Level 5, while terminal 2 (all its sections — T2A, T2B, T2C, T2D, T2E, T2F, and T2G) hosts Arrivals on the Ground floor. Finally, Arrivals can be found on the north side of terminal 3.

Where do you pick up passengers at CDG?

There are designated areas outside the Arrivals level of all terminals for pick-ups and drop-offs. Parking is free for the first 10 minutes and allowed for up to 90 minutes. Parking fees apply after the 10-minute free period. Overall, for short stays, the car parks close to the terminals are preferred, as they are more affordable.