Madrid Airport Arrivals

The MAD Terminals

Madrid International Airport has four terminal buildings, while terminal 4 also features a satellite terminal (T4S). Terminals 1 to 3 lie close to each other, with passengers moving between them on foot. Conversely, terminal 4 lies at a greater distance, linked to the other terminals via a complimentary airport shuttle.

Terminal 1 (T1) serves international flights operated by non-Oneworld airlines. Arrivals can be found on the terminal’s Ground floor. Terminal 2 (T2) handles Schengen flights, along with some non-Schengen destinations. It is the oldest building in the MAD complex, with Arrivals also situated on the Ground level. Terminal 3 (T3) is used mainly for domestic flights, often operating as an extension of Terminal 2. Its check-in area is currently closed. Finally, terminal 4 is Iberia’s terminal, also handling flights operated by its subsidiary, Air Nostrum, and members of the Oneworld alliance. Flights to domestic and Schengen destinations are served in terminal 4, while T4S accommodates non-Schengen flights. The Puente Aéreo, the Air Bridge route connecting Madrid to Barcelona, operates here as well. The two buildings are linked by an automated train. Arrivals are located on their Ground levels.

Madrid Airport Airlines

Arrivals Procedures at Madrid Airport

Passengers arriving at Madrid Barajas Airport follow different procedures depending on their departure point and citizenship. Overall, arrival procedures are simpler and quicker for EU nationals, as well as citizens of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland, traveling from a Schengen destination. After leaving the plane, they follow the signs to the baggage claim area of their terminal. If they have checked luggage, they must wait there to collect it. The area features numerous information screens displaying the baggage belt assigned to each flight. After retrieving baggage—or if they don’t have hold luggage—passengers can exit the airside part of their terminal and reach the Arrivals hall. Taxi ranks and bus stops are located right outside the Arrivals area of MAD terminals. Pick-ups can also be made here. On the other hand, the airport houses two metro stations: one at Level 1 of terminal 2, and one at the underground floor of T4. The railway station is also located at Level -1 of T4.

Are you an EU citizen or an Icelandic, Swiss, or Norwegian national traveling from a non-Schengen country? You must go through passport control before reaching the baggage claim zone. There are typically two lines at passport control: one for EU/EEA passengers and one for non-EU citizens. Passport control is operated by Policía Nacional, and can be a time-consuming procedure, especially during the airport’s busy times. Fortunately, EU nationals (and citizens of Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland) who are older than 18 and hold an electronic passport or ID can use the Automatic Border Control (ABC) and minimize the duration of the passport control process.

According to Spanish regulations, passports must be valid for at least three months from the expected departure date from Spain.

As soon as you complete passport control, you can retrieve your luggage from the baggage carousels. Customs is the next step in the arrival process. Customs offices are located in Lounge 1 of T1 (Ground floor) and Lounge 11 of T4 (Ground level), near the baggage claim areas. The Guardia Civil operates customs control and is responsible for regulating the import of goods into Spanish territory.  Thus, if you’re traveling with certain goods, such as food, expensive electronics, or more than 10.000€/11.685$ in cash, you must wait in the red line to declare them. The process is estimated to last around 20-30 minutes. Alternatively, you follow the green line, access the Arrivals hall, and exit the terminal to make your way to Madrid.

All non-EU passengers, as well as those whose passports aren’t issued by Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, must follow the same procedures (passport control, baggage reclaim, customs) after landing at Madrid Airport when traveling from a non-Schengen destination. However, the passport control procedure is not the same as for EU travelers. Starting from 12 October 2025, the new Entry-Exit System (EES) has changed immigration procedures. Passport stamping no longer applies. Instead, travelers planning to stay in the EU for a short period (a total of 90 days within 180 days) must provide their biometric data at the airport. Thus, they go through facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, and must also present their passport information. When a visa is required, fingerprint scanning isn’t necessary, as fingerprints have already been collected during the visa issuance process. Officers supervise the procedure and may also ask additional questions if they consider it necessary. While the EES procedure can be time-consuming the first time, a complete record of the data is kept, making immigration for subsequent flights within the EU faster and more efficient.

Are you landing at T4S? As soon as you go through passport control, you must catch the automated people mover to reach terminal 4. The baggage claim area and the customs offices are located on the terminal’s Ground floor.

Our Tip: Only travelers with e-tickets or boarding passes, their companions, and, of course, airport staff can access the terminals at Madrid International Airport. This measure, initially applied only at night but gradually extended to 24 hours a day, was implemented to address one of the airport’s biggest issues: the homeless people using it as their shelter. Thus, today, controls are in place to regulate access to the MAD terminals.

The Baggage Reclaim Zones

All terminals have baggage claim zones, where passengers who checked in hold luggage at their departure airport can collect it upon arrival at Madrid Airport. All zones feature several information screens displaying the baggage carousels assigned to each flight. Therefore, you should check one of the screens and proceed to the appropriate baggage belt to retrieve your luggage. Terminal 1 houses two baggage reclaim zones: one is Hall 1, serving flights arriving from non-Schengen destinations. The other — Hall 2 — is dedicated to domestic and Schengen flights. Both halls are located on the terminal’s Ground level. On the other hand, the baggage claim zone Hall 6 can be found on T2’s Ground floor. Passengers arriving from domestic or Schengen destinations at terminal 2 can collect their luggage here. Finally, both passengers landing at T4 and those arriving at T4S must proceed to Hall 10, on the Ground level of terminal 4, to retrieve their luggage. Terminal 4 is connected to its satellite terminal via an automated people mover.

If you’re traveling with lots of luggage, you’ll most likely value the comfort of a luggage trolley. You’ll find baggage trolleys at numerous points throughout terminals. Expectantly, they are available at all baggage reclaim zones. Many of them also feature child seats, making luggage collection and moving much less tedious for families.

Where to Pick up Passengers

Do you want to pick up passengers landing at Madrid Barajas Airport? Make sure to arrive at the correct terminal for your pick up. Terminals 1 and 2 feature Express Car Parks, ideal for pick-ups, as they offer 10 minutes of free parking. If you exceed that time frame, you must pay parking fees. Parking at one of those facilities is allowed for up to two hours. After that time, vehicles may be towed. On the other hand, there isn’t an express parking lot at terminal 4. Therefore, motorists wishing to pick up passengers from T4 can use Car Park P4. It is located close to the terminal’s doors, but it doesn’t offer any free parking period.

Track your Flight

If you want to stay constantly updated on the MAD airport flight timetable, you can check our flight status table. Track every change in the flight schedule and plan your arrival at the airport accordingly. Don’t know the flight number you’re interested in? You can search by arrival time, departure airport, or the airline operating the route. Alternatively, you can check the airport’s official website or get more information by calling the call center at (+34) 91 321 1000

FAQs

Which terminal is for international arrivals at Madrid Airport?

All terminals serve international destinations. Overall, non-Schengen flights operated by airlines that aren’t part of the OneWorld alliance land at terminal 1, while terminal 2 primarily handles Schengen flights. Flights operated by OneWorld airlines arrive at terminal 4 and its satellite terminal T4S.

How long does it take to get through Madrid Airport Arrivals?

The duration of Madrid Airport Arrivals depends on several factors, including the passenger’s nationality, the departure airport, and the time of the day. EU nationals arriving from a Schengen country usually complete arrival procedures quickly, typically in around 20–30 minutes, and even less if traveling without checked luggage. Conversely, non-EU travelers and EU citizens arriving from non-Schengen destinations must go through passport control and clear customs to exit the MAD terminal. Thus, arrivals procedures may take from 30 minutes up to 2 hours or more, especially if multiple flights arrive simultaneously.

Where is the baggage claim at Madrid Airport?

All terminals have baggage claim zones on their Ground levels. Terminal 1 has two baggage claim areas (Hall 1 and Hall 2), and terminal 2 features Hall 6. Hall 10 is the baggage claim zone inside terminal 4, serving passengers arriving at both terminal 4 and its satellite terminal, T4S.