14 things to know about Global Entry

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

If you frequently travel internationally, you’ve likely come to depend on Global Entry.

If you are unfamiliar with the program, put simply, Global Entry gives preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad — and is worth applying for if you’re a frequent traveler and want to make your travels that little bit more stress-free.

Global Entry expedites entry to the U.S. via exclusive designated kiosks in more than 75 airports, which bypass lengthy U.S. Customs and Border Protection lines. In addition, if you depart from one of 15 preclearance locations, you can clear customs before physically reentering the U.S.

Here’s what to know about applying for or renewing Global Entry — including how to get it for free, what to expect during the interview process and how it differs from other Trusted Traveler Programs.

Using credit cards to get Global Entry for free

Though CBP charges a $120 nonrefundable application fee for a five-year membership, many credit cards will reimburse you for these fees by issuing a credit.

This credit is typically available every four to five years, though you should check the terms for your specific card for the exact frequency.

A variety of low-annual-fee and premium cards offer this benefit, including:

• United℠ Explorer Card: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: $95 annual fee
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $550 annual fee
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: $595 annual fee; see rates and fees
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee; see rates and fees
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee; see rates and fees

Most credit cards that offer an application fee credit also allow you to cover a Global Entry membership for someone else. So, if you have an unused Global Entry credit on your Amex Platinum, you could charge another person’s Global Entry fee to your card and get reimbursed for the purchase.

Tips for getting an interview appointment

Once you are conditionally approved for Global Entry, you typically have to schedule an interview. Some conditionally approved applicants, including those renewing their Global Entry upon expiration, may be eligible to skip the interview portion of the process.

“An interview for program membership renewal may not be necessary. Once you submit your renewal application and fee, check your TTP account periodically for updates on what actions are necessary to complete the renewal process,” per CBP. “You will receive an email when your membership status changes.”

If you’re selected for an interview, there are a few ways to arrange this.

On the first Monday of each month at 9 a.m. local time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Trusted Traveler Programs release interview appointment slots for conditionally approved applicants to schedule at enrollment centers. It’s worthwhile making sure you try to book your slot as soon as they’re released.

You can also attempt to schedule an appointment online at an enrollment center. Of course, appointment availability varies by state and city, and you might have to try a different location to find an opening.

My favorite option and personal recommendation for completing the interview is to do so at the airport via either Enrollment on Arrival or Enrollment on Departure, as detailed below.

What is Enrollment on Arrival?

Enrollment on Arrival allows conditionally approved applicants to finalize their applications and interview at the airport, rather than sitting for a formal interview at an enrollment center.

This service is currently available at 16 airports abroad and 50 airports in the U.S. To enroll on arrival, you need your U.S. passport (which you’ll already have if returning to the U.S. from abroad) — but you should verify if any other proof-of-residency documents, such as mortgage statements and rent stubs, are necessary.

Enrollment on Arrival allows you to complete your Global Entry enrollment interview as part of the immigration process when arriving at the airport after an international trip. To do this, plan to follow signs in the airport for the “Enrollment on Arrival” lanes — and be sure your flight arrives during hours when interviews are offered.

A CBP agent will complete your Global Entry interview during your admissibility inspection. If you don’t see any signs for this, ask a CBP agent.

What is Enrollment on Departure?

Enrollment on Departure is a service similar to Enrollment on Arrival and is currently available at Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) for travelers departing the U.S. on international flights.

Enrollment on Departure is available daily at IAD’s Gate B41 in Terminal B from noon to 8 p.m. To qualify, travelers must have been conditionally approved for Global Entry and be at the final step of the application process.

The interview process

For your interview, you’ll need a valid passport or permanent resident card and proof of residency, such as a driver’s license with your current address, a mortgage statement or a recent utility bill.

The whole process should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes, but allot at least 30 minutes to accommodate for any delays. During the interview, you’ll be asked questions verifying your identity and related to your application, including your recent travel history. The final step is to give your fingerprints and take a photo.

You should receive your Global Entry card and Known Traveler Number seven to 10 days after your interview. Use this KTN for both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, since Global Entry includes membership to TSA PreCheck.

You should also activate your card within 30 days of receiving it, although CBP says you don’t need your physical card to pass through Global Entry kiosks at the airport.

How to use the Global Entry kiosk

Once you’re approved, using the Global Entry lane to reenter the country should be relatively easy, though the kiosk works differently based on location.

Historically, you would use your fingerprints, answer questions, take a photo and then hand the printout you receive to a CBP officer.

Very young children may be too squirmy to scan reliable fingerprints. In this case, you might receive a crossed-out printout to show to the CBP officer.

Using the Global Entry mobile app

As of 2023, there’s also a Global Entry mobile app that travelers can use to bypass Global Entry kiosks and instead verify their arrival in the U.S. on a smartphone at select airports.

The app is available to use at nearly 80 airports as of February. You can use the app to confirm your arrival at a participating international airport with a selfie; CBP will then compare that photo with your photo(s) on file and send a mobile receipt that you can take right to an agent.

For more information, read our guide to using the Global Entry mobile app.

TSA PreCheck is a perk of Global Entry

A five-year Global Entry membership also includes five years of access to TSA PreCheck. To ensure TSA PreCheck shows up on your boarding pass, you must enter your KTN into your airline reservations when booking. You can also add it when checking in for your flight online or at the airport.

Though I’ve never been denied TSA PreCheck, it is not 100% guaranteed for every flight. In any case, you should have TSA PreCheck access almost any time you have Global Entry access. Just make sure that the name matches the name on the ticket and that you’ve entered your membership numbers into your ticket purchase or frequent flyer account(s).

US citizenship isn’t required

Non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents from 21 countries can apply for Global Entry to use in the U.S. via international arrangements with the American government.

To participate, you must apply online through the Trusted Traveler Program and pay the application fee.

For more information about how citizens from other countries can apply for and get approved for Global Entry, see the requirements and information from CBP. For example, the application process for U.K. citizens involves registering through the U.K. government and paying a processing fee of 42 British pounds (around $52) before applying through the U.S. Trusted Traveler Programs website and paying another $120 fee to the U.S. government.

Canadian citizens and residents are also eligible to apply for Global Entry through the Nexus program, which provides prescreened travelers with expedited processing services when entering the U.S. and Canada by plane, car or boat. It also provides access to Global Entry kiosks when arriving via one of nine Canadian preclearance airports in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Alberta.

If you’re a U.S. citizen who visits Canada often and is contemplating Global Entry, consider getting Nexus for expedited customs when entering Canada. Clearing Canadian customs and immigration can take a while, especially at certain airports. Once you have Nexus (as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident), you also get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.

Nexus is half the cost of Global Entry ($50 per adult and free for children younger than 18). You must go to an enrollment center along the Canadian border to enroll in the program.

Global Entry renewal delays are common

A Global Entry membership lasts five years and expires on your birthday that fifth year. To keep using it, you must renew it before the expiration date noted on your card.

Members have experienced excessive delays associated with renewals dating back to mid-2018, but there are additional delays post-2020. Because of this, CBP has extended the time you can use your benefits to two years after your Global Entry membership expires. However, you must submit your renewal application before expiration to qualify for this grace period.

Aim to renew your membership well before it expires to avoid any delays.

Families must separately enroll kids

Parents can’t bring their babies or children through the Global Entry kiosks with them unless they are separately enrolled in the program. This means you must pay the $120 enrollment fee per child; you must also schedule and attend an interview with your minor, even for babies who can’t talk.

However, TSA PreCheck benefits extend to family members with children up to 12 years old, so you can all use the expedited lane together when traveling domestically.

Families can use a Mobile Passport to create additional profiles for family members, and up to four people can submit a single customs declaration form. If your family doesn’t leave the country often, that may suit your needs better than Global Entry.

Extra fees aren’t required for children who apply for Nexus (and, by extension, Global Entry) with their parents or for children linked to the parent’s SENTRI profile. SENTRI allows expedited passage into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico via SENTRI-specific lanes, but also grants access to TSA PreCheck lanes at airports within the U.S. and overseas territories.

Updating membership with a new passport

If you get a new passport, you can update your Global Entry profile to match it by logging in to your TTP account and finding the section marked “Update Documents.” Once you pull up the documents section, enter your new passport number to attach it to your Global Entry membership.

Should you have a name or immigration status change, you must go to a Global Entry enrollment center to process that change — but appointments aren’t necessary to complete these changes. Show up with the necessary documentation confirming the change and give the reason for your visit to a CBP agent. They’ll process the change during your visit.

If you have two U.S. passports, you must change the number in your profile to match the passport you’re using for international travel.

Global Entry cards are valid federal IDs

You don’t need to travel with your Global Entry card to use Global Entry. However, it is a valid form of identification that can serve as a legal alternative ID if you lose your driver’s license or state ID.

There are certain times — such as flying to the U.S. from Canada or arriving in the U.S. through a cruise ship port, including Port Everglades — when you may need to show your Global Entry card to access those lanes. The card can also come in handy for travelers who live in a state where their driver’s license is not Real ID compliant, as it can serve as an alternative form of valid ID at the airport.

TSA PreCheck doesn’t include Global Entry

If you already have TSA PreCheck and want to enroll in Global Entry, you must go through the normal enrollment process since you cannot upgrade a TSA PreCheck membership.

Should you need help deciding between the two, consider how often you travel abroad. If you frequently head overseas, you would benefit from paying the extra $42 to get the perks of Global Entry membership.

Is Global Entry worth it?

Global Entry can help you avoid long wait times when returning from an international trip.

If you travel abroad at least once a year, I recommend saving yourself the headache of waiting in a long customs line. It’s the last thing you want to do upon returning home.

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For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.