If you travel internationally at least a couple times per year, chances are you’ve thought about applying for Global Entry. The program gives members access to an expedited line at US Customs and Immigration checkpoints, allowing them to avoid lengthy wait times that become particularly painful during peak travel seasons. Although the Global Entry application process can take weeks or months to complete in full, it's a must-have for frequent flyers who want to make their airport experience as convenient as possible.
Global Entry has been around since 2008, but the application processes and other membership details tend to evolve year to year. In 2024, the program is undergoing some significant changes, including its first-ever application fee increase and a new enrollment option that makes completing the interview process easier than ever before.
Here’s everything travelers should know about the program, including how to apply for Global Entry, a detailed guide to the application process, and the fastest ways to score an interview appointment.
How much does Global Entry cost?
The cost of Global Entry is about to jump for the first time since the program’s inception. In October 2024, the application fee is set to increase from $100 to $120. (So if you’re able to apply before then, you could still score the five-year membership at the lower rate.) Although the new fee is slightly higher, the program still offers good value for travelers: Remember that Global Entry also includes access to TSA PreCheck, which costs $78 to join on its own.
Oh, and a heads-up for families: It’s also possible to apply for Global Entry for kids under the age of 18, but they must have parental or legal guardian consent to participate. So, if you’re finally tackling the application for yourself, why not do it for the kids, too?
Who can apply for Global Entry?
As Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program, the government only deems certain travelers eligible to apply. Travelers who are eligible to apply for Global Entry include: US citizens, US permanent residents, and citizens of 14 foreign countries (Argentina, Brazil, Bahrain, India, Colombia, United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Mexico). Canadian citizens and residents are also eligible for Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS partnership (the agreement that allows members expedited processing when traveling between the US and Canada).
Your Global Entry application may be denied if you provide false or incomplete information on your application; have a criminal record or have pending criminal charges, including outstanding warrants; have violated customs, immigration, or agricultural laws in any country; are currently being investigated by any local, state, or federal agency; have been denied the purchase of a firearm; have received a criminal pardon from any country; are inadmissible to the US under immigration regulation, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation; cannot satisfy CBP of your low-risk status; or fail to meet other program requirements. For questions about eligibility, contact the Global Entry Enrollment Center nearest you.
CBP notes that if your application is denied, you can ask to be reconsidered. “If you believe the decision was based on inaccurate or incomplete information, you may file a Reconsideration Request by logging into your Trusted Traveler Programs account,” the agency’s website says. You will have the opportunity to supply supporting documents and other information to clarify arrests or other incidents.
How do I apply for Global Entry?
All applicants, regardless of age, have to create an online account within the government’s Trusted Traveler Program systems. This is where you can submit your online application, along with payment.
Understandably, the application covers a lot of ground. In addition to personal information like name, email address, gender, eye color, height, and language preference, it requires applicants to fill in their employment, address history, and travel over the past five years.
It also asks if you've violated any customs or immigration laws, or if you have been convicted of a crime. Fill out the application and submit the $120 fee (again, this is only $100 until October 2024, so jump on the lower price if possible). Once you’re approved, the fee will cover a five-year Global Entry membership—but keep in mind that the cost is non-refundable, even if your application is rejected.
You can pay the fee by credit card or electronic bank transfer. Or, check out one of the many travel credit cards that offer reimbursement on the Global Entry application fee as a benefit.
How long does it take to get Global Entry approved?
Thankfully for travelers, the messy backlog of applications that built up during the pandemic has been cleared. But the volume of applications—and how long it takes to get through them—still ebbs and flows. For instance, CBP’s current guidance says that travelers should expect the processing times to take six to eight months “due to a seasonal increase in applications.”
If you’re traveling internationally before you get conditionally approved, there’s still another option to reduce your queue time upon coming back into the country: Mobile Passport Control. This seriously underrated travel hack allows eligible travelers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through a free mobile app run by CBP. Unlike Global Entry, mobile passport control doesn’t require users to be pre-approved, but it does use dedicated lanes for speedier customs processing. The service is currently available at 51 locations.
Once your Global Entry application is conditionally approved, you'll receive an email that there's a message in your Trusted Traveler account. You'll then be asked to schedule an in-person interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center, which can be found all over the country. Since the pandemic, travelers now have up to 730 days after your conditional approval to complete the enrollment process.
That wiggle room will come in handy if you have trouble scheduling an in-person interview appointment. Rest assured that it’s not as difficult as it was during the pandemic, but securing an appointment could still take some time. “These interviews often take weeks or even months to schedule,” says a recent release from CBP.
If you are conditionally approved, you can also take advantage of the Enrollment on Arrival program. The EoA allows Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival at a US airport after an international flight. This eliminates the need to schedule an interview at an enrollment center. When landing in a participating international terminal, follow the signage to CBP officers, who can complete your Global Entry interview during your entry inspection. Indeed, if you’re conditionally approved and traveling internationally, take advantage of this option, which the TTP site notes “may offer the fastest path to membership approval for individuals with upcoming international travel.”
Currently, 65 airports offer EoA operation, including several international locations (among them are Ireland, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, just to name a few); here's a complete list.
What’s more: In early 2024, CBP launched a brand new interview option: Enrollment on Departure. The program works just like Enrollment on Arrival but in reverse, allowing conditionally approved travelers to complete the interview process at the airport before boarding their international flight. For now, Enrollment on Departure is only available at Washington DC’s Dulles airport. Conditionally approved fliers can head to the Enrollment on Departure office in the airport’s B Concourse, across from gate B41. No appointment is necessary. Simply pop in during the office’s open hours—from 12pm to 8pm everyday—and show the officers your supporting documents, which usually include a passport, proof of residence, and an international plane ticket. Although the process is easy, travelers should still “allow ample time to complete this interview process before their international flight departs,” CBP says.
For renewing Global Entry members, here’s a pro tip: As long as you submit a renewal application before your membership expires, you are able to continue to use your Global Entry benefits for up to two years after the membership expiration date, while you wait to complete the renewal process. Travelers renewing their memberships also have access to a pilot program that offers eligible members a remote interview. To qualify, conditionally approved travelers must be 18 years of age or older; Have a photo on file with CBP that was taken within the past 10 years and after they were 14 years of age; and have fingerprints on file with CBP. If you’re eligible, you’ll see a “Schedule Remote Interview” option in your TTP account. The virtual interviews take place over Zoom, and applicants still need to show all of the required documents.
What to bring to the Global Entry interview
Be sure to bring a valid passport and another form of ID, such as a driver's license or ID card, and print the conditional approval letter from your Trusted Traveler account. You’ll also need documents that show proof of residency, such as a utility bill or rental agreement, and any court disposition papers for any prior arrests or convictions, if applicable. (Keep in mind that for EoA interviews, you'll need to pack these documents before your trip.) Oh, and just a heads up: You'll be getting your photo taken at the interview, and this headshot will go on your Global Entry ID card.
The good news is that if you're conditionally approved, you’re almost at the finish line: You've already been pre-screened, and your information has been checked by the government. Many of the questions you'll be asked are ones you've already answered on your application, or ones that officials already have the answers to, like: "Why do you want to join Global Entry? What do you do for a living? Where have you traveled in the past five years? Have you ever been arrested, or had an issue at US Customs and Border Protection?"
Still, take the questions seriously and answer them as you did on your application. It’s almost time to celebrate, for sure, but don't ruin everything with an ill-timed attempt at humor.
At the appointment—which should last anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes—you'll also have to provide your fingerprints and, as mentioned above, get your photo taken. Within a few minutes you'll be confirmed for Global Entry (yay!) and be given a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that you can start using immediately to be eligible for TSA PreCheck. It’s a good idea to store your number in your phone so you always have it handy (like when booking a flight; you’ll need to enter it so it appears on your ticket, clearing you for that oh-so-sweet dedicated line).
An official Global Entry card should arrive in the mail within two to four weeks, and you'll need to activate it on your TTP account within 30 days. You won't have to show this card at the airport, though, as it’s only for land and seaports of entry—at the airport, just stroll up to the Global Entry kiosks and get started.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.