Global Entry
Global Entry is a program administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States.
Note: This article is a reference for those who are members of Global Entry or who are considering applying. It does not represent legal or immigration advice. Please refer to the official CBP Global Entry website for full details on the program. | |
Eligibility
Global Entry only
The following groups of people can apply for membership in Global Entry:
- Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
- Citizens of Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, South Korea, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan or the United Kingdom
Applicants must be able to pass a criminal history check, have complied with customs and immigration regulations in the past, and provide truthful responses on the application. The cost of applying is $100. A number of credit cards offer a statement credit for the enrollment fee.
Please refer to the Global Entry eligibility page for further details on eligibility.
Although Canadian citizens are not eligible to apply for Global Entry, they may receive Global Entry privileges by participating in the NEXUS program.
NEXUS members
All NEXUS members are automatically enrolled in Global Entry if their 10 fingerprints are on file with CBP. This can be verified by logging in to GOES to see if the NEXUS member is also enrolled in Global Entry, or by visiting a NEXUS or Global Entry enrollment center. There is no additional cost for NEXUS members.
Application
After completing an online application and submitting the $100 fee, applicants must schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. These centers are only in the United States, Canada, and Qatar, but it is also possible to do your interview upon arrival at certain airports in the United States. See the official site for more information on the application process.
Starting on 1 October 2024, the application fee for Global Entry and other Trusted Traveler Programs, including NEXUS and SENTRI, will increase to $120.
Benefits
Identification
The Global Entry card is a valid form of ID when entering the U.S. via land. It can also be used at airport security. However, it is only issued to members who are citizens of the United States or Mexico.
Expedited land border crossings
Global Entry members may use the NEXUS lanes when entering the U.S. via land from Canada if they are in possession of a Global Entry card AND if that card has been activated online for non-airport use. However, Global Entry members (who are not members of NEXUS) may not enter Canada through a NEXUS lane.
Global Entry members may use the SENTRI lanes when entering the U.S. via land from Mexico, if they are in possession of a Global Entry card and are driving in an approved vehicle.
Expedited air travel to the U.S.
Global Entry members can expedite the customs and immigration process at certain airports.
The original entrance procedure at program launch in June 2008 was that a traveler had to report to a Global Entry kiosk, scan their passport (or "green card" for legal permanent residents), scan their fingerprints, have their photograph taken, and answer a series of questions. The kiosk would print a large receipt which included a crude black-and-white version of the photograph. The traveler would then present their passport/green card and Global Entry receipt to a CBP officer before exiting the federal inspection area. Over the next decade, as Global Entry membership exploded from a few thousand enrollees to over 10 million, this procedure meant CBP was printing and discarding a massive number of paper receipts every day.
As of 2021, the procedure has been simplified with the deployment of a new generation of kiosks. A Global Entry member only needs to look into a kiosk camera, which uses automatic facial recognition to identify the member and tells them to proceed. The kiosk forwards member profiles to the CBP officer manning the Global Entry lane. The officer reviews the member's passport to ensure it matches the information on file, asks if they have anything to declare, and allows them to proceed.
This is still much faster than the traditional primary inspection process, since the officer can review each member's profile as they approach the inspection booth, rather than having to manually scan each passport and then call up and review the relevant profile.
Global Entry members do not need to be in possession of their Global Entry or NEXUS card when traveling via air, nor do they need to complete a blue customs declaration card. However, they must be in possession of their passport and (if applicable) any visa or permanent residency documents.
Some passengers may be randomly selected for a secondary inspection.
U.S.
The following U.S. airports have Global Entry kiosks
- Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS IATA)
- Antonio B Won Pat, Guam International Airport (GUM IATA)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI IATA)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS IATA)
- Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT IATA)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD IATA)
- Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW IATA)
- Denver International Airport (DEN IATA)
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW IATA)
- Ft. Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL IATA)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH IATA)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL IATA)
- Honolulu International Airport (HNL IATA)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK IATA)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX IATA)
- McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS IATA)
- Miami International Airport (MIA IATA)
- Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP IATA)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR IATA)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA)
- Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB IATA)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL IATA)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT IATA)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX IATA)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU IATA)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC IATA)
- Saipan International Airport (SPN IATA)
- San Antonio International Airport (SAT IATA)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN IATA)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO IATA)
- San Juan-Luis Múñoz Marin International Airport (SJU IATA)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-SeaTac (SEA IATA)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA IATA)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD IATA)
- William P Hobby International Airport, Houston (HOU IATA)
Canada
The following Canadian airports with customs preclearance have Global Entry kiosks:
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR IATA)
- Calgary International Airport (YYC IATA)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG IATA)
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG IATA)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ IATA)
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW IATA)
- Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL IATA)
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ IATA)
Ireland
The following Irish airports with customs preclearance have Global Entry kiosks:
- Dublin Airport (DUB IATA)
- Shannon Airport (SNN IATA)
UAE
The following UAE airport with customs preclearance has Global Entry kiosks:
TSA Precheck
TSA Precheck is a program that expedites security procedures at select U.S. airports. A dedicated lane is available to travelers using TSA Precheck.
All Global Entry members are eligible to participate in the TSA Precheck program when flying from a U.S. airport with an approved airline. Travelers must register that they are trusted travelers with their airline prior to printing their boarding pass. For more information, please refer to the TSA Precheck website.