Learn About the Global Entry Program

What Is Global Entry?

Global Entry is a U.S. government program that allows pre-approved travelers to move through customs and immigration more quickly when returning to the United States from international travel. The program is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a federal agency that manages border security and international travel procedures.

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The program works by processing travelers through dedicated Global Entry lanes at U.S. airports and certain land border crossings. Instead of waiting in standard customs lines that can stretch for hours during busy travel periods, Global Entry members use automated kiosks or shorter dedicated lanes to complete their customs screening. This process typically takes minutes rather than the 30 minutes to several hours that standard processing might require.

Global Entry is part of a larger trusted traveler program portfolio that CBP manages. The program has grown significantly since its launch in 2008. As of recent reports, the program includes over 13 million active members, though specific current membership numbers vary by reporting period. The program operates at more than 50 U.S. airports, plus several land border crossings and preclearance locations.

The program is available to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Citizens of other nations may also participate, subject to additional requirements and reciprocal agreements between the United States and their home countries. Each participant receives a membership valid for five years, after which members must renew their membership status through CBP's standard procedures.

Understanding how Global Entry operates provides context for why many frequent international travelers consider participation. The time savings accumulate significantly for people who travel internationally more than once or twice per year. However, participation involves both costs and specific requirements that vary based on citizenship status and travel frequency.

Practical Takeaway: Global Entry is a CBP program that reduces customs wait times for returning travelers, with membership lasting five years and availability at major U.S. airports and selected border crossings.

The Costs and Benefits of Membership

Global Entry membership requires an enrollment fee paid directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The current fee is $100 for a five-year membership period, which works out to $20 per year or approximately $1.67 per month if spread across the membership term. This fee is non-refundable, even if a member chooses to discontinue use of the program before the five-year period ends.

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The primary benefit of membership is time savings at customs. A typical customs screening without Global Entry can take 30 minutes to several hours, particularly during peak travel times at major airports. With Global Entry, the same screening often takes 5 to 15 minutes using automated kiosks or dedicated lanes. For someone traveling internationally twice per year, this could mean saving 40 to 100 hours annually, depending on airport congestion and travel timing.

Financial benefits come from calculating whether time savings justify the membership cost. Some travelers factor in potential savings from reduced airport parking fees (arriving later after shorter waits), avoided missed connections, or reduced time off work when returning from business travel. These calculations are individual and depend heavily on personal travel patterns and how someone values their time.

Global Entry membership also includes certain companion benefits. Family members and traveling companions who are also Global Entry members can use the dedicated lanes. Some credit card companies offer to reimburse the Global Entry fee for cardholders, effectively making the membership free for people who carry those specific cards.

The program may offer value beyond customs lines. Members report less stress when returning from international travel, knowing they have a faster pathway through the airport. This psychological benefit matters to many travelers who dislike long waits or feel anxious about customs procedures. Additionally, membership demonstrates to CBP that a traveler has undergone background screening, which may result in more straightforward interactions during customs interviews.

Practical Takeaway: Global Entry costs $100 for five years, providing the most value for people traveling internationally at least once or twice yearly, or for those whose credit cards reimburse the membership fee.

How to Understand the Application Process

The process for joining Global Entry involves several steps that can take weeks to complete. The first step is creating an account in CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs online system. This free account allows access to various trusted traveler programs including Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, and SENTRI. Individuals must provide basic personal information during account creation.

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After creating an account, interested parties pay the $100 enrollment fee through the online system using a credit or debit card. This fee initiates the background screening process and cannot be refunded even if the person later decides not to proceed. Following payment, CBP conducts a thorough background investigation that includes criminal history checks, immigration status verification, and review of travel records. This investigation typically takes 24 to 72 hours but can take longer depending on individual circumstances.

Once the background investigation completes, CBP notifies the individual whether their status has been approved, denied, or placed under review. Approved applicants then schedule an in-person appointment at one of CBP's enrollment centers. These centers operate at select airports and land border crossing locations across the country. During this appointment, which typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes, an enrollment officer verifies identity through passport or other government documents and collects biometric information including fingerprints and digital photos.

The wait time between approval and available appointment slots varies significantly by location. Major metropolitan areas might have appointments available within days, while smaller cities could have waits of several weeks or months. During busy travel seasons, appointment slots fill more quickly. Some individuals schedule appointments at enrollment centers in different cities if they need an appointment sooner.

Upon completion of the in-person appointment, CBP issues the Global Entry membership card and provides membership number information. Members can begin using Global Entry at designated airports and border crossings almost immediately, though it can take a few days for the system to fully activate across all locations where Global Entry is offered.

Practical Takeaway: The Global Entry process involves online registration, payment of the $100 fee, background screening (typically 24-72 hours), scheduling an in-person appointment at an enrollment center, and a brief biometric appointment before receiving membership.

Where Global Entry Works and How to Use It

Global Entry is available at more than 50 U.S. airports, primarily at major international hubs. These include airports in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle, and Washington D.C., among others. CBP maintains an updated list of all airports offering Global Entry on its website, which is important to check before travel since new locations are occasionally added.

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Beyond airports, Global Entry works at several U.S. land border crossings, including locations along the Canadian border in places like Buffalo, Detroit, and Seattle, and along the Mexican border in cities like San Diego and El Paso. The program also extends to cruise ship terminals, particularly in ports like Miami, New York, and California. At these locations, Global Entry members use designated lanes to process through customs.

Using Global Entry at an airport is straightforward. When returning from international travel, Global Entry members proceed to dedicated Global Entry kiosks or lanes rather than standard customs lines. At most airports, members use an automated kiosk where they insert their passport, answer customs declaration questions on a touchscreen, and have their photograph taken. The kiosk prints a receipt that the traveler provides to a customs officer.

At some airports, particularly smaller ones or during high-volume periods, Global Entry members bypass the kiosk and proceed directly to a customs officer in a dedicated lane. The experience varies slightly by airport, but the fundamental process remains consistent: travelers answer declaration questions, provide identification, and proceed through screening more quickly than in standard lines.

Important details about using Global Entry include keeping the membership number accessible, maintaining a valid passport, and traveling with the same name used during enrollment. If a name changes, members must update their information through the online system. Travelers should also note that Global Entry does not exempt people from customs screening—officers still inspect baggage if deemed necessary and conduct interviews as standard procedures dictate. The program simply expedites the process by allowing travelers to bypass the longest lines and use faster screening methods.

Practical Takeaway: Global Entry operates at 50+ U.S. airports and selected border crossings; members use automated kiosks or dedicated lanes to process customs, typically in 5-15 minutes, though the program does not exempt people from actual customs inspections.

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