Global Entry helps travelers who are low risk move through U.S. arrival lines faster after international trips. Instead of waiting in the long line after a long flight, you use automated kiosks at many airports and finish in just a few minutes. In this guide, we explain how it works, when to apply, what to bring, and how to complete the interview.
What It Is And How It Works At The Airport
Global Entry is most helpful if you fly abroad more than once in a while. When you land in the United States, you do not join the normal customs line. You go to a special area with kiosks for members. Many airports use paperless kiosks. The kiosk scans your machine‑readable passport or your U.S. permanent resident card and uses facial recognition to match your face. The screen shows what to do next. When you finish at the kiosk, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer checks that everything is complete and then lets you go.
You can find these kiosks at more than 75 airports, including busy hubs such as Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport. These locations can have long lines during peak hours, so Global Entry can save you a lot of time.
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To move through the kiosk quickly, keep your passport or U.S. permanent resident card in your hand while you wait. Take off hats and sunglasses before your photo so the camera recognizes you the first time. Read each prompt on the screen and type carefully. Small mistakes can send you to a manual line and slow you down.
Apply Early So You Are Not Delayed
Processing times change during the year. Recent agency notes say many applications are approved in about two weeks. They also say some reviews can take 12 months or longer when the number of applicants is high. That is a wide range, which is why we tell people to plan ahead. (Check current terms before applying this.)
Apply at least six months before your next international trip. This gives your application time to move through review and gives you time to finish your interview before you travel. After you submit your form, sign in to your Trusted Traveler account once a week to check your status. If you see conditional approval, schedule the first interview you can get, then keep checking for an earlier opening. This simple habit helps you avoid last‑minute stress.
How To Fill Out The Application
Set aside at least 30 minutes. The form is easy to read, but it asks for a lot of details about your life and travel. You can save your progress and return later if you need more time.
Start at the official Trusted Traveler Programs website and choose Global Entry. Log in to your account or create one if this is your first time. The form begins with basic personal details. Type your legal name exactly as it appears on your passport and your driver’s license. Add your height and eye color so the system can match your identity.
Next, enter your passport number and your driver’s license information to confirm your citizenship or lawful status. If you plan to use Global Entry to cross a land border by car, you will also enter your vehicle details at this point.
The form then asks for your address history and job history. List every address and every employer you have had since August 2017. Be careful with months and years so your dates are correct. Many people keep a simple document with old addresses and jobs. Doing this once will save you time on future renewals.
You also need to list the countries you have visited since August 2017, not counting the United States, Canada, or Mexico. If you travel often, check your email confirmations or your photos to make sure you remember everything.
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Near the end, you will answer background questions. When you see the final review page, slow down. Read every line and fix any spelling mistakes or missing dates. Small errors can cause follow‑up questions and delay your approval. When everything looks right, submit the form and pay the nonrefundable fee. Prices and rules can change, so always check the latest details before you pay. (Check current terms before applying this.)
To make renewals easier later, keep a short list of your addresses, jobs, and trips in a secure notes app. Match the exact spelling of your name to your documents and use the same date format across the whole form. These two habits prevent many common slowdowns.
Do Your Interview With Enrollment On Arrival When You Can
After you receive conditional approval, you still need an interview. A fast way to finish is called Enrollment on Arrival. You complete the interview when you arrive in the United States from your international flight. Some preclearance locations outside the country also support this before you board.
This service is available at more than 45 airports worldwide. Before your trip, check whether your arrival airport offers it and confirm the hours for the time you land. Some counters close overnight or during slow periods. (Check current terms before applying this.)
Bring your U.S. passport if you are a citizen or your U.S. permanent resident card if that applies to you. Some airports ask for proof that you live at your current address. A mortgage statement, a lease, a rent receipt, or a recent utility bill usually works. The official site keeps a list of accepted documents, so read it before you travel. When you reach the checkpoint, follow the signs for Enrollment on Arrival and tell the officer you want to complete your Global Entry interview.
If you are leaving the United States, there is also an option to enroll before departure at Washington Dulles International Airport. Hours and rules can change, so confirm the details before you go. (Check current terms before applying this.)
If Enrollment on Arrival or departure does not fit your plans, you can schedule an appointment at a Global Entry enrollment center. Availability depends on the city and season. If your local center is booked, search nearby airports and nearby cities. Canceled appointments often appear without warning, so it helps to check more than once a day when you are trying to move your date sooner.
Your Global Entry Fee Also Covers TSA PreCheck
When you pay for Global Entry, you also receive access to the faster security screening program at many U.S. airports. If you do not already have this, getting Global Entry first can be the better deal because you pay once and receive both time‑saving benefits for five years.
Prices can change, but here is a simple way to compare. The security‑only program usually costs between 78 and 85 dollars for five years, and online renewals are often about 70 dollars. Global Entry costs about 120 dollars for five years. That means you get reentry benefits and faster security for roughly 42 dollars more than the security‑only option. (Check current terms before applying this.)
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If you only have domestic flights in the next few months and need help right away, the security‑only program is often approved in three to five days according to agency guidance. Just remember that you would pay both fees if you apply for the security‑only program now and Global Entry later. In most cases, you will not receive a refund for the earlier fee after your Global Entry approval unless your payment method gives you a statement credit for application fees. (Check current terms before applying this.)
A quick way to decide is to look at your next trips. If you expect at least one international flight in the next year, apply for Global Entry and get both benefits with one application. If you only have domestic trips for now, you can start with the security‑only program and add Global Entry when your plans change.
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