Global Entry

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the US Immigration and Naturalization Service operated INSPASS, a trusted traveler program designed to integrate with Canadian and European programs, at JFK and Newark Airports. INSPASS operated with a similar system, identifying travelers with their handprint. The program was discontinued in 2002 when the INS was merged with U.S. Customs to form U.S. Customs and Border Protection.[4]

The Global Entry program was initially deployed in 2008 at a small number of airports, including New York-JFK (Terminal 4), Washington-Dulles and Houston-Intercontinental. Following a good reception by travelers, the program was expanded to include Los Angeles International, Atlanta-Hartsfield, Chicago-O'Hare and Miami International Airport.

In May 2009, Global Entry membership was expanded to include Netherlands citizens who are also members of the Dutch Privium trusted traveler program under the FLUX (Fast Low-risk Universal Crossing) alliance. Present members of Global Entry are now permitted to apply to join the Privium program at Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport allowing entry into the Schengen area. Members of NEXUS and SENTRI are also entitled to use Global Entry.[5]

To enroll in Global Entry, applicants must first file an application with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and then submit to an interview and background check (which checks against multiple databases, including more than a simple TSA PreCheck). After submission, applicants must wait for either conditional approval or rejection. If conditionally approved, all first-time applicants must schedule an appointment for an interview, photograph and fingerprints. The wait for an interview may be months to a year.[14] There is no minimum number of international trips required to qualify for the Global Entry program.

There is a $100 non-refundable fee due at the time of application (before consideration for conditional approval). Unlike other trusted traveler programs, like NEXUS, the fee applies to infants and children. Some credit cards reimburse this fee to both the cardholder and household family members.[5]

Global Entry membership card

During the interview, the applicant's fingerprints are captured and a digital photo is taken. Applicants are also given instructions on how to use the automated kiosk. The applicant is not always approved on-site, but the interviewing CBP officer makes the final determination and can mark full approval immediately to within 15 minutes or hours later the same day. In any case, the program sends both an email notification and a letter stating the outcome, and this message is sent upon the interviewing officer's input of their decision. The email directs applicants to login to their DHS TTP portal to view the outcome. The physical letter may contain a membership ID card (typically only included if requested via the DHS TTP web portal). However, the card is neither required for any aspect of the program and also cannot be used at kiosks (i.e., a passport is still required). If a participant does not receive a card or else needs a replacement, the member may request via the TTP portal.

An advantage to viewing the status online is that, if approved, the Known Traveler ID ("KTN", required to be provided to participating airlines in order to receive TSA PreCheck) is supplied and may be used immediately. Otherwise, the approved applicant has to wait for their KTN in the physically mailed letter.

Although an ID card serves no purpose during customs interactions, it can be used as a photo ID at U.S. airports and for entry into certain other federal buildings. Further, airports without dedicated PreCheck lanes occasionally allow cardholding members to bypass standard security: while they wait in line, a special paper is given and provided to the x-ray operator letting them know that the member does not need to remove liquids, computer or clothing. However, this practice is much more common for after-hours use (i.e., this process is often used once the staffed, dedicated PreCheck lane is closed). The card is also WHTI-compliant, meaning it can be used at U.S. land and sea crossings into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, only (entry from all other countries and entry via air from any country still require a passport). The card is RFID enabled, so it can be used in Ready Lanes at such border checkpoints (an RFID enabled card is required for SENTRI, NEXUS and Ready lanes because data must read wirelessly in advance to allow border guards to preprocess passengers before the vehicle arrives at the crossing station). Further, Global Entry participants may also use the dedicated SENTRI and NEXUS lanes (other TTP programs allow only for use of their dedicated lane plus Ready Lanes).

Once an application is approved, the applicant may use the Global Entry kiosk at any participating airport for a duration of five years. The five year period begins at the member's next birthday following approval. So for instance, an applicant with a birthday in October who is approved in May (i.e., 5 months prior to their birthday) will enjoy 5 years + 5 months of privileges.

Renewal of membership requires an additional fee (currently, the same $100 fee as charged for new applicants), and in some cases, renewal applicants are selected for a new interview.[15][16][17] Early renewal is encouraged, and the renewal may be started beginning on the participant's birthday exactly 365 days ahead of expiration. Failure to renew on time results in permanent discontinuation, meaning an entire new application is required, and an interview is required (whereas, again, renewals on time do not always require an interview). The TSA maintains a list of credit card issuers and loyalty programs that reimburse members' TSA PreCheck and/or Global Entry application fees.[18]

Any type of criminal conviction can disqualify a traveler from the Global Entry program: it is a risk-based system to facilitate the entry of pre-approved travelers. Three to five percent of travelers who sign up for the program are rejected; in such cases, they are generally told the reason for the rejection. Applicants may not qualify if they provide false or incomplete information on the application, if they have pending criminal charges or for any other legal/customs issues (particularly, but not exclusively, for customs-related offenses) such as, for example, having previously paid a fine for transporting a prohibited or undeclared item at a port of entry in the U.S. or even abroad.

Those whose Global Entry applications are denied have three ways to appeal: making an appointment to speak with a supervisor at a trusted traveler enrollment center, e-mailing the CBP Trusted Traveler Ombudsman, or filing a complaint through the Department of Homeland Security's Traveler Redress Inquiry Program.[19]

CBP claims that less than one percent of active Global Entry participants' privileges are revoked. In these situations, an explanation for the revocation is not necessarily supplied.[20]

A common explanation for revocation or denial of re-approval is simply that the applicant no longer meets the inclusion criteria (i.e., a full reason is not supplied). Often, this means some kind of criminal activity, such as an outstanding warrant. Once said item is addressed, applicants have a chance of success, but it is still required to appeal via one of the above-listed three avenues. Notably, the Ombudsman may be reached, in certain circumstances, via the DHS TTP portal. Otherwise, a submission is required via the mail.

Global Entry kiosks

When entering by air, enrolled users must present their machine-readable passport or permanent residency card, and submit their fingerprints to establish identity. Users then complete a computerized customs declaration, and are issued a receipt instructing them to either proceed to baggage claim, or to a normal inspection booth for an interview.[21] For subsequent entries at certain facilities (e.g., NEXUS), only a facial recognition scan is required instead of the passport (however users are always advised to travel with a passport when abroad).

For entering by land and sea, enrolled users are provided with an RFID-enabled Global Entry membership card that may be used to enter the United States via expedited "Ready Lanes," akin to NEXUS lanes from Canada, or SENTRI lanes from Mexico. The card may also be used at sea ports of entry without the need of a passport. The Global Entry Card cannot be used to enter Canada: a passport is required. The card may be used, however, to return into the U.S. via land borders.[22]

  Countries participating in Global Entry or NEXUS

  Countries planning to participate in Global Entry

As of 2023, in addition to U.S. nationals and U.S. lawful permanent residents, nationals of the following countries may also apply for Global Entry:[26][27][28]

Nationals and permanent residents of Canada are not eligible to apply for Global Entry but they may apply for NEXUS, whose members have all benefits of Global Entry including using its kiosks.[24]

A limited number of nationals of Israel, Japan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been able to apply for Global Entry as a trial before eligibility is expanded to all nationals of these countries.[23] The governments of Australia and Costa Rica have also negotiated participation in the program.[29][30]

As of 2018, more than 96% of Global Entry members were citizens or permanent residents of the United States.[31]

Global Entry members by country, as of June 5, 2018[31]

Country	Members
U.S. citizens	5,065,225
U.S. permanent residents	173,308
Mexico	110,139
United Kingdom	29,830
Germany	13,397
South Korea	3,687
Argentina	3,502
Panama	3,236
Netherlands	2,878
Singapore	2,344
Taiwan	2,271
Colombia	1,561
Switzerland	1,106
Qatar	729
India	359
Israel	357
Japan	230
Saudi Arabia	18
Total	5,414,177

Participants may enter the United States (or the United States pre-clearance area in select international airports) by utilizing automated kiosks located at the following airports:[32]

•  Australia and  New Zealand: SmartGate system (eGate in New Zealand) is available to all holders of biometric passports of Australia and New Zealand, and selected other countries aged 16 or over for entry to Australia, and selected other countries aged 12 or over for entry to New Zealand. It requires no pre-registration and is similar to its US counterpart, although in addition, it uses facial recognition technology to process passengers.
•  Germany: federal police also offers Easypass automated border control at major airports (Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich). It is open to citizens of the European Union, citizens of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and South Korea.[33] Nationals of the US and the Hong Kong S.A.R. of China may also register.[34]
•  Hong Kong: e-Channel is situated at all border crossing points. A person who holds a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) inserts the card into a slot to enter the first gate and then has their thumbprint scanned to pass through the second gate.[35]
•  Japan: equivalent to the US program, Automated gate, costs 2200 JPY in the form of revenue stamps. It is similar in that a passport and fingerprint are scanned at a kiosk to pass.[36]
•  Mexico: Viajero Confiable program is open to Mexican citizens and US citizens who are members of Global Entry.[37] Prospective members must pass a background check and an interview with a Mexican immigration officer, and have fingerprints and iris scans taken. Kiosks are currently available at the Cancun, Los Cabos, and Mexico City international airports, but the Mexican government hopes to expand it to other cities in the near future.[38]
•  South Korea: Smart Entry Service is the automated immigration clearance system. South Korean citizens aged 7 or above, all foreigners residing in South Korea aged 17 or above, US citizens aged 17 or above who are not residing in South Korea and participating in Global Entry, and Hong Kong and Macau electronic passport holders aged 17 or above are eligible for the program. South Korean citizens who registered their fingerprints are exempted from pre-registration. US dual citizens holding South Korean citizenship must use their South Korean passports to use the programme. US citizens with a valid South Korean visa must use their Alien Registration Card to participate in the programme and are exempted from the Global Entry prerequisite. It uses both facial recognition and fingerprinting technology.[39]
•  Taiwan: e-Gate is a free automated entry system for citizens and certain classes of residents and frequent visitors. Users simply scan their travel documents at the gate and are passed through for facial recognition. Electronic fingerprinting is used when facial recognition fails. Registration is available at the immigration counter right at the port of entry.[40]
•  Singapore: enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS) enables Singaporean citizens aged 6 and above, foreigners that hold a valid work pass in Singapore and foreign visitors who enrolled in relevant Traveller programmes (stated below), to arrive and depart Singapore using the automated immigration gates at Singapore points of entry.[41] US citizens aged 6 or above (who are not residing in Singapore), are participating in Global Entry, and have visited Singapore at least 2 times in the last 24 months, are eligible to enrol into the Singapore - United States of America Trusted Traveller Programme (TTP).[42] Electronic passport holders from other selected nations, are eligible to enrol for the broader Frequent Traveller Programme (FTP).[43] All Singaporean citizens are exempted from enrolling into the eIACS, as they have registered their fingerprints whilst applying for Singapore national registration identity card (NRIC) and Singapore passport. Foreigners who hold a valid work pass, are also exempted from enrolling into the eIACS, as they have registered their fingerprints whilst applying for the relevant work pass.
•  Canada: the CANPASS provides expedited customs and immigration clearance for travelers flying on corporate and private aircraft flying from the United States. The program cost CA$40 and is valid for 5 years.[44] The program was previously available for commercial airline passengers and private boats and operated similar to Global Entry. The program was discontinued in 2018 in favour of NEXUS, which has the same benefits of the former CANPASS program in addition to the benefits of Global Entry, with existing members being allowed to kept their membership until it expires.[45][46]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Global Entry.

• U.S. Customs and Border Patrol – Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program