Global Entry Program: Eligibility, Application, and Renewal

The Global Entry program is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection trusted traveler program that lets pre-approved, low-risk travelers clear customs quickly when arriving in the United States from abroad. Membership costs $120, lasts five years, and includes TSA PreCheck for domestic flights.¹ Getting it involves a background check, an online application, and a short in-person interview.

Who Qualifies

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents with a valid green card can apply regardless of where they live. Citizens of 22 other countries with bilateral security agreements can also apply, and some of them must first enroll in their home country’s trusted traveler program before starting the U.S. application.² Canadian citizens don’t apply for Global Entry directly; they get the same benefits by joining the separate NEXUS program.³

There is no minimum age. Children under 18 need written consent from a parent or legal guardian, and that parent or guardian must attend the interview, though they don’t have to be a Global Entry member themselves. The $120 fee is waived for a minor when a parent or legal guardian is already enrolled or has a pending application.²

What Can Get You Denied

CBP has broad discretion to deny anyone it considers a potential risk for terrorism, smuggling, or other criminal activity. The agency looks at whether you can show a track record of following customs and immigration law.⁴ Common reasons for denial include:

Any arrest or conviction, regardless of how long ago it happened or whether it involved travel.
Pending charges or outstanding warrants anywhere in the world.
Past customs, immigration, or agriculture violations, including failing to declare items or exceeding duty-free limits.
Being under active investigation by any federal, state, or local agency.
False or misleading information on the application. Beyond the denial itself, making false statements to a federal agency can bring fines and up to five years in prison under 18 U.S.C. 1001.⁵

An expunged or pardoned conviction doesn’t automatically clear you. CBP requires applicants to disclose all arrests and convictions, including expunged ones, and provide court documentation. The agency reviews the underlying facts regardless of how the record was later classified.⁶ Disclose everything upfront. Approval is not permanent either: CBP can suspend or remove you at any time if you’re later arrested, convicted, or found to have violated program rules.⁷

How to Apply

Applications start at the Trusted Traveler Programs portal on the DHS website. You’ll create a Login.gov account, then complete the online application.⁸ Before you begin, gather:

A valid passport, or a lawful permanent resident card if that applies to you.
Five years of address history, with dates.
Five years of employment history, with employer names, job titles, and addresses, with no gaps.
A driver’s license or state ID confirming your current residential address.

The application asks for this information in specific fields that CBP cross-references against government databases.⁹ Small discrepancies between what you enter and what’s in public records can slow things down, so check dates and addresses carefully before you submit.

The $120 fee is due at submission and is non-refundable. Most applications get a decision within about two weeks, but reviews can take up to 12 months or longer when there’s criminal history or another complicating factor.¹

The Interview

If CBP conditionally approves you, your account will prompt you to schedule an in-person interview at a Global Entry enrollment center. These are located at major international airports and some government buildings.¹⁰ Bring your passport, your driver’s license or ID with your current address, and your permanent resident card if you have one.⁹

A CBP officer verifies your identity, takes your fingerprints, and asks straightforward questions about your travel, employment, and any past customs or law enforcement issues. It usually takes five to thirty minutes. If everything checks out, you receive final approval and a PASS ID, the nine-digit number that identifies you in the system.

If a separate trip to an enrollment center is inconvenient, conditionally approved applicants can finish the interview through Enrollment on Arrival, which completes the process when you return from an international flight at a participating airport. Bring your passport (all of them, if you carry more than one), proof of your current address such as a driver’s license or utility bill, and your permanent resident card if applicable. The address documentation requirement doesn’t apply to minors.¹¹

What Membership Gets You

On arrival at a U.S. airport from abroad, you skip the standard customs line and walk to a Global Entry portal. CBP has moved from older kiosks to touchless portals at many airports, using facial recognition to identify you as you step in front of the camera. Most of the time the system processes your entry without a document scan; if it needs more, the screen prompts you to insert your passport.¹² No paper customs declaration required.

TSA PreCheck for Domestic Flights

Every Global Entry member automatically gets TSA PreCheck.¹³ To use it, put your PASS ID in the Known Traveler Number field when you book a flight. Your PASS ID is on the back of the Global Entry card and in your TTP account.¹⁴ The PreCheck indicator then appears on your boarding pass and lets you use the expedited security lane. Carrying the Global Entry card through the airport does nothing on its own; the number has to be in the reservation.

Land and Sea Border Crossings

CBP issues a physical Global Entry card with an RFID chip. You can use it at U.S. land and sea ports, in SENTRI lanes at the southern border, and in NEXUS lanes at the northern border. Two limits worth knowing: the card is not valid for entry into Canada through NEXUS lanes, and it doesn’t work at airport Global Entry portals or kiosks, which read passports and permanent resident cards only.¹⁵ At southern crossings, SENTRI program rules apply.

Renewal

Membership runs five years from the date of approval.¹ You can renew starting one year before your expiration date, and the fee is again $120. Timing matters. If you file your renewal before your membership expires, you keep your benefits for up to 24 months past the expiration date while CBP processes it. Wait until after it lapses and you lose that grace period; benefits stop immediately.¹⁶

If Your Application Is Denied

A denial isn’t necessarily final. If you think the decision rests on inaccurate or incomplete information, you can file a reconsideration request through the Trusted Traveler Programs Ombudsman. Log into your TTP account and find the “Request Reconsideration” button in the Program Memberships section of your dashboard.¹⁷

The request must be in English. Include the date of your denial, the reason given in your notification letter, a written explanation of the circumstances, and PDF court disposition documents for every arrest or conviction, expunged records included. You can attach other supporting documents as well. The Ombudsman reviews the file and issues a new decision. CBP doesn’t publish a guaranteed timeline for reconsideration.¹⁷

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Eligibility for Global Entry
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. International Arrangements
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eCFR. 8 CFR 235.12 – Global Entry Program
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1001 – Statements or Entries Generally
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trusted Traveler Program Denials
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eCFR. 8 CFR 235.12 – Global Entry Program
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Trusted Traveler Programs
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Applying for Global Entry
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. How to Apply for Global Entry
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Touchless Portal Instructions
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Transportation Security Administration. What Is the Difference Between Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and Other Programs
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Transportation Security Administration. What Is a Known Traveler Number (KTN)?
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Card
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Frequently Asked Questions
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trusted Traveler Application Denial