Global Entry Program: Who Qualifies, How to Apply, and Interview Steps

The Global Entry program is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection membership that lets pre-screened travelers skip the regular immigration line when returning to the United States from abroad. It costs $120, lasts five years, and includes TSA PreCheck for domestic flights.¹ At the airport, you go to a dedicated kiosk or touchless portal that verifies you biometrically, confirm your customs declaration on screen, and walk out. Getting in requires an online application, a background check, and an in-person interview.

Who Qualifies

U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents with a valid, machine-readable passport or green card can apply.² Citizens of more than 20 partner countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, India, Mexico, and Australia among others, can also apply under reciprocal arrangements.³ Canadian citizens get Global Entry benefits through NEXUS instead of applying directly.

What Can Disqualify You

CBP has wide discretion to deny anyone it doesn’t view as low risk, and the $120 fee is non-refundable, so it pays to check yourself against the list before applying.² The specific bars include:

Any arrest, conviction, pending charge, or outstanding warrant in any country, including driving under the influence.⁴
Past violations of customs, immigration, or agriculture laws in any country.
An active investigation by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency.
Any prior grant of a waiver of inadmissibility or parole into the United States.
False or incomplete information on the application itself.
Any known or suspected connection to terrorism.

The regulation closes with a catch-all: CBP can deny anyone who “cannot satisfy CBP of his or her low-risk status.” Borderline cases tend to go against the applicant. If you have an old arrest, even one that was dismissed or expunged, pull the certified court disposition documents before you apply. Presenting them upfront is far more effective than trying to fix a denial later.

How to Apply

Applications go through the Trusted Traveler Programs portal at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov. You create an account, complete the application, and pay the $120 non-refundable fee by credit card or electronic bank transfer.⁵ Many premium travel credit cards reimburse the fee as a cardholder benefit, so check yours before paying out of pocket.

The application asks for your passport information, five years of residential addresses, and five years of employment history.⁶ You also list every country you’ve visited in the last five years other than Canada and Mexico.⁷ Dual citizens have to enter details for all passports they hold. If your driver’s license address doesn’t match where you actually live, have a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement ready to confirm your current residence.

Gaps and inconsistencies slow the background check. Outright inaccuracies can get you denied. Take the time to get dates and details right on the first pass.

How Long the Background Check Takes

Once you submit, CBP runs your information against criminal and security databases. About 80 percent of applications are approved within two weeks, but some take up to 12 months or longer.⁵ Complicated travel histories, common names, and records that need manual review all extend the wait. You can check status anytime in the TTP portal.

When CBP clears you, your status changes to “conditionally approved.” The background portion is done, but you still need an interview before your membership is active.

The Interview

Conditionally approved applicants have two ways to complete the interview. The traditional route is scheduling an appointment at a Global Entry enrollment center at a major airport or land border crossing. The other option is Enrollment on Arrival, where a CBP officer conducts the interview during your normal inspection when you return from an international trip.⁸ If you already have international travel booked, Enrollment on Arrival is usually the faster path because appointment slots at enrollment centers can book out for months.

At the interview, the officer verifies your identity, reviews your application, and collects fingerprints and a photograph.⁹ Those biometrics are what the kiosks use to recognize you later. Expect questions about your travel patterns, employment, and anything flagged in the background check. If everything checks out, you’re approved that day.

A physical Global Entry card arrives by mail in two to four weeks.¹⁰ You don’t need the card to use airport kiosks, but it’s valid ID at land and sea ports of entry and at TSA checkpoints.¹¹

Using It at the Airport

When you land in the U.S. from an international flight, bypass the standard immigration queue and go straight to the Global Entry kiosks. Newer touchless portals use facial comparison to match you against your stored biometric profile.¹² You confirm your customs declaration on the screen, take the printed receipt, and hand it to an officer as you exit the federal inspection area. That’s it. No paper form, no full interview line.

The Global Entry mobile app is a second option that lets you submit your arrival information from your phone before you reach the inspection area.¹³ You still need your physical passport or green card either way.

Membership doesn’t exempt you from inspection. CBP officers can pull any traveler aside for a random secondary search, and a false declaration through Global Entry carries the same legal consequences as one in the regular line, with the added risk that your membership gets revoked.

TSA PreCheck for Domestic Flights

Global Entry automatically includes TSA PreCheck.¹ PreCheck lanes let you keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on and leave laptops and liquids in your bag. For frequent domestic flyers, this benefit alone often justifies choosing Global Entry over a standalone PreCheck enrollment.

PreCheck isn’t automatic on every boarding pass, though. You have to add your Known Traveler Number to each airline reservation. The KTN is the nine-digit PASS ID on the back of your Global Entry card, and it’s also visible in your TTP account.¹⁴ The name and date of birth on the reservation must match your enrollment exactly, middle names and initials included. Any mismatch, and the PreCheck indicator won’t print on your boarding pass.

Applying for Children

Every traveler needs their own membership. A child cannot use a parent’s Global Entry at the kiosk. The fee, however, is waived for applicants 18 and under as long as a parent or legal guardian is already enrolled or has a pending application.¹⁰ A parent or guardian must give permission for a minor’s application and be present at the interview.

If neither parent is a member, the child can still apply but won’t qualify for the fee waiver. Enrolling yourself first and then submitting your children’s applications saves $120 per child.

Keeping Your Membership Active

Membership runs five years and expires on your date of birth in the fifth year.⁷ During those five years, keep your TTP profile current. Update it when you get a new passport, change your legal name, or move. Address changes can be done online; name or citizenship changes usually require an in-person visit to an enrollment center.

CBP can revoke membership at any time for a customs violation. In one case, a traveler returning from India lost membership and paid a $500 civil penalty for failing to declare rice and raw peanuts, both banned for agricultural pest reasons.¹⁵ Declare everything, including food items you think are harmless. A criminal arrest or customs violation that you don’t report can also trigger revocation on its own.

Renewing Your Membership

The renewal window opens one year before your expiration date.⁷ Start early, because CBP runs a fresh background check on renewal and processing times vary. If your membership lapses, you lose kiosk and PreCheck access until the renewal clears.

Renewal is submitted through the TTP portal and costs the same $120. A new in-person interview may or may not be required; CBP decides case by case, and your TTP account will tell you whether one is needed after you submit.¹⁰

If You’re Denied

If CBP denies your application or revokes your membership, the written explanation shows up in your TTP account.¹⁶ You can request reconsideration from the CBP Ombudsman through the “Request Reconsideration” button in the Program Memberships section of your dashboard.¹⁷ The request must be in English and should include a summary of the circumstances behind any flagged incident along with certified court disposition documents for every arrest or conviction, even those that were expunged. The Ombudsman reviews everything and makes an independent determination, so thorough documentation matters. The $120 fee is not refunded whether reconsideration succeeds or fails.

1
Transportation Security Administration. What Is the Difference Between Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and the Other Trusted Traveler Programs
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eCFR. 8 CFR 235.12 – Global Entry Program
3
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. International Arrangements
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Eligibility 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. Applying for Global Entry
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FAQ – Trusted Traveler Programs
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival
9
Federal Register. Collection of Biometric Data From Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure From the United States
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Frequently Asked Questions
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry Touchless Portal Instructions
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Mobile Apps Directory
14
Transportation Security Administration. How to Use TSA PreCheck Benefits
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP Revokes Global Entry Membership; Traveler Fails to Provide Truthful Declaration, Results in Loss of Privileges
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trusted Traveler Program Denials
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trusted Traveler Application Denial