How to Apply for Global Entry

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that lets pre-approved, low-risk travelers clear customs faster when entering the United States. You apply online through the official Trusted Traveler Programs website, pay a $120 fee, and attend an in-person interview. Membership lasts five years.

• A Login.gov account, which you create when you begin your application on the Trusted Traveler Programs website
• A valid passport, plus another form of identification such as a driver's license or ID card for your interview
• Your permanent residency card, if you are a lawful permanent resident
• A printout of your conditional approval letter, which is useful to bring to your interview
• $120 for the non-refundable application fee (waived for minors under 18 whose legal guardian is enrolled or pending)
• The new Trusted Traveler mobile app, if you want to manage your membership or confirm your arrival on your phone

1. Go to the official Trusted Traveler Programs website at ttp.dhs.gov and choose Global Entry.
2. Create a Login.gov account when directed. Login.gov is the shared sign-in platform for several federal services, and you will be sent back to the Trusted Traveler Programs site after signing in.
3. Complete the Global Entry application online. You will be asked about your personal history, including any aliases or criminal record, where you have lived, and which countries you have visited in the past five years.
4. Pay the $120 non-refundable application fee.
5. Wait for your application to be vetted. Vetting normally takes about two weeks. If your application needs manual review, that review currently takes between 12 and 24 months, depending on the program.
6. Once you receive conditional approval, log in to your account and schedule an interview at a Global Entry enrollment center. Check enrollment center locations and availability before you apply so you know you can travel to one.
7. Alternatively, complete your interview when you land at a participating airport through Enrollment on Arrival (EoA).
8. Attend your interview. A CBP officer will verify your application information, fingerprint you, and take your photo. The appointment usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
9. If you are approved, you will receive a REAL ID-compliant Global Entry card in the mail. Your membership lasts five years.
10. Download the new Trusted Traveler mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It replaced the Global Entry mobile app and the Trusted Traveler Programs mobile app on September 15, 2026, and you can sign in with your existing credentials.

• The application fee is $120 for five years of membership. Minors are free when a legal guardian is enrolled in the program or in pending status.
• Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck. Canadian citizens must enroll in the NEXUS program to get Global Entry benefits.
• You must be 18 or older, or have a parent or legal guardian's consent if you are under 18. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the interview for applicants under 18.
• You must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. lawful permanent resident, or a citizen of a select country. Some countries have additional requirements.
• You may be found ineligible if you provide false or incomplete information, have a criminal conviction or pending charges, have violated customs, immigration or agriculture laws, are under investigation, have been denied a firearm purchase, or are inadmissible to the United States.
• CBP releases new interview appointment slots on the first Monday of every month at 9 a.m. local time. The calendar fills quickly, but last-minute cancellations appear, so keep checking.
• Once approved, add your PASS ID number to your airline profile so your benefits apply. Airlines call this the Known Traveler Number.
• At the airport, follow the signs to the Global Entry kiosks or use the mobile app at select airports. Global Entry uses facial recognition. CBP deletes photos of U.S. citizens after 12 hours, and photos of lawful permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens within 14 days. If you do not want to provide biometric information, you must use the regular customs line.
• Children, spouses and travel companions can only use the Global Entry line if they have their own membership.
• Some credit cards reimburse the application fee as a statement credit, typically once every four or five years.

How long does approval take? Vetting normally happens within two weeks of submitting your application. If manual review is needed, it currently takes between 12 and 24 months, and processing times can vary widely between members of the same household.

Can I interview when I land instead of at an enrollment center? Yes. Enrollment on Arrival lets you complete your interview at select international airports when you land. Look for the EoA lanes and check whether CBP officers are available.

How much does Global Entry cost? The application fee is $120 for five years. It is waived for minors under 18 whose legal guardian is enrolled or in pending status.

Do I need Global Entry if I am Canadian? Canadian citizens must enroll in the NEXUS program to get Global Entry benefits.

What happens to the old mobile apps? The Global Entry mobile app and the Trusted Traveler Programs mobile app stopped functioning on September 15, 2026. They were replaced by the new Trusted Traveler mobile app, and your existing credentials and membership information transfer over.