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With the help of the Global Entry Program biometrically registered and security screened travelers of certain nationalities can carry out passport control themselves and automatically at almost all major US airports. This avoids long waiting times and speeds up entry into the United States. Below, we have compiled the most important information on the subject of global entry and the USA.
The US has four programs, called the Trusted Traveler Programs which can speed up entry for people who are in a hurry:
Global Entry is a United States Trusted Traveler Registration Program (= low-risk travelers) who, after prior security screening and subsequent admission, can take advantage of a simplified and faster entry control.
With a membership in the CBP Global Entry Program, US travelers can go through the identity check at border crossings independently and automatically, thus saving a lot of time.
The US Global Entry program is administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is available at more and more US airports and recently also at the first harbor in Florida, for example, when entering the country by ship.
The program is aimed in particular at business travelers with several entries per year, diplomats and airline personnel. The Global Entry Program has grown considerably in recent years and is becoming increasingly popular with many US travelers. According to CBP statistics, there are now more than 12 million Global Entry users.
Anyone wishing to benefit from the popular US entry program must meet certain Global Entry requirements.
There is no prescribed minimum number of entries to the USA. Nevertheless, due to the application procedure and the associated application fee, participation in Global Entry is normally only worthwhile for people who fly to the USA frequently.
Nationals of the following countries may participate in the Global Entry Program:
North America:
Central and South America:
Europe
Asia
Global Entry members must have a valid ESTA travel authorization or a valid US visa to enter the USA. The Global Entry procedure only serves to speed up the entry procedure and is not a substitute for an entry and residence permit.
However, Global Entry cannot be used with all US visas. The following is a list of US visa categories with which Global Entry is possible:
The following reasons exclude admission to the Global Entry Program:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to fees for some of its most popular Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP), including Global Entry.
The following changes will come into force on October 1, 2024:
The Global Entry fee must be paid at the time of application via the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) system. The fee can be paid by credit card or electronic transfer and is non-refundable, even if the application is rejected.
You must check on a case-by-case basis whether there are any costs for the preliminary check with the the appropriate national authority in your country. The preliminary check at the Federal Police in Germany remains free of charge.
The Global Entry application fee has not been updated for over 15 years. The aim is to standardize the application fees for the US entry programs Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI and to cover the administrative expenses of the US authorities.
Those who wish to benefit from fast-track entry into the U.S. must apply for membership in the Global Entry Program.
To be eligible to participate in Global Entry, applicants must go through several registration steps. Depending on the country of origin, some of the processing steps may differ.
The Global Entry application process is as follows:
Once this final step is completed, a final confirmation of participation is sent to the applicant via e-mail.
Expedited entry with Global Entry is more popular than ever. U.S. Customs and Border Protection received up to 10,000 Global Entry applications per day in 2022 due to the popularity of the US entry program. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are increasingly backlogged with processing, so the wait time for Global Entry applications can take up to 12 months.
The US authority CBP recommends that conditionally approved Global Entry members complete the Global Entry Interview via Enrollment on Arrival whenever possible.
Yes, children aged 14 and over can also register for the Global Entry Program. They can participate even if their parents are not members of the Global Entry Program. They must go through the registration process and submit their fingerprints just like adults.
However, minors under the age of 18 require the consent of their parents or legal guardians. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the registration interview.
The simplification of entry controls for Global Entry members continues to progress, enabling even faster entry clearance.
Upon arrival at one of the participating US airports, Global Entry program members can complete the entry procedures themselves at the Global Entry Portal or Global Entry Kiosk.
1. Manual document verification
Global Entry travelers scan their machine-readable passport or Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) at the installed Global Entry machines. The fingertips must then be placed on the scanner to check the fingerprints and a customs declaration can be completed. Finally, a paper receipt or a slip with further instructions is printed out at the Global Entry machine.
The traveler must either go to a US border official or can proceed directly to baggage drop-off.
2. Biometric facial recognition
All international airports in the USA now have biometric facial recognition technology, which enables secure, contactless entry into the USA and at the same time biometrically records the entry and exit of non-US citizens.
The Simplified Arrival procedure automates the manual document check (passport scanning and fingerprinting) through the use of biometric facial data: Travelers simply scan their face at the Global Entry portals, while the algorithm compares the scan with matching biometric facial data in the database and confirms the person's identity.
In addition, more and more Global Entry touchless portals are becoming available. The new touchless Global Entry portals use biometric face matching technology. The US authorities expect the new Global Entry machines to be introduced at all major US and international airports by the end of 2023.
In September 2023, CBP introduced a free app for Global Entry participants. Travelers who are registered with Global Entry can use the Global Entry Mobile App to complete entry formalities on their cell phone instead of waiting in line or using a Global Entry portal or kiosk.
With the new app, travelers take a photo as a selfie, which is compared with a photo gallery and the identity is checked using biometric facial recognition. Once the photo has been submitted, a receipt is generated via the app, which can be presented directly to CBP officers.
Use of the Global Entry App was initially limited to seven US airports (Seattle Tacoma International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport) and will be extended to other US airports.
Currently, the Global Entry Program is in effect for five years.
German citizens must undergo a renewed check by the Federal Police once after two years in the context of an EasyPASS registration. For this purpose CBP will send an e-mail request to the participant. If this check is not complied with, the membership will expire.
The membership can be renewed at the earliest one year before the expiry of the Global Entry validity.
To do this, participants must log in to their account on the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website and update personal data there if necessary. Here you can now renew the application and subsequently pay the fees.
As soon as the membership status changes, the participant receives an e-mail.
Attention:The application for renewal must necessarily be made no later than the last day of the valid membership.
If you have renewed your Global Entry membership before the expiration date and the renewal (Renewal) has not yet been approved, CBP now grants 6 months after expiration of membership in which you can continue to use the benefits of the Global Entry program. This means that verified members can continue to use expedited entry to the United States for six months after membership expires, even if the renewal application has not yet been finalized (= pending).
Holders of one of the following visas for the USA are excluded from Global Entry:
Eligibility to participate in the Global Entry Program remains in effect even if the passport expires and a new passport is applied for.
However, the new passport must be officially registered for the Global Entry Program so that the new passport number and the new validity dates are noted. You can do this online via your Trusted Traveler Program account.
If the master data changes, such as the surname after a marriage, you must appear in person at a Global Entry Enrollment Center and present the new passport there.
The nine-digit Global Entry membership number is referred to as the Global Entry PASSID or Known Traveler Number. The Global Entry Number is located at the top left of the back of the Global Entry card, which is issued to US citizens or green card holders, for example.
(There is a second nine-digit number at the top right. This is the number of the Global ID Card).
If you do not have a physical Global Entry card, you can find your membership number in the login area of the Trusted Traveler Program website.
Note: The CBP PASSID is requested, for example, in the ESTA form in connection with the Global Entry program.
A Global Entry Portal or Kiosk is a machine that can carry out entry checks automatically. Global Entry Portals are often confused with passport control machines, which anyone can use. However, the functions of the Global Entry Kiosk are significantly more extensive and only accessible to participants in the Global Entry Program.
Thanks to biometric facial recognition, the latest Global Entry kiosk models are contactless. This enables even faster and more secure processing and is also advantageous from a hygiene point of view. These new portals are currently being rolled out across the board.
Here you will find a list of all US airports which are equipped with Global Entry Portals.
If the accompanying persons are not Global Entry members, they are not allowed to go through the Global Entry lanes with you.
The reason for this is that Global Entry membership is not transferable. Only registered Global Entry Program members can use the fast-track entry into the USA and pass through a Global Entry Portal.
Only US citizens and US immigrants (Green Card holders) as well as Mexican citizens receive a Global Entry Card.
This card is not required for expedited entry into the USA through the Global Entry Portals.
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