How to Apply for Global Entry in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
Applying for Global Entry in 2026 takes five steps: create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov, complete the online application, pay the $120 fee, wait for conditional approval, then schedule your in-person interview. The membership lasts five years and includes TSA PreCheck. Most of the calendar time is not the paperwork. It is the wait for a conditional-approval decision (commonly a few months) and then the wait for an interview slot, which at busy centers can run several months to a year. This guide walks through every step, what documents you need, and how to get that interview date sooner.
To apply for Global Entry: set up a login.gov and TTP account at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov, fill out the Global Entry application, and pay the non-refundable $120 fee. CBP runs a background check and issues a "conditional approval." You then book an interview at an enrollment center or complete it through Enrollment on Arrival when you next fly back into the U.S. After the interview you are approved, and membership is valid for five years. Budget roughly 4 to 12 months start to finish, most of it waiting on the interview.
What this guide covers
- What Global Entry is (and what it is not)
- Cost and whether it is worth it
- Eligibility and what can disqualify you
- Documents you need before you start
- The 5-step application process
- The interview: what to expect
- Realistic timeline
- The real bottleneck: getting an interview date
- Frequently asked questions
What Global Entry is (and what it is not)
Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It lets pre-approved, low-risk travelers skip the regular passport-control queue when arriving in the United States, using Global Entry kiosks or the CBP mobile app at more than 75 U.S. and preclearance airports.
What Global Entry is not: it is not a visa, it is not a fast-track for the security line by itself, and it does not guarantee you are waved through customs. Officers can still send any traveler to secondary inspection. What it does reliably is cut the immigration wait on arrival, which is where international travelers lose the most time.
- Expedited U.S. entry at kiosks or via the CBP app
- Includes TSA PreCheck for faster domestic security screening
- Dedicated Global Entry lanes at many airports
- Valid for five years, then renewable online
- Works for eligible travelers of almost any age
Cost and whether it is worth it
The application fee is $120 for a five-year membership, which works out to about $24 per year. The fee is non-refundable even if CBP denies you, so it is worth confirming you are eligible before paying.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, which costs about $78 on its own for five years. So the real premium for adding full customs benefits is roughly $42 over five years. Many premium travel credit cards also reimburse the $120 fee as a statement credit once every four to five years, which can make it effectively free. Check your card's benefits before you pay.
Eligibility and what can disqualify you
CBP reviews every application individually. Meeting the basic criteria gets you into the pool, but final approval is at the officer's discretion.
Who can apply
- U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Citizens of partner countries with a Global Entry arrangement, including Argentina, Colombia, India, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and others (partner lists and steps change over time, so confirm on cbp.gov)
- Children and minors can apply, but anyone under 18 needs a parent or legal guardian's consent and must be accompanied at the interview
What commonly causes a denial
- Criminal convictions or pending charges
- Prior customs, immigration, or agriculture violations
- Outstanding warrants or unresolved legal matters
- Providing false or incomplete information on the application
- Having been denied entry to the United States or another country
A single old, minor issue does not automatically disqualify you. CBP weighs the nature of the offense and how much time has passed, and it can exercise discretion. But do not try to hide anything, because an omission CBP finds on its own is treated far more seriously than the underlying issue. If you are unsure how your record affects eligibility, read what disqualifies you from Global Entry before you apply.
Documents you need before you start
Have these ready so you can finish the application in one sitting and bring them to your interview.
| Document | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | Everyone (must be valid at the time of your interview) |
| Driver's license or state ID | Everyone who has one |
| Permanent Resident Card | Lawful permanent residents |
| Second form of ID | Often requested (birth certificate, second government ID) |
| Proof of residency | If asked (utility bill, mortgage or lease, bank statement) |
| Name-change documents | Marriage certificate or court order if your name changed |
The 5-step application process
- Create your accounts. Go to ttp.cbp.dhs.gov and sign in with (or create) a login.gov account, which CBP uses for authentication. Then start a Trusted Traveler Programs profile.
- Complete the Global Entry application. Select Global Entry and fill in your personal details, passport and travel-document information, five-year address and employment history, and the background questions. Accuracy matters more than speed. Mismatches trigger delays.
- Pay the $120 fee and submit. Pay by credit card, debit card, or through an approved payment account. Once you submit, CBP begins its background check. The fee is non-refundable.
- Wait for conditional approval. CBP reviews your application and updates your TTP account status. When it changes to conditionally approved, you have cleared the background check and can move to the interview. This step commonly takes a few months and varies with volume. Track the range in our conditional-approval timeline guide.
- Schedule and complete your interview. Book a slot at an enrollment center in your TTP account, or complete Enrollment on Arrival at a participating airport when you return from an international trip. After a successful interview, you are approved.
Once you are conditionally approved, CBP gives you one year to complete the interview. Miss that window and your application can lapse, meaning a new application and a new fee. With interview waits running long at big-city centers, do not sit on it. Here is exactly what happens if you miss the 365-day deadline.
The interview: what to expect
The interview is short, usually 10 to 20 minutes. An officer verifies your identity and documents, takes your fingerprints and photo, and asks a few questions about your travel and background. Bring your passport and, if you have it, your driver's license.
The questions are predictable. Officers are confirming that your application is truthful and that you understand the program. For the full list and what officers are really evaluating, see our guide to the most common Global Entry interview questions, and use the interview checklist so you are not turned away for a missing document.
Possible outcomes
- Approved. Your membership activates and your Global Entry benefits, including TSA PreCheck, begin. A physical card follows for land and sea use.
- Pending. The officer needs more time or additional review. You will be notified through your TTP account.
- Denied. You can request reconsideration or reapply later. CBP explains the appeal path in your decision notice.
Realistic timeline
- Day 0Submit application and pay the $120 fee.
- A few monthsCBP completes the background check and issues conditional approval (varies by volume).
- Right after approvalBook your interview, or plan to use Enrollment on Arrival on your next international return.
- Weeks to 12+ monthsInterview wait, depending almost entirely on which enrollment center you choose.
- Interview dayMost applicants get a decision the same day.
- After approvalBenefits are active immediately; the physical card arrives by mail.
Total time from application to a Global Entry card commonly lands somewhere between 4 and 12 months, and the single biggest variable is how long you wait for an interview.
The real bottleneck: getting an interview date
The paperwork is easy. The pain point is the interview. At busy centers like JFK, LAX, SFO, and Miami, the next available appointment is often many months out, and short-notice openings vanish almost instantly because they come from other people's cancellations rather than new releases.
That means the calendar you see the day you get conditionally approved is not the calendar you are stuck with. Slots open and close constantly. The problem is that a human refreshing the TTP site a few times a day will almost never be looking at the exact second an earlier slot appears. We break down why in why appointments disappear in 60 seconds and why the site shows no appointments available.
Two things reliably shorten the wait: widening your search to less-crowded and border-town centers, and catching cancellations the moment they post. Our guide on booking appointments faster covers the manual playbook in full.
Skip the manual refresh
FindGlobalEntry watches every U.S. enrollment center around the clock and alerts you the moment an earlier slot opens at a center you pick, so you can grab it before it is gone. It is a one-time payment, not a subscription.
See how appointment alerts workFrequently asked questions
How much does Global Entry cost in 2026?
Global Entry costs $120 for a five-year membership. The fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied. Because it includes TSA PreCheck, the effective added cost over PreCheck alone is only about $42 for the five years.
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?
Yes. A Global Entry membership includes TSA PreCheck for expedited domestic security screening at no extra cost. You do not need to apply or pay for PreCheck separately. Add your Known Traveler Number to your airline profiles to use it.
How long does the whole process take?
Plan for roughly 4 to 12 months. Conditional approval commonly takes a few months, and then the interview wait varies from a few weeks at low-demand centers to well over a year at the busiest airports. The interview is usually the longest part.
What happens if my application is denied?
You can request reconsideration or appeal, and you can reapply later with a new fee. Your denial notice from CBP explains the reason and the path to challenge it. Common causes are criminal history, prior border violations, and inaccurate application answers.
Can children apply for Global Entry?
Yes. There is no minimum age, but anyone under 18 needs consent from a parent or legal guardian and must be accompanied by that adult at the interview. Each person, including each child, needs their own application and fee.
Can I get an interview faster than the date shown?
Often, yes. The first date the TTP scheduler shows is not fixed. Slots reopen constantly from cancellations. Widening your search to nearby and border centers helps, and monitoring for cancellations lets you grab an earlier slot the moment it posts instead of waiting for the original date.
How do I renew Global Entry when it expires?
You renew online through your TTP account, and you can start up to a year before your membership expires. See our 2026 renewal guide for the current fee, timeline, and whether you will need another interview.