Global Entry application and interview steps
Apply for Global Entry through a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reviews the application before deciding whether you can complete an enrollment interview. Conditional approval and final membership approval are separate stages.
Where do I start a Global Entry application?
Use the TTP portal at ttp.dhs.gov and create or access your own profile. The portal uses Login.gov for sign-in. Each applicant needs their own TTP account, including children. Use the application in that profile rather than paying a company to create a separate application record.
Review eligibility before applying. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and citizens of eligible partner countries can have different requirements. Complete the history requested by TTP, including the relevant passport, residence, and employment information.
How much does Global Entry cost?
The adult application fee is $120 and is paid through TTP when submitting the application. It is non-refundable even if CBP denies the application. Payment purchases an application review, not a promise of approval.
Keep the TTP confirmation and check that submission and payment both completed. An unfinished application or a payment to another website does not establish that CBP received an application.
How long does Global Entry approval take?
CBP reviews the application before granting conditional approval. Some applications need extended review, so do not treat another traveler’s approval time as your deadline. Check the TTP dashboard for the actual status and any instruction.
The next stage is the required interview. A faster appointment is useful only after you qualify for that stage; it does not bypass the review that comes first. Final membership approval is what establishes access to program benefits.
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Follow the scheduling instructions in your TTP account. Each applicant needs their own interview arrangement. Bring the valid passport and the additional identification required by CBP; a lawful permanent resident must also bring the permanent resident card.
Read the confirmation for the interview location and method. The application, conditional approval, interview booking, and final approval are separate records. Keep each one so you can identify what remains unfinished.
Do children need their own Global Entry application?
Yes. A child cannot use a parent’s membership as their own. The child needs an individual application and must meet the enrollment requirements. A parent or legal guardian must participate as required for the child’s interview.
CBP provides a fee exception for applicants under 18 when a parent or legal guardian is already a qualifying trusted-traveler member or is applying. Follow the TTP instructions connecting the child to that parent or guardian rather than paying an assumed adult fee automatically.
Should I choose Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?
Global Entry concerns expedited entry when returning to the United States. TSA PreCheck concerns airport security screening before departure. Global Entry members can be eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits, but the enrollment processes are different.
Choose based on the border-crossing and airport-screening services you need, the eligibility rules, and the steps required to finish enrollment. Existing Global Entry members instead use membership renewal. Updating passport details in a profile alone does not renew the membership.
FAQ
Is conditional approval enough to use Global Entry?
No. Complete the interview and any remaining instructions, then confirm final approval in TTP.
Can I renew from the first-time application route?
Existing members should use the renewal option on their TTP dashboard instead.