How to enroll in Global Entry: a step-by-step guide

Global Entry is the most powerful airport fast-pass a US traveler can carry: $120 for five years, automatic TSA PreCheck included, and minors under 18 now enroll free alongside a parent. The online application takes about 15 minutes. The real bottleneck is the in-person interview — appointment waits range from zero days at smaller enrollment centers to four-plus weeks at busy airports. This guide walks every step, including how to cut the interview wait dramatically.

What does Global Entry cost and what does it include?

Global Entry costs $120 for a five-year membership and that single fee covers TSA PreCheck automatically — there is no need to pay separately for PreCheck. The fee is non-refundable even if CBP denies your application. As of 2025–2026, minors under 18 can enroll at no cost when their parent or guardian holds Global Entry (confirmed on ttp.dhs.gov). Comparable programs NEXUS and SENTRI also cost $120 and may include PreCheck for US-Canada and US-Mexico travel respectively.

Comparing all three programs side-by-side? PreCheck vs. CLEAR vs. Global Entry — full breakdown.

How to apply for Global Entry step by step

Start at ttp.dhs.gov, create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account, and complete the online application covering personal information, a 10-year travel history, employment history, and questions about criminal or immigration history. The application itself takes about 15 minutes. Pay the $120 non-refundable fee by credit card — many premium travel cards reimburse this automatically. After submission, CBP runs a background check and issues a conditional approval decision.

• Go to ttp.dhs.gov and create a free TTP account
• Fill in personal info, 10-year travel and employment history, and background questions
• Pay $120 by credit card (keep the card — many reimburse this fee as a statement credit)
• Submit and wait for a conditional approval email — most simple cases are approved within a few weeks
• Once conditionally approved, schedule your enrollment interview or plan to use Enrollment on Arrival (see below)

How long does it take to get conditional approval?

CBP's own website states that processing time for new Global Entry applicants can exceed 90 days. In practice, roughly 80% of applicants with clean backgrounds receive conditional approval within two weeks of submission. Complex cases — multiple nationalities, prior criminal history, extended international residence — can take several months or longer. Renewal applicants typically receive near-instant conditional approval since their background is already on file.

• Simple cases (US citizen, clean record): typically 2–4 weeks
• Complex cases (dual citizenship, immigration history): 1–6 months or more
• Renewals: often immediate conditional approval
• CBP official guidance: can exceed 90 days — plan accordingly

How to schedule your Global Entry interview (and get one faster)

After conditional approval, log in to ttp.dhs.gov to book an appointment at one of 75+ enrollment centers, most located in major US airports. Wait times vary dramatically: some locations show zero-day availability while others show waits exceeding four weeks. The fastest strategy is checking multiple nearby airports rather than just your home airport, and using a cancellation-alert tool to grab dropped slots.

• Log in to ttp.dhs.gov → Schedule Interview → filter by state or airport
• Check 3–5 airports within driving distance — a smaller regional center often has same-week availability
• Use globalentryalerts.com to get SMS or email alerts the moment a cancellation opens at your chosen locations (free tier available)
• Check first thing in the morning — travelers tend to reschedule overnight
• If you have an international trip coming up, skip the appointment queue entirely via Enrollment on Arrival (see next section)

What to bring to your Global Entry enrollment interview

The interview lasts about 10 minutes: a CBP officer reviews your documents, takes your fingerprints and photo, and asks a few questions about your travel history. Missing any required document means rescheduling, so bring everything on this list. Your Known Traveler Number (KTN) is issued immediately at the end of the interview — you do not need to wait for a card in the mail.

• Valid US passport (or Lawful Permanent Resident card — green card)
• State-issued photo ID such as a driver's license
• Printed or digital copy of your conditional approval letter
• All valid passports if you hold dual or multiple citizenships
• For minors: their own passport, their own conditional approval letter, and a parent or guardian present

Enrollment on Arrival: complete your interview without an appointment

Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) is the fastest path to Global Entry membership for anyone with an upcoming international trip. If you have conditional approval and are arriving in the US from abroad, you can complete your interview right in the CBP inspection area — no appointment needed. A CBP officer processes your fingerprints and questions as part of the standard admissibility inspection. Your KTN is issued on the spot, and TSA PreCheck access activates within 24 hours.

• After landing internationally, follow signs for Global Entry / Enrollment on Arrival lanes
• Tell the CBP officer at primary inspection that you want to complete your enrollment
• Bring the same documents as a standard interview: passport(s), approval letter, photo ID
• Available at most major US international gateway airports
• This is the preferred path for frequent international travelers — eliminates weeks of appointment waiting entirely

Credit cards that reimburse the $120 Global Entry fee

More than two dozen US credit cards reimburse the Global Entry application fee as an automatic statement credit. Most cards cap reimbursement at $100 or $120 and allow one credit every four years — meaning the five-year membership cycle slightly outpaces card eligibility windows. Amex-issued cards generally cover the full $120 fee; some Chase and Capital One cards were originally structured around the old $100 fee and may leave a $20 gap.

• Pay with an eligible card when you submit your application — the credit appears within 1–2 billing cycles
• “Every 4 years” is the most common card cycle (not every 5), so at renewal you will need to re-use an eligible card
• If you have multiple eligible cards, Global Entry renewal credit can be used on a different card than the original application

Data verified as of June 29, 2026. Sources: ttp.dhs.gov, CBP Global Entry, CBP Enrollment on Arrival, Amex Global Entry credit, globalentryalerts.com.