Global Entry Is Not Just for U.S. Citizens: Who Can Apply and What Immigrants Should Know
For frequent international travelers, returning to the United States can involve long lines, paperwork, and an uncertain wait at immigration and customs. Global Entry can make that process much faster. What many travelers do not realize is that the program is not limited to U.S. citizens and Green Card holders.
Citizens of several partner countries may also apply. However, Global Entry is more than a travel convenience. Applicants must undergo a background investigation and satisfy U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) that they qualify as low-risk travelers. For someone with a prior arrest, criminal conviction, immigration violation, or customs problem, the application deserves careful consideration.
What Is Global Entry?
Global Entry is a CBP Trusted Traveler Program that provides expedited processing for preapproved travelers arriving at participating U.S. airports. Instead of waiting in the regular immigration line, members may use designated Global Entry technology to complete the arrival process more quickly.
Membership also includes access to TSA PreCheck benefits for eligible travel within the United States. Global Entry membership generally lasts for five years, although CBP may revoke membership if a traveler no longer satisfies the program’s requirements. You can read more about the program on the CBP Global Entry website.
Who Can Apply for Global Entry?
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may apply. Through international agreements, citizens of certain other countries may also be eligible.
As of August 2026, the participating countries include Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, India, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
Canadian citizens and residents generally receive Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program rather than through a standard Global Entry application.
The list of participating countries can change, and some countries require applicants to complete additional background checks or other steps through their own government. Before applying, foreign nationals should review CBP’s current Global Entry eligibility requirements and international arrangements.
How Does the Application Process Work?
An applicant begins by creating an account through the federal government’s Trusted Traveler Programs website, completing the application, and paying the required fee. The current Global Entry application fee is $120 and is generally nonrefundable, even if the application is denied.
CBP then reviews the application and conducts a background investigation. If the applicant is conditionally approved, the applicant must complete an in-person interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. In some cases, a conditionally approved applicant may complete the interview when arriving in the United States through CBP’s Enrollment on Arrival process.
Conditional approval is not final approval. CBP may ask questions about the applicant’s travel history, immigration history, employment, criminal record, or other information during the interview.
Can Children Apply?
Children of any age may apply, but every child must have a separate application and approval. If the child is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must consent and accompany the child to the interview.
The $120 application fee is waived for a child under 18 if the child’s parent or legal guardian is already enrolled in Global Entry or has a pending application. A parent or guardian who accompanies the child to the interview does not otherwise have to be a Global Entry member.
Why Can a Global Entry Application Be Denied?
Global Entry is discretionary. Meeting the basic citizenship or immigration requirements does not guarantee approval. CBP may deny an application if it cannot determine that the applicant is a low-risk traveler.
According to CBP, possible reasons for denial include providing false or incomplete information, having a criminal conviction, pending criminal charge, outstanding warrant, or law-enforcement investigation, or having violated customs, immigration, or agricultural laws. An applicant may also be denied if CBP determines that the person is inadmissible under U.S. immigration law.
This does not mean that every arrest, old conviction, or immigration mistake will necessarily produce the same result. The nature of the incident, its disposition, the surrounding circumstances, and the accuracy of the application can all matter. Nevertheless, CBP applies a broad low-risk standard, and even conduct that does not make a person removable or inadmissible may still prevent Global Entry approval.
Global Entry Does Not Replace a Visa or Guarantee Admission
This is the most important limitation to understand. Global Entry is a travel-processing program. It does not provide immigration status, replace a visa or ESTA authorization, waive a ground of inadmissibility, or give someone a legal right to enter the United States.
A foreign national must still travel with the required passport, visa, ESTA approval, Green Card, or other valid entry document. Each time the person arrives, CBP retains the authority to inspect the traveler and determine whether the person may be admitted.
A Global Entry denial also does not automatically mean that someone is inadmissible to the United States. These are different legal determinations. However, the information that caused the denial may reveal a separate immigration issue that should be investigated before the person travels again or files a future immigration application.
Be Careful With Criminal and Immigration History
A Global Entry application should be completed completely and honestly. An applicant should not omit an arrest, conviction, customs incident, visa overstay, prior removal, or other issue because it happened many years ago, was dismissed, was expunged, or does not appear on a recent background check.
The safest approach is to obtain and review the relevant records before applying. Depending on the issue, those records may include a certified criminal disposition, police report, immigration file, prior visa application, I-94 travel history, or documents relating to a customs or border incident.
Providing false or incomplete information can create a problem that is more serious than the original incident. If you are uncertain about what must be disclosed—or whether an underlying issue could affect your ability to travel—you should resolve that question before submitting the application.
Is Global Entry Worth Applying For?
For a frequent international traveler with a straightforward background, Global Entry can be very useful. It may substantially reduce the time spent completing immigration and customs processing after returning to the United States, and the included TSA PreCheck benefits can also make domestic travel easier.
For someone with a complicated immigration or criminal history, however, the practical answer may be different. Global Entry is a convenience, not a necessity. It may be better to evaluate the underlying issue first rather than submitting an application and hoping that it will not create questions.
Related Articles
If you found this article helpful, you may also be interested in:
- Green Card Holders With Criminal Issues Should Think Twice Before Traveling Abroad
- What the New Visa Bond Rule Means for Families Planning a Visit to the United States
- When the Past Comes Back in a Green Card Case
Schedule a Consultation
If you have questions about whether a prior arrest, conviction, immigration violation, or border incident may affect your ability to travel or apply for an immigration benefit, contact the Law Offices of Sean D. Hummel to schedule a consultation. Careful review before traveling or submitting an application can help identify problems while there is still time to address them. Call us at (954) 385-3111 or email sean@hummelaw.com.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Global Entry policies and immigration rules may change, and every case depends on its individual facts. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult a qualified immigration attorney regarding your specific circumstances.
About the Author
Sean D. Hummel is a South Florida immigration attorney and the founder of the Law Offices of Sean D. Hummel in Deerfield Beach, Florida. His practice focuses on family-based immigration, adjustment of status, consular processing, waivers of inadmissibility, naturalization, and removal-related matters.
