The Best Time to Renew Global Entry — and How to Do It

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design journalist with expertise in aviation, meteorology, and polar regions. She was a former editor at Architectural Digest, TripAdvisor, and ArtNews.

If you're a frequent international traveler, you're likely aware of Global Entry, a special program providing expedited entry into the U.S. for eligible low-risk travelers. And if you've recently joined, you might not know you need to renew your membership every five years. The renewal process is typically straightforward, and you can start it one year before your membership expires. Read on for a detailed breakdown of how to renew Global Entry and the best time to do it.

What is Global Entry?

Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), part of the Department of Homeland Security. Once you become a Global Entry member, you can use expedited lanes at border crossings, which typically have kiosks that handle entry. Global Entry membership includes TSA PreCheck.

The five-year Global Entry membership costs $100, with the price increasing to $120 on October 1, 2024. Many credit cards pay for it as one of their perks.

What are the Global Entry benefits?

The main benefit of Global Entry is expedited entry into the U.S. via dedicated lanes at border crossings, primarily at U.S. airports. A secondary benefit is that your Global Entry ID card counts as a Real ID. Through the included TSA PreCheck membership, Global Entry members also have access to expedited security screening lanes.

Who is eligible for Global Entry?

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible for Global Entry, as well as citizens of the following countries:

• Argentina
• Bahrain
• Brazil
  
• Colombia
• Croatia
• Dominican Republic
• Germany
• India
• Mexico
• The Netherlands
• Panama
  
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

Additional countries, such as Australia, will be added to the Global Entry list in the future, and you can refer to the CBP website for details.

Where can I use Global Entry?

Global Entry kiosks are typically found at most major international airports and select seaports. You can also use Global Entry in SENTRI and NEXUS lanes to enter the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, respectively — but for SENTRI, you must first have your car inspected by CBP.

How long does it take to get approved for Global Entry?

There are two steps in the Global Entry application process: application vetting and in-person interview. At the time of publication, vetting typically occurs within two weeks of application submission. Once completed, conditional approval will be sent, and applicants can secure an interview appointment. Appointments are limited, so it may take weeks or even months to get one.

"If you're struggling to get through that final interview stage due to the lack of appointments, check out the Enrollment on Arrival program. It's a great workaround if you're coming back to the U.S. from abroad and allows you to interview with an agent while going through immigration at most major U.S. airports," Kristin Winkaffe, founder of Winkaffe Global Travel, tells Travel + Leisure. "You won't skip the lines on that entry, but you'll get your interview done and be set for next time."

What are the steps for renewing Global Entry?

1. Log into your Trusted Traveler Program account at ttp.dhs.gov.
2. Select "renew" under the Global Entry program on your dashboard.
3. Answer the questions, fill out your payment info, and submit your application.
4. If you apply for renewal before your membership expiration date, your Global Entry membership will be valid for up to 24 months past your expiration date.
5. If you're applying after your expiration date, you will not receive Global Entry benefits as you await approval.
6. After you receive conditional approval, you may need to schedule an interview with CBP. Sometimes, you'll need to do an in-person interview, while select applicants may be able to do this virtually. Interviews are not always required for renewals.
7. Once you're fully approved, your new Global Entry card will be mailed to your address. Be sure to activate your new Global Entry membership online once you receive it.

When should you renew Global Entry?

You become eligible to renew Global Entry one year before your membership expires, and that's exactly when you should begin the reapproval process. If you submit your renewal application before your membership expires, you can continue to use Global Entry for up to 24 months after your expiration date.

"The best advice I can give is to get the ball rolling one year before it expires," says Winkaffe. "It's better to be safe than sorry, especially with how unpredictable processing times can be. This way, you won't have a gap in your traveler status."

If you wait too long, your Global Entry membership may lapse, and you'll find yourself relegated to the regular immigration line — and the regular security line without TSA PreCheck. "I found myself on a couple of trips without TSA PreCheck or Global Entry — quite the downer after enjoying these perks for years," says Winkaffe. "It's a real game-changer to breeze through security and customs, and once you've had a taste of it, you really feel the difference when it's missing."

How long does it take to get approved for Global Entry renewal?

The processing times for conditional approval vary greatly, from as little as 24 hours to a full year — or perhaps even longer.

For example, my own renewal process spanned about five weeks, including the time it took to schedule and complete an interview (I was able to do mine virtually). However, my husband's renewal was fully approved within one day, and he didn't have to interview at all.

If you end up without Global Entry, you still have an option for expedited entry into the U.S.: Mobile Passport Control. This allows you to fill out your customs declaration via an app and then use a dedicated lane at the border. In some cases, the Mobile Passport line might even be faster than Global Entry.

Can you add SENTRI to Global Entry?

You can use SENTRI lanes when entering the U.S. from Mexico with Global Entry, but you must first have your vehicle inspected by and registered with CBP. Make an appointment online at ttp.dhs.gov — the fee is $42.