How to Get Global Entry: The Fast Track to Stress-Free Travel

It’s 4:57 a.m. at JFK, and the It’s 4:57 a.m. at JFK, and the Starbucks line already looks like the waitlist for a Michelin-starred omakase. A man in a wrinkled Patagonia vest is stress-scrolling CNN’s travel section, convinced his flight will leave without him, while a woman in yoga pants aggressively repacks her quart-size plastic bag of skincare products.

Welcome to the pre-dawn rodeo of modern air travel, where the line for security is longer than Welcome to the pre-dawn rodeo of modern air travel, where the line for security is longer than the one for Hamilton tickets. But there is an escape hatch, a way to step around the airport for Hamilton tickets. But there is an escape hatch, a way to step around the airport chaos like a celebrity gliding into the Met Gala while everyone else is stuck in traffic.

It’s called Global Entry. And if you haven’t heard about it—or you’ve been procrastinating the application because “it looks complicated”—this article will walk you through the process, . And if you haven’t heard about it—or you’ve been procrastinating the application because “it looks complicated”—this article will walk you through the process, culture, and quirks of the program. Think of this as your cheat sheet to the front of the line.

What Exactly Is Global Entry?

Global Entry is a program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows pre-approved travelers expedited clearance when entering the United States. Translation: you’ll skip the serpentine customs lines after an international flight and instead waltz up to a shiny kiosk that recognizes you faster than your iPhone’s Face ID.

The bonus? Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, which means no more removing shoes, laptops, or your dignity at domestic airport security checkpoints.

And it’s not just for jet-setters who spend half their lives on planes. If you take even two international trips a year, Global Entry pays for itself in sanity alone.

The Latest Travel Buzz: Everyone Wants It

Post-pandemic, the global travel surge has been relentless. According to TSA, 2024 broke records with more than 3 million passengers screened in a single day. Translation: airports are packed, tempers are short, and security lines feel like music festivals without the music.

In this chaos, Global Entry has become the new American status symbol—right up there with a black AmEx or a stroller that costs more than your rent. Even In this chaos, Global Entry has become the new American status symbol—right up there with a black AmEx or a stroller that costs more than your rent. Even TikTok influencers are filming “Get Ready With Me: Global Entry Interview Edition” videos, complete with outfit breakdowns (spoiler: athleisure dominates).

How to Get Global Entry (Without Losing Your Mind)

1. Create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) Account

Head over to the official Trusted Traveler Programs website (yes, ignore the shady third-party sites that promise to “fast-track” your approval for a fee). This is where you’ll start your application.

2. Fill Out the Application

Expect to provide:

3. Pay the How to Get Global Entry (Without Losing Your Mind)00 Fee

This fee is non-refundable, even if you’re denied. The good news? Many credit cards—like Chase Sapphire Reserve and AmEx Platinum—will reimburse the cost.

4. Wait for Conditional Approval

This can take weeks or months, depending on CBP’s workload. Pro tip: apply in the off-season (January or September) when fewer people are flooding the system.

5. Schedule (and Survive) the Interview

Once approved, you’ll book an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center—usually located at major airports. Bring your passport, driver’s license, and best poker face.

6. Get Approved, Get the Card, and Skip the Line

Once approved, you’ll receive a Global Entry card in the mail. You don’t need it for air travel (your passport is enough), but it’s handy for land crossings into Canada and Mexico.

Passport and driver’s license information

Address history (last five years)

Employment history (last five years)

Travel history (last five years, if you can remember that Bangkok layover)

“Where have you traveled in the last five years?”

“Have you ever been arrested?”

“Do you live at this address?”

Fun Facts (and a Few Cultural Nuggets)

Global Entry is good for 5 years. That’s about $20 a year—or roughly the price of a sad airport sandwich.
Kids need their own memberships. There’s no “family pass,” so your toddler also has to interview.
It’s expanding. U.S. citizens can use Global Entry- U.S. citizens can use Global Entry-style kiosks in partner countries, including Canada, Germany, and South Korea.
The wait times are legendary. In 2023, some applicants reported waiting over a year for interviews. That’s longer than most celebrity marriages.

Why Global Entry Feels Like Cultural Capital

It’s more than skipping lines—it’s skipping a whole category of suffering. Global Entry holders often describe the first time they walk past a 200-person customs line as “spiritual.”

Air travel, after all, has become the great equalizer of frustration. Whether you’re a hedge-fund manager or a college student with a backpack, you’re still stuck behind a family trying to smuggle three liters of olive oil through duty free.

Global Entry disrupts that narrative. It’s the closest thing to being upgraded to business class without paying $4,000. In a world obsessed with “time as the new luxury,” those few extra hours at home instead of in line are priceless.

FAQs: How to Get Global Entry

Q1: How much does Global Entry cost?

A: $100 for five years, though many credit cards will cover the fee.

Q2: Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?

A: Yes! That’s a $78 perk rolled in.

Q3: How long does the process take?

A: Application review can take weeks or months. Interviews are often booked out, but some airports allow “walk-in” interviews after international flights.

Q4: Can kids apply?

A: Yes, every traveler—no matter the age—needs their own membership.

Q5: What if I get denied?

A: Unfortunately, you won’t get a refund. Denials usually come from past criminal issues or incomplete applications.

The ContentHub.Guru Angle

At ContentHub.Guru, we like to peel back the layers of everyday systems—whether it’s finance, culture, or travel hacks—and reveal how they shape our lives. Global Entry isn’t just a bureaucratic program; it’s a mirror of our collective hunger for efficiency in a world that feels increasingly chaotic.

So the next time you’re inching through customs behind a line that resembles the queue for Space Mountain, ask yourself: do I want to spend the next five years here, or five minutes at a kiosk?