For those who are passionate about traveling, Global Entry is a total game-changer. While the initial process might involve a bit of effort, the rewards it offers are absolutely invaluable. However, here’s something to keep in mind: to fully enjoy the benefits of Global Entry, every traveler, regardless of their age, must hold their own membership. Simply put, even newborns must have their own membership to use those expedited immigration lines. So, let’s talk details about getting Global Entry for your kids.
What is Global Entry?
Global Entry is a program managed by the United States Customs and Border Patrol. It allows approved travelers to skip the regular customs and immigration line when they re-enter the U.S. from an international trip. A side bonus: GE membership also comes with TSA PreCheck, allowing you to access expedited security lines.
Requirements:
- Application, background check, and an in-person interview.
- The application fee was $100. However, as of October 2024, kids can now apply for free (yay!).
- Membership must be renewed every five years.
- Children must have their own membership; they can’t share a parent’s membership.
Getting Global Entry for your kids
You’ll need to follow the exact same steps as you did when you got GE for yourself:
- Complete an application through the Trusted Travelers Programs (TTP) website. An important note: Each applicant will require their own email address to submit their application through the TTP website. For my two boys, I used my business email for one of their accounts and the spam email that I use for online shopping for the other. If you don’t have a million email addresses like a crazy person (🙋🏻♀️) you will need to create an email address for each of your kiddos to submit applications.
- Once you apply, they will run a background check. This seems crazy to do on a child, but they do it. When complete, you will receive an email informing you that you are conditionally approved and eligible to book an in-person interview.
- Scheduling interviews can be tricky. I suggest grabbing whatever appointment is available and then diligently monitoring the website (by diligently, I mean constantly checking and obsessively refreshing your screen throughout the day) till a better appointment time comes up. Remember that each of your kids needs their own appointment time.
Do my kids need to do an in-person interview?
Short answer? Yep. Obviously, they aren’t going to grill your kids. It’s mostly to make sure their information matches their passport. What to expect from the interview:
- Only one parent must be present (unlike the passport application where both parents must be present).
- You will need to bring your passport as well as your child’s.
- They will most likely scan your child’s fingerprints.
A note about fingerprints
My youngest son had his GE interview when he was three years old. They couldn’t capture his fingerprints because they weren’t fully formed yet (🥺). This meant that whenever we re-entered the country and used a GE kiosk, his receipt would print out with a big “X” on top. We then needed to take the receipt to the counter so the agent could verify his passport. Not the end of the world, but as soon as he was old enough, we made a new appointment to have his fingerprints captured in the system.
Your kid has Global Entry, now what?
Yay! Now that the whole fam has Global Entry, you can cruise through airports like pros. Your kid will soon receive their physical Global Entry card by mail. This card contains their nine-digit PASSID Global Entry number in the upper left corner on the back. Airlines will call this your “Known Traveler Number.” Be sure to save this number in all of their airline loyalty accounts. You must also attach it to all their flight bookings to have TSA PreCheck printed on their boarding pass.
A note about passports
Kids’ passports expire every five years (as do Global Entry memberships). You will likely need to renew your child’s passport before their Global Entry needs renewal. If this happens, remember to update their new passport number in their Trusted Traveler account online.
In Conclusion
It’s a bit of extra work, but getting Global Entry for the whole family will help ensure an easy breezy airport experience.
