Is a Credit Card with Global Entry Benefit Right for You?

If you travel internationally, it may be a good idea to get a credit card that offers Global Entry fee reimbursement. These cards usually give a $100 statement credit to cover the cost of the program, along with many additional travel-related benefits and rewards. 

Frequent travelers know how challenging and time-consuming it can be to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad. Long waits can lead to missed connections – not to mention aggravation. As a result, millions of international travelers now rely on the Global Entry program, which offers eligible travelers expedited re-entry at select U.S. airports.

If Global Entry is a benefit you’d find valuable, certain travel credit cards reimburse the cost. Here’s what you need to know to find the right credit card with a Global Entry benefit.

Global Entry is a program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for people who have proved to CBP that they are low-risk travelers. Introduced in 2008, Global Entry lets members place their machine-readable passports on a reader at a kiosk and use biometric scanners to confirm their identity via facial recognition or fingerprints.¹ They can then proceed through the secure passport control area to baggage claim and exit the airport, cutting down the time spent waiting in line.

 
According to CBP, as of March 2022 Global Entry was available at 61 U.S. international airports plus 15 Preclearance airports – where CBP agents screen passengers before they board planes for the U.S. There were around eight million members directly enrolled in the program, which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. lawful permanent residents, along with foreigners from 13 partner countries.²

  
Global Entry members who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents also receive a membership in the TSA PreCheck^® screening program, which streamlines security checks for flights in more than 200 airports.³ Travelers usually don’t have to remove their shoes and articles from carry-on bags. In March 2023, 89% of TSA PreCheck^® passengers waited less than five minutes.⁴

You begin the Global Entry application process by filling out an online form and paying a nonrefundable $100 application fee that covers a five-year membership.⁵ If you meet the CBP criteria and pass a background check, you’re notified and asked to schedule an in-person interview where you must show two forms of identification.

That meeting usually takes about 15 minutes. It can be done by appointment at a U.S. airport or without an appointment when you re-enter the U.S. from abroad at an international airport with a CBP Enrollment on Arrival office.⁶ Once approved, you’ll receive a Global Entry card and a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that can be used for both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck^®. The entire Global Entry application process typically takes anywhere from four to six months to complete, according to CBP.⁷

The Global Entry program helps millions of international travelers move through passport control and U.S. Customs faster and more efficiently. If you think the program would be beneficial for you, consider a credit card that offers a Global Entry reimbursement credit. It credits your $100 application fee and covers future renewals as well. A Global Entry credit is a great way to extend the benefits of a travel rewards credit card.