Global Entry UK enrolment lets British passport holders skip the standard immigration queue at US airports and clear customs through an automated kiosk instead of a staffed desk. UK citizens have been eligible since December 2015. The process runs in two stages: a UK Home Office background check, then a US Customs and Border Protection application, and costs £42 plus $120 in total. Most UK applicants complete the whole process, interview included, within two to four months, though it can take longer.
What Global Entry actually gets you
Global Entry membership gives approved travellers a fast lane through US arrivals. Instead of joining the regular immigration queue, you scan your passport and fingerprints at a Global Entry kiosk, answer a customs declaration on screen, and walk straight to baggage claim. It typically saves between ten and forty minutes at busy airports such as JFK, Newark or Los Angeles. Membership also includes TSA PreCheck automatically, so domestic connections through US airports get the shorter security line too.
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Global Entry is not a visa, and it doesn’t replace ESTA. UK travellers still need a valid ESTA, or a visa if they don’t qualify for the Visa Waiver Program, regardless of Global Entry status. Membership speeds up the customs process. It doesn’t guarantee entry to the US; a CBP officer can still refer any traveller, member or not, for further questioning.
Global Entry vs the UK’s Registered Traveller scheme
Global Entry and the UK’s own Registered Traveller scheme are easy to confuse, but they solve opposite problems. Registered Traveller speeds up UK entry for pre-approved non-EU visitors arriving at UK airports. Global Entry speeds up US entry for approved travellers arriving at US airports. Holding one gives you no benefit under the other, and applying to one has no bearing on the other’s approval.
Am I eligible for Global Entry?
| Disqualifying factor | What it means for your application |
|---|---|
False or incomplete information | Any inaccuracy on your application can mean permanent denial, not just a delay. |
Criminal convictions or pending charges | Applies in any country, not only the UK or US. |
Customs, immigration or agriculture violations | Includes past issues at any border, not only US entry. |
An ongoing law enforcement investigation | Active investigations count against you regardless of the outcome. |
Previous inadmissibility to the US | A past refusal of entry counts against a new application. |
Source: CBP Global Entry eligibility guidance.
UK citizens have been eligible for Global Entry since 3 December 2015, under a reciprocal arrangement between the Home Office and US Customs and Border Protection. Approval isn’t automatic. CBP reviews every application against a set of disqualifying factors before granting membership. You need a valid British citizen passport to apply; other UK passport types don’t qualify under this scheme.
How to apply for Global Entry from the UK
Applying involves two separate applications with two separate fees, one to the UK government and one to the US government.
Before you start
Have these ready before you start the Home Office application: a valid passport, ten years of address history, your employment details, and a debit or credit card for the £42 fee. The US CBP application that follows asks for similar details again, so keep the same information to hand.
- Confirm you’re eligible: UK citizenship and no disqualifying factors from the eligibility table.
- Register with the UK Home Office’s Register to Apply service and pay the £42 fee by debit or credit card.
- Wait for your UK background check, officially up to 10 working days, and receive your UK Access Code.
- Apply through the US CBP GOES portal using your Access Code, and pay the $120 CBP fee.
- Wait for conditional approval from CBP, officially around two weeks, though real cases have taken from a few weeks to over three months.
- Complete your in-person interview within six months of conditional approval, most UK applicants do this via Enrollment on Arrival on their next US trip.
What Global Entry costs
UK citizens pay £42 to the Home Office and $120 to US Customs and Border Protection for a Global Entry membership that lasts five years. Neither fee is refunded if the application fails, whatever stage it’s rejected at.
| Fee | Paid to | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|
UK background check | Home Office | £42 | No |
US CBP application | US Customs and Border Protection | $120 (5-year membership) | No |
$120 converts to roughly £90 to £95 depending on the exchange rate on the day, so budget for slightly over £130 combined. Sources: GOV.UK, CBP.
Children go free
Children under 18 don’t pay the CBP fee if a parent or legal guardian is already a Global Entry member, or applies for membership at the same time. Each child still needs their own Global Entry account and their own in-person interview, with a parent or guardian present. It isn’t a shortcut around the interview, just around the $120 charge per child.
How long Global Entry takes for UK applicants
Global Entry has no guaranteed timeline. The Home Office quotes up to 10 working days for the UK background check, and CBP quotes around two weeks for conditional approval, but real UK applications vary widely. Some applicants get approved within a month. Others have waited over three months for CBP conditional approval alone. You can check your Home Office status online once you’ve registered, and CBP’s GOES account tracks the US side separately. Apply at least four months before a US trip if you want Global Entry active in time, and treat anything faster as a bonus.
The interview: what UK applicants actually do
Every Global Entry applicant needs an in-person interview, fingerprints and a photo, within six months of conditional approval. There’s no video or phone option. For UK applicants, the realistic default is Enrollment on Arrival: completing the interview as part of normal immigration processing on your next US trip, at one of more than 45 participating airports. No separate appointment is needed. Just carry your passport and mention your conditional Global Entry approval when you reach the immigration desk.
These are the major US airports UK travellers land at that support Enrollment on Arrival:
- New York JFK
- Newark
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Miami
- Orlando
- Boston
- Chicago O’Hare
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Atlanta
A small number of applicants book an interview at a dedicated CBP enrollment centre instead. Major centres are currently booking four to eleven months ahead; smaller regional centres can clear in weeks, which is why Enrollment on Arrival is the sensible default for most UK applicants. Global Entry has piloted UK-based enrolment before: a temporary interview window at the US Embassy in London ran for two months in 2016, but there’s no standing London option now. Check CBP’s own enrollment centre list before booking travel, in case that changes.
Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR
All three programmes speed up different parts of a US airport, and they’re not mutually exclusive. Here’s how they compare.
| Programme | What it speeds up | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Global Entry | US customs entry, plus TSA PreCheck included | £42 + $120 for 5 years | Anyone flying to the US more than once |
TSA PreCheck | US domestic airport security only | $78 for 5 years, US enrolment only | Frequent domestic US flyers who don’t need customs fast-track |
CLEAR | Identity check lane at security, stacks with PreCheck | Around $200 a year | Regular travellers wanting to skip ID-check queues |
Global Entry is the only one of the three run by the US government and the only one that speeds up customs, not just security.
Is Global Entry UK worth it in 2026?
Global Entry is worth it if you fly to the US more than once every year or two. Spread over five years, the £42 and $120 combined cost works out at well under £30 a year, and TSA PreCheck comes bundled in for free. For a single family holiday, the two applications, the possible multi-month wait and the interview are a lot of admin for one twenty-minute time saving at immigration. Frequent US flyers, and families who’d otherwise queue together at customs, get the clearest value.
Is Global Entry currently working?
Yes, as far as this can be confirmed. Global Entry was suspended nationwide from 22 February to 11 March 2026, when a partial US government shutdown pulled CBP staff onto general immigration duties, and it’s run normally since. US federal shutdowns can recur and briefly affect trusted traveller programmes again, so check CBP’s own status page close to travel if a shutdown is in the news.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for ESTA and assuming Global Entry replaces it. It doesn’t; you need both.
- Missing the interview window. Conditional approval expires after six months if you don’t complete it.
- Forgetting a child needs their own account and interview. A parent’s membership doesn’t cover them automatically.
- Letting your passport or address details go out of date in the CBP system after approval.
- Assuming the £42 or $120 fee is refundable if you’re rejected. Neither is, at any stage.
If a US trip is part of your plans this year, a few related guides might help. Read about Virgin Atlantic business class if you’re flying Upper Class, compare points strategies in Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and check British Airways sale dates for the next transatlantic sale. For more on choosing when to go and when to book, see our Holiday Planning hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can UK citizens apply for Global Entry?
Yes. UK citizens have been eligible since December 2015, under a reciprocal arrangement between the UK and US.
How much does Global Entry cost for a UK applicant?
£42 to the UK Home Office plus $120 to US Customs and Border Protection, both non-refundable.
Do children need their own Global Entry membership?
Yes, but it’s free if a parent or guardian is already a member or applies alongside them.
Do I need to travel to the US for the interview?
Not specially. Most UK applicants complete it through Enrollment on Arrival on their next US trip, at one of more than 45 airports.
How long does the Global Entry process take?
Officially a few weeks. In practice, UK applicants report anywhere from a few weeks to several months, so apply well ahead of a trip.
Does Global Entry replace my ESTA?
No. It speeds up the customs process; you still need a valid ESTA or visa to enter the US.
Is Global Entry currently working?
Yes. It was suspended for about three weeks in early 2026 during a US government shutdown, but it’s been fully operational since 11 March 2026.
Is Global Entry the same as the UK’s Registered Traveller scheme?
No. Registered Traveller speeds up entry into the UK; Global Entry speeds up entry into the US. They’re separate programmes.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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