Traveling with kids? We all know it’s no walk in the park. Trust me, as someone who’s traveled to 23 countries and five continents with my son before he turned 5, I know all the ups and downs of air travel with tots.
Between the “Are we there yet?” questions and the endless bathroom breaks, there’s a lot on your plate. And just when you thought you’d made it, the long lines at U.S. Customs can be the final straw.
But, hey, what if I told you there’s a way to bypass these lines and make your travel a tad less stressful? Enter Global Entry, a lifesaver for families zipping through U.S. airports. But how does it all work?
Here, we answer all of your burning questions.
Do children need their own Global Entry accounts?
One of the most common questions on family travel Facebook groups is, “Do my kids need Global Entry if I already have it?” The answer is yes. Regardless of age, every individual is required to have a Global Entry membership to access expedited U.S. Customs screenings. This means that each child traveling must have a separate Global Entry account.
The official U.S. Customs and Border website states:
Regardless of your age, you must:
- Create a Global Online Enrollment System account.
- Pay a $100 nonrefundable application fee.
- Schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center; if you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present during the interview.
- For applicants under 18, a parent or legal guardian must give consent for the child’s participation in the program.
Interestingly, the adult providing consent does not need to be a member of Global Entry themselves.
Applying for Global Entry for your child
When applying for Global Entry for your child, it’s important to understand that the process is the same for an adult. So, if you’ve already gone through it, it should be straightforward. Here’s what you need to do:
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Get your child a passport
Before you can even apply for Global Entry for your kids, they must have a valid passport. This is an important step and can take some time. So, leave a couple of months to get a passport sorted before applying for Global Entry.
Related: Guide to getting your child’s passport
Create an account
You must create an account on the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) site. This will require an email address that has to be different from the one you used for Global Entry. So, you might have to create an email address for your child if they don’t already have one. Just don’t forget the password!
Pay the fee
As mentioned above, Global Entry is not complimentary for children. The application fee is $100, which is nonrefundable and applicable even to infants (as I learned when my son was 6 weeks old and applying).
However, some travel credit cards offer a perk that might soften this financial hit. For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years for Trusted Traveler Program fees, including Global Entry.
Related: Top credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
Schedule an interview
Even if your child can’t speak yet, they must attend an in-person interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. During the application process, a calendar with location options will pop up so you can choose the best location and time.
The interview process for child applicants
Each child applying for Global Entry must undergo an individual interview as part of the application process. Again, it doesn’t matter if they’re in diapers like my son was when he went in for his interview at 2 months old.
Here are some tips to prepare for your child’s interview:
- A parent or guardian must attend: A parent or legal guardian must consent to the child’s participation in the program and attend the interview.
- Check your documents: Bring all necessary documents, including passports for the child and the attending adult, proof of address and any secondary forms of identification.
- The CBP officer may ask the child and the accompanying adult questions. Subsequently, the child’s photo and fingerprints will be taken for identification.
- The interview only takes a few minutes, and you can often schedule it at an airport location either before or after an already-planned trip. That’s what we did when we planned a trip to Portugal out of JFK. We simply arrived a little earlier for our flight and completed the interview process.
- Some centers offer the option to schedule multiple appointments close together for family convenience if you’re all applying simultaneously. But note that each family member requires their own interview appointment.
The website also states you can opt for the Enrollment on Arrival program that “allows Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved to complete their interviews upon arrival into the United States; including those entering the United States via a designated CBP Preclearance location.”
Renewing the membership
Every Global Entry membership is good for five years. You can begin the renewal process a year before the expiration. I had to do this recently for both me and my son. One thing to note: While I didn’t have to go in for another interview to renew my membership, my son did. So, keep that in mind when scheduling the renewal.
The benefits of enrolling your child in Global Entry
Whether you’re a frequent traveler or not, the benefits of Global Entry, particularly for families, are considerable.
You know how it goes with the U.S. Customs screenings, right? They’re a must for everyone entering the country, and let’s be honest, they can drag on forever, especially when you’re juggling kids and all their stuff.
That’s where Global Entry comes in as a total game-changer. Members get to skip the usual long lines and head straight to dedicated kiosks. It’s like having a fast pass at an amusement park but for customs! No more endless waiting and filling out tedious paperwork while trying to keep an eye on the kids. Again, just be sure everyone has Global Entry; otherwise, those without will have to go through the regular line.
And there’s a bonus: entry membership also includes TSA PreCheck. Ever had to shuffle through airport security, removing shoes, belts and whatnot, all while holding onto your little ones? I’ll tell you, it’s not the best part of traveling.
TSA PreCheck is a lifesaver here, too. You can breeze through security without having to strip down or unpack your carefully stuffed carry-on. Laptops stay in bags; shoes stay on – it’s as smooth as it gets. For families, this is huge. No more mini-meltdowns while trying to untie tiny shoelaces or unpacking electronics while keeping the kids in line.
In fact, my 5-year-old son loves Global Entry so much, he was a TSA agent for Halloween this year.
Although some extra legwork and cost are involved, Global Entry has been a lifesaver. It can significantly streamline the entry process into the United States, saving time. Honestly, there’s nothing better than getting off that long international flight and getting out of the airport as quickly as possible.
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