Everything You Need to Know About Global Entry Facial Recognition Kiosks

If you’ve used a Global Entry kiosk in the last two years, you may have experienced the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's new facial recognition process. This system allows you to breeze through Global Entry without the need to scan your passport or fingerprints.

Since 2021, CBP has been implementing this technology to provide an even faster experience for Global Entry users at U.S. customs. Unlike the older kiosks, these new machines utilize facial recognition to verify your identity at customs hall kiosks and do away with the paper receipts that were once necessary for showing to agents.

Global Entry is a trusted traveler program managed by the U.S. government, offering expedited clearance for preapproved, low-risk travelers arriving in the U.S. from abroad through automated kiosks at nearly 80 airports.

How do the new facial recognition kiosks operate?

"The new paperless biometric kiosks utilize facial comparison technology and mobile officer capabilities to verify traveler identity and make admissibility decisions without issuing a receipt," explained a CBP representative. "This method promotes increasingly contactless processing and reduces environmental impact by eliminating paper receipts."

With this new screening feature, you approach the Global Entry kiosks as usual and take a photo that confirms your identity. Ideally, this entire process should take under 30 seconds.

Similar to other recent technologies—such as the Transportation Security Administration's new computed tomography X-ray systems—facial recognition kiosks aim to enhance efficiency. They also reduce physical contact points between agents and travelers, thereby minimizing environmental effects.

The enhanced Global Entry technology is part of a larger initiative by CBP and TSA to adopt more facial recognition software. The goal is to streamline the identity verification process both upon arrival in the U.S. and when navigating TSA security checkpoints.

These initiatives align TSA with Clear, the private sector's counterpart to TSA PreCheck.

Beyond saving time, this is a welcome change for parents of children with Global Entry, as the fingerprints of young kids—especially infants—aren't always fully developed. Before this new procedure, families with unregistered children had to meet an officer for entry, causing delays.

This technology potentially resolves these challenges, allowing traveling families (and their kids) to enter the U.S. smoothly, as TPG's content director, Summer Hull, recently experienced returning from Canada with her children. She shared:

"During our preclearance in Vancouver, we encountered the new Global Entry facial recognition kiosks. Usually, it's been nearly impossible to capture younger children's photos and fingerprints correctly, which meant seeing an agent was necessary. Although the new machines were a bit confusing at first, they quickly proved to be a fantastic improvement. All you have to do is tilt the camera down slightly for the kids to be recognized, eliminating the need for additional scanning. It was incredibly simple and made having Global Entry for the entire family feel more worthwhile since we could all actually use it."

Where are they now?

As of June 2023, there are 15 U.S. airports equipped with facial recognition Global Entry kiosks, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Miami International Airport (MIA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Global Entry is accessible at a total of 77 airports in the U.S. and internationally, covering all major airports and all Preclearance locations.

Tips for saving on Global Entry

For just $100, travelers can enjoy the benefits of both a Global Entry and TSA PreCheck membership for a five-year period.

Fortunately, many cobranded airline and hotel credit cards provide up to $100 in statement credit reimbursement for the application fees associated with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. This credit is usually available every four to five years.

Here are some credit cards that provide this benefit:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• United℠ Explorer Card
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (refer to rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card ($120 starting October 1, 2024)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($120 starting October 1, 2024)
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (up to $120 starting October 1, 2024)
• United Club℠ Infinite Card

Refer to this link for a full list of credit cards that provide discounts for TSA PreCheck.

Final thoughts

As summer travel heats up, the ability to expedite entry after an international journey is great news for travelers. Global Entry kiosks streamline the process by utilizing facial recognition technology to verify identities.