Global Entry Fees Are Set to Increase Soon

Make sure to check the expiration date of your Global Entry membership. If it's nearing expiration, consider renewing early. If you’ve been contemplating signing up, now is the opportune moment, as the price for this sought-after Trusted Traveler Program is about to rise for the first time since its inception in 2008.

Effective October 1, 2024, the cost for Global Entry—a program that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to swiftly clear immigration after international flights—will increase from $100 to $120, as stated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The application fees for Nexus (which provides expedited entry into the U.S. from Canada) and SENTRI (which offers similar fast access from Mexico) will also rise to $120. Previously, Nexus cost $50, and SENTRI had an “à la carte” fee structure. The agency describes this adjustment to equal fees of $120 for all three programs as a “fee harmonization.”

According to a press release from CBP, “As these programs have matured and expanded, it is essential to update the fee structures to ensure the ongoing management and sustainability of the programs.”

The demand for Global Entry has surged following the COVID-19 pandemic: In April 2018, only 5 million Americans were enrolled, while by September 2023, the number exceeded 12 million. In 2023 alone, 3.2 million Americans applied for membership. This surge, combined with a seven-month hiatus on interviews during the pandemic, led to wait times for approval ballooning to 18 months last year (currently, Global Entry estimates it will take 11 months for new applicants to be accepted). Since Global Entry primarily relies on application fees for funding, the increased cost could help reduce the backlog by allowing the program to hire additional staff. Moreover, there are various strategies for securing an earlier Global Entry interview, including a service that monitors appointment availability for subscribers eager to obtain membership quickly.

Although the increase represents a 20 percent rise, when you consider that Global Entry is valid for five years, it translates to just an additional $4 annually.

While the fees will rise for individual adults, there's positive news for families: Children under 18 will no longer be required to pay the application fee if a parent or guardian is already enrolled in Global Entry, Nexus, or SENTRI. Currently, all travelers must pay the $100 fee, and minors still need to schedule an interview with a parent or guardian. Once the new fee structure takes effect on October 1, minors will still need to submit an application and attend an interview, but they will be exempt from the fee, as confirmed by a CBP spokesperson to Dinogo.

Some travel-related credit cards provide a $100 refund for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry as a member benefit (you charge it to your card and receive a statement credit for the amount). There has been no official announcement yet on whether these cards will adjust their benefits to reflect the new Global Entry fee.

In addition to expediting your entry into the U.S. after international flights, Global Entry also encompasses TSA PreCheck, which offers a dedicated security line at participating airports, typically faster and more convenient than standard lines. It's important to remember that although Global Entry fees have increased, there have been no updates regarding a price hike for TSA PreCheck, which actually decreased its fee in 2022 from $85 for a five-year membership to $78.