Global Entry with Kids: Our Step-by-Step Experience
My kids and I recently went through the process of getting Global Entry. My husband already had it for his job, so I was on my own to get everything set up for the three of us—which meant navigating the whole process solo with two toddlers in tow. I had a lot of questions about how Global Entry with kids would actually work. Here’s exactly what the process looked like from start to finish, plus what the interview was like, and whether or not I think it’s worth it.
What Is Global Entry?
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers entering the United States. Basically, it lets you bypass the long customs lines after an international trip. It’s available at over 75 U.S. airports and saves a lot of time—especially with kids in tow.
Bonus: Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck, which means you get to use the faster security line at more than 200 airports. No need to take off shoes or unpack electronics, and the line is usually much shorter.
How Much Does Global Entry Cost?
Global Entry currently costs $120 per person—but kids under 18 are free if they’re applying with a parent who already has Global Entry (or is applying at the same time). Once approved, your membership is valid for five years.
The Application Process for Global Entry with Kids
To apply, I went to the official government website and followed the prompts to fill out the application. Here’s what I learned along the way:
- Each applicant needs their own account, even babies and toddlers. And you can’t reuse your email—each account requires a unique email address. My kids already had email addresses from their Apple IDs, but if your kids don’t, you’ll need to create emails for them first.
- Once the accounts were set up, I logged in and filled out the applications. It was pretty straightforward, but you do need valid passports for every applicant—so if you or your child don’t have a passport yet, you’ll want to get that taken care of first.
- After submitting the applications, they went into review. The website says it can take up to 90 days to receive conditional approval, but ours came through in less than 24 hours.
Scheduling the Interview
Once we were conditionally approved, we needed to schedule interviews. These can only be done at specific locations—usually airports or U.S. Customs and Border Protection offices.
I chose Miami International Airport because it’s easy for us to access and had plenty of available appointments. I had to find a time slot with at least three open appointments so we could all go together, which wasn’t hard to do at this location. And I had to log into each person’s account to book their interview one by one.
Tip: If you can’t find an appointment or don’t live near a participating location, you might be able to do your interview on arrival from an international trip. It’s called “Enrollment on Arrival,” and it’s at the discretion of the customs officer—not guaranteed, but a possible backup.
What the Interview Was Like (With Toddlers)
When we arrived for our appointments, we had a short wait in a basic waiting room before being called up. Two officers helped us at once—one for me and one for the kids.
I handed over:
- All three of our passports
- My driver’s license to confirm our address
Since my kids are minors and live with me, they didn’t need anything beyond their passports. The officers didn’t ask me many questions beyond confirming our information, and they didn’t ask the kids anything at all.
I was fingerprinted, but the kids weren’t (Global Entry doesn’t require fingerprints for minors). We all had our photos taken, and that was it! We were officially approved on the spot, and our Global Entry cards arrived in the mail a week or two later.
Is Global Entry with Kids Worth It?
Absolutely yes.
We’ve only had one opportunity to use it so far, but that one trip paid for itself in time and stress savings.
On our recent return from Mexico City through JFK, the customs line was packed—I’m guessing it would’ve taken over an hour. But with Global Entry, we walked straight up to a kiosk, scanned each of our faces, and were through customs in under two minutes.
Then, since we had a connecting flight, we had to go back through TSA. The regular line was also super long, but we breezed through TSA PreCheck in about 10 minutes.
That’s easily an hour and a half saved with two toddlers, after an overnight international flight. Totally worth it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re traveling internationally with kids—especially as a solo parent—Global Entry can be a game changer. The process does take a little effort (and a few email addresses), but the time and stress it saves at the airport is completely worth it.
Let me know if you’re going through the process or have questions—I’m happy to share more!