Global Entry With Kids: Our Step-by-Step Family Experience (Now That It’s Free for Children)

If you’ve ever Googled Global Entry with kids, you’ve probably seen the same vague advice repeated everywhere—check ID requirements, schedule interviews, bring your kids. But when I was applying as a solo parent with two toddlers, none of that told me what I really needed to know.

What was the interview actually like with little kids in tow? Did they need to get fingerprinted? What documents did I bring? Was it even worth the hassle?

After completing the Global Entry process with my family, I’m breaking down everything I wish I’d known—from how the application works for children to what to expect on interview day. If you’re a parent wondering whether Global Entry is worth it for your family, this guide walks you through the full process—with real answers, not generic checklists.

What Is Global Entry?

If you’re not familiar, Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that lets you skip the long customs lines when you return to the U.S. after an international trip. Instead of waiting around with tired kids and a pile of luggage, you scan your passport at a kiosk, answer a couple quick questions, and walk right through.

It’s available at 75+ U.S. airports and makes a huge difference after a long flight, especially when you’re juggling kids and carry-ons by yourself.

We’ve had the chance to use it on several international trips now, and I’ll never go back. It consistently cuts our arrival time by more than half and it’s even saved me from missing a tight connection after a delay.

Bonus: Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck, which you can use when departing from U.S. airports. It gives you access to a much shorter security line, and you won’t have to unpack things like iPads or liquids at most checkpoints.

How Much Does Global Entry Cost?

As of now, Global Entry costs $120 per person and is valid for five years. But here’s the good news for families:

Applicants under the age of 18 are now exempt from the application fee if a parent or legal guardian is already a member or is also applying for Global Entry.

That means you don’t need to pay the $120 fee for each child—as long as you’re already enrolled or submitting your own application, theirs will be free.

You’ll still need to submit a separate application and schedule an interview for each child, but the savings (especially for larger families) can be significant.

Even if you only travel internationally once or twice a year, the time you save is well worth it—and your membership lasts a full five years.

How to Apply for Global Entry With Kids

You’ll need to start your application through the official Global Entry website, and here’s what I wish I had known before I started:

• You’ll need a valid passport for every applicant—even infants. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you’ll want to take care of that first.
• Each person needs their own account, including babies and toddlers.
• Every account needs a unique email address. I used my kids’ Apple ID emails, but if your children don’t already have email addresses, you’ll need to create one for each of them before applying.

Once I had everything set up, I logged into each account and filled out the applications. It was fairly straightforward, but logging in and out of separate accounts for each child definitely made it more tedious than it needed to be.

After submitting, the applications went into review. The official estimate says it can take up to 90 days to receive conditional approval, but ours came through in under 24 hours (this can vary!).

Scheduling the Global Entry Interview for Kids

Once we were conditionally approved, the next step was scheduling our Global Entry interviews. These can only be done at specific locations—usually international airports or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offices.

I chose Miami International Airport because it’s easy for us to access and had tons of available appointments. Since I was applying for myself and both of my toddlers, I looked for a time slot with at least three open spots so we could all go together. I did have to log into each person’s account individually to book them—but it wasn’t difficult once I found a good location.

Tip: If you can’t find an appointment near you, check whether your arrival airport offers “Enrollment on Arrival.” It’s not guaranteed—approval is up to the CBP officer—but it can be a great backup option if you’re coming back from an international trip.

What the Global Entry Interview Was Like (With Toddlers)

When we arrived for our Global Entry interviews, we waited just a few minutes in a simple waiting room before being called up. Two officers helped us at the same time—one focused on my application, and the other handled the kids’.

Here’s what I brought with me:

Because my kids are minors and live with me, they didn’t need anything beyond their passports. The officers didn’t ask me many questions—just a few confirmations to verify our details—and they didn’t ask the kids anything at all.

I was fingerprinted, but my toddlers weren’t (Global Entry doesn’t require fingerprints for children). 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 within a week or two.

Is Global Entry With Kids Worth It?

For us, absolutely yes.

Even after just one trip, the time and stress it saved made the process completely worth it—especially as a parent flying internationally solo with toddlers.

When we flew home recently from Mexico City through JFK, the customs line was packed. I’m guessing it would’ve taken well over an hour. But with Global Entry, we walked straight up to a kiosk, scanned our faces, and were through customs in under two minutes.

Because we had a connecting flight, we also had to go through TSA again. The regular security line was long, but thanks to TSA PreCheck, we breezed through in about 10 minutes.

That’s easily 90+ minutes saved after an overnight international flight, with two toddlers and no backup. I’d do the application process a hundred times over for that kind of peace of mind.

If you’re on the fence, let this be your sign. Global Entry with kids is one travel upgrade I’d never go without again.

Have questions about these tips or want advice from other solo parents? Join my free Facebook group for parents traveling alone with babies, toddlers, and young kids. You’ll find support, real-life answers, and tips from parents who’ve been there, wherever you’re headed in the world.