Global Entry is a great way for Americans to re-enter the United States and not have to stand on long lines. Part of the U.S. State Dep’t “Trusted Traveler” program, those with Global Entry status have been vetted and are believed to be, well, trusted travelers.
The one caveat, of course, is that, as a U.S. program, Global Entry is only good when you’re entering the United States. Global Entry does get you a couple of perks such as free TSA PreCheck and some new benefits in Canada. But it won’t help you if you’re in, say, Mexico. Mexico has its own trusted traveler-style program, as do a handful of other countries. And guess what? U.S. citizens may be eligible for them!
Some of the programs require registration and vetting similar to the U.S.’s trusted traveler program. Some require you to be a member of Global Entry, some don’t. Some require payment, some are free. Others allow (most) U.S. citizens through these “fast lanes” because of reciprocal programs with the U.S., or for other reasons. One or two have very specific requirements.
Anyway, here’s what out there:
Australia
Name of Program: SmartGate
Eligibility: hold a valid and current U.S. biometric passport, age 16+
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available:
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Cairnes
- Canberra
- Darwin
- Gold Coast
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Sydney
Notes: No registration process
Canada
Name of Program: Nexus
Eligibility: U.S. citizen
Cost: $50
Airports Where Available:
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Halifax Stanfield
- Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier
- Tronoto Pearson
- Billy Bishop
- Vancouver
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson
- You can also use NEXUS for Canada’s 21 land border crossings
Notes: Nexus is a joint trusted traveler program between Canada & the U.S.
France
Name of Program: PARAFE gates
Eligibility: aged 18 and over and holding valid biometric passports.
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available:
- Paris Orly
- Paris Charles de Gaulle
- Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
- EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg
- Lyon Airport
- Marseille Provence Airport
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport
- Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord Terminal (juxtaposed controls)
- Eurostar London St Pancras Terminal (juxtaposed controls)
- Eurotunnel Calais Terminal (juxtaposed controls)
- Eurotunnel Folkestone Terminal (juxtaposed controls)
Notes: No registration required
Germany
Name of Program: EasyPASS
Eligibility: aged 18 and over and holding valid biometric passports.
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available:
- Berlin Brandenburg
- Cologne/Bonn
- Dusseldorf
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
- Hanover
- Munich
- Stuttgart
Notes: Participants must register to be able to use EasyPASS
Ireland
Name of Program: eGates
Eligibility: aged 18 or over with electronic passports
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available: Dublin Airport, Terminal 1 (Piers 1 and 2) and Terminal 2
Notes: U.S. passport holders can only use the eGates in the Flight Connections Area of Dublin Airport if they are in transit with an onward flight to a destination outside the Common Travel Area of the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Italy
Name of Program: eGates
Eligibility: aged 14 and over with electronic passport
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available:
- Bergamo
- Bologna Gugliemo Marconi
- Cagliari
- Catania
- Florence
- Milan Linate
- Milan Malpensa
- Naples
- Olbia Costa Smeralda
- Palermo
- Pisa
- Rome Ciampino
- Rome Fiumicino
- Treviso
- Turin
- Venice Marco Polo
- Verona Villafranca
Notes: all Non-EU citizens, after a successful eGate crossing, will still be referred to a border force agent that makes the final entry decision and stamps the passport
Malaysia
Name of Program: e-Gate
Eligibility: U.S. passport holder
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available: Kuala Lumpur
Notes: Must submit Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) 3 days before arrival and enroll a biometric (fingerprint) at the counter
Mexico
Name of Program: Viajero Confiable
Eligibility: U.S. citizens age 18+ with active Global Entry status and a valid machine-readable passport
Cost: $100
Airports Where Available:
- Cancun
- Mexico City
- San Jose del Cabo
Notes: Once preapproved, applicants must undergo an interview at an enrollment center at one of the three Mexican airports for final approval.
New Zealand
Name of Program: “U.S. Global Entry”
Eligibility: Americans with active Global Entry status
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available:
- Auckland
- Christchurch
- Wellington
Notes: Lanes are clearly marked with signs that say “U.S. Global Entry”. To be eligible to use the lanes, U.S. Global Entry members simply present their Global Entry card, their U.S. passport, and arrival documentation. U.S. Global Entry members will still be subject to standard customs, immigration, and biosecurity processes on arrival in New Zealand.
Panama
Name of Program: Panama Global Pass
Eligibility: US citizen, clean criminal history, have an electronic passport
Cost: $100
Airports Where Available: Tocumen
Notes: Applicants must go through a rigorous background check and an in-person interview that will be held at National Immigration Service Main Office in Panama City or at the Panama Global Pass office at Tocumen International Airport
Singapore
Name of Program: Frequent Traveller Programme (FTP)
Eligibility: Americans with active Global Entry status
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available: Changi
Notes: Must be subjected to biometrics (iris, facial and fingerprint images) enrollment
South Korea
Name of Program: Smart Entry Service
Eligibility: Americans age 17+ with active Global Entry status
Cost: $100
Airports Where Available:
- Gimpae
- Gimpo
- Incheon
Notes: Interview Determines Your Eligibility: A CBP officer will ask you questions, take your photo, and scan your fingerprints.
Taiwan
Name of Program: e-Gate
Eligibility: U.S. citizen with Global Entry, age 14+, at least 140 cm (55.12″)
Cost: NTD$3,000 (about US$95)
Airports Where Available:
- Taipei Songsang Airport
- Taoyuan International Airport
- Taichung International Airport
- Kaohsiung International Airport
- Kinmen Shueitou Port
Notes: Enrollment is online, and interview must be scheduled at Taoyuan Int’l Airport (Terminal 1 or 2). Fingerprints and photo taken also taken during interview.
The United Kingdom
Name of Program: ePassport Gates
Eligibility: Age 12+ & valid US passport
Cost: Free
Airports Where Available:
ePassport gates are available at the following locations:
- Birmingham Airport
- Bristol Airport
- Cardiff Airport
- East Midlands Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- Eurostar Brussels-Midi Terminal (juxtaposed controls)
- Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord (juxtaposed controls)
- Eurostar St Pancras Terminal (juxtaposed controls)
- Gatwick Airport (North and South Terminals)
- Glasgow Airport
- Heathrow Airport (Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5) (NOT Terminal 1)
- London City Airport
- Luton Airport
- Manchester Airport (Terminals 1, 2 and 3)
- Newcastle Airport
- Stansted Airport
Notes: UK also has a program, similar to Global Entry, called Registered Travellers. Although people from some other countries can register, those with U.S. passports cannot.
US APEC Business Travel Card Program
Name of Program: US APEC Business Travel Program
Eligibility:
- you must be a U.S. citizen;
- you must be an existing member in good standing or be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program (SENTRI, NEXUS, or Global Entry) during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process, , meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment;
- you must be either a verified business person, or a U.S. government official, who is actively engaged in APEC business.
Cost: $70
Where Available: The United States is one of 21 APEC member economies, which include: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam. For a complete list of APEC Business Travel Card participating airports, visit www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC.
Notes: The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to a dedicated fast-track lane for expedited immigration processing at participating foreign APEC member airports. Once approved, card is valid for 5 years.
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