Can Children Apply for Global Entry?
Yes, children can apply for Global Entry, but eligibility, cost, and procedure depend on age. As of September 30, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection charges the standard $120 application fee for each applicant age 14 or older, while children younger than 14 are admitted without a fee when they receive Global Entry membership with an eligible adult application. A child does not have to travel internationally to qualify, but the program remains intended primarily for people who cross U.S. borders regularly. A relevant border-crossing history is not mandatory, although frequent travelers are likely to recover the fee more quickly. For an occasional family vacation, the savings may be modest compared with the time spent applying and attending the required appointment.
Also worth reading: Who Qualifies for Global Entry as a Family, and How Does Enrollment Work? · How Do I Get a Global Entry Appointment Faster in 2026? · Global Entry vs. Nexus vs. TSA PreCheck: Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Best for You?
The application generally requires an online account, personal information for each family member, payment for adults, and consent from a parent or legal guardian for a minor. Every applicant age 14 or older must complete the application and identity-review process personally rather than have a parent simply create a profile on the child's behalf. Children younger than 14 can usually be added to an adult's application, but the adult must follow the current CBP instructions concerning identity documents, photographs, and travel-passport information. Membership lasts for five years for all eligible family members enrolled in the same application. Applicants must also satisfy U.S. travel-security requirements, including the applicable criminal-history and border-security questions.
A Global Entry membership can make international arrivals shorter for participating travelers at certain U.S. airports, but it does not create an automatic right to enter the country. Customs and Immigration Services still makes the final admission decision. It also does not replace a passport, visa, or any entry permission required by the destination. Families should treat the program as a convenience and time-saving layer, not as a substitute for documents or travel planning.
What Does Global Entry Do at a U.S. Border?
Global Entry is a trusted-traveler program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Eligible members can use a dedicated lane at participating airports after arriving on an international flight, often reducing the queue experienced by travelers who lack trusted-traveler status. Some locations also recognize Global Entry as an alternative to a physical TSA PreCheck card for domestic boarding, but that benefit does not make every port or airline procedure identical. Travelers should still carry whatever identification their airline requires and arrive early enough to pass ordinary security screening.
The benefit is most useful for people who enter the United States at least once a year and value predictable airport processing more than occasional savings. According to CBP, the program can be particularly useful during busy periods, although no queue can be guaranteed to be short. Airport staffing, flight schedules, passenger volume, inspection issues, and the specific Trusted Traveler lane can all affect the actual time saved. A membership may therefore perform differently for a family that lands in Los Angeles during a quiet morning and a family arriving in New York during a holiday evening.
Children benefit from the same program framework, but the practical result depends on how many family members have Global Entry. A child enrolled with a parent can enter through the Trusted Traveler process, subject to lane availability and officer direction. Families should tell the CBP officer that they are traveling together and present membership information for each person who has it. An adult member cannot use the child's membership as a general pass for another traveler. Each family member must be enrolled and linked to the application before receiving the expected travel benefits.
Global Entry is not a preclearance program for departing the United States. It does not promise faster processing at foreign airports or eliminate customs declarations. Nor does it cover a child traveling alone under different custody arrangements; in that case, the child's nationality, visa status, consent documents, and airline policies become separate considerations.
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck Compared
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck solve different airport problems, so choosing one does not always mean rejecting the other. Global Entry is centered on expedited processing for certain international arrivals and includes TSA PreCheck-style benefits at participating U.S. airports. TSA PreCheck is centered on domestic airport security screening after a participant completes enrollment and visits an enrollment center. As of September 2026, TSA PreCheck commonly costs $70 for a five-year membership when enrolled through the official TSA program, although separate authorized enrollment providers may charge additional service fees.
| Feature | Global Entry | TSA PreCheck |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Faster processing for enrolled travelers at participating international-entry ports | Faster domestic security screening through TSA PreCheck lanes |
| Five-year membership | Yes | Yes |
| Fee for adults | $120 | Commonly $70 through TSA, before any provider fee |
| Children under 14 | No Global Entry fee when enrolled with an eligible adult | TSA generally waives the enrollment fee for children age 12 and younger at the federal rate |
| Does it replace a passport or visa? | No | No |
| Best fit | Frequent international travelers, especially U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other eligible applicants | Frequent U.S. domestic flyers who want access to designated TSA lanes |
Eligibility also differs. Global Entry has citizenship, residency, and admissibility restrictions, while TSA PreCheck has its own U.S. residency and security-screening requirements. A parent should check the child's eligibility before paying, because nonrefundable program fees are not transferable and enrollment rules can change.
How Parents Apply for a Child
The first practical step is to register for or sign into the appropriate official CBP Trusted Traveler Services account and start an application that includes the parent and eligible child. Current instructions allow families to include dependent children in the same application, with the adult serving as the responsible account holder. Parents should enter names and dates of birth exactly as they appear on the child's passport or other citizenship evidence. Spelling differences can complicate identity review later, so corrections should be made before payment and final submission.
After entering the required information, the adult pays the applicable fee. CBP's standard five-year Global Entry fee is $120 per applicant age 14 or older as of the stated date, while eligible children younger than 14 receive membership without an additional fee. Fees are generally nonrefundable, even if an application is denied or a family later decides not to travel. Applicants should therefore verify that each family member is eligible and that the family can complete the required steps before submitting payment.
Global Entry has required identity verification and a supervised in-person process, but procedures evolve. Families should follow the instructions displayed in their Trusted Traveler account rather than relying on an old article that promises a remote video interview or describes an appointment process no longer in use. The application may require a criminal-history disclosure, an electronic identity review, and an appointment or other approved attendance step. A parent should expect to provide proof of the child's relationship, citizenship, residency, or guardianship when requested.
Once approval is complete, each traveler receives membership information that can be stored in a mobile wallet or elsewhere according to CBP's current guidance. The account holder must keep family membership details current, especially if a child's legal name changes or documents are replaced. Approval should not be assumed merely because an application was submitted; the family should wait for the membership credentials or account confirmation CBP issues to them.
Documents and Practical Requirements
There is no universal rule that every child must own a passport to be added to Global Entry. However, strong identity evidence makes application, enrollment, and later border checks easier. U.S. citizens normally use a passport or other accepted citizenship document, while lawful permanent residents use evidence of that status, such as a permanent resident card. Other eligible applicants must document their specific immigration category. If a child has no qualifying travel document or the family's citizenship situation is unusual, the parent should obtain individualized guidance from CBP instead of submitting conflicting information.
The documents used for application should remain consistent with the records provided to CBP. Names should match passport records, addresses should be current, and a parent should not enter a nickname as the child's legal name. Applicants may also need the child's parent or guardian details, and a parent applying through a family unit should be able to explain the child's relationship and travel arrangements. Custody orders can become relevant when a child is not traveling with both adults, although those documents primarily concern border entry rather than Global Entry enrollment alone.
Global Entry does not remove the need to comply with customs rules. Families may still need to declare goods, answer agriculture questions, use a Global Entry kiosk when directed, or present documents to a customs officer. Electronic-device declarations, restricted items, and country-specific prohibitions remain separate from trusted-traveler enrollment. Families should check the destination's official entry rules close to departure because a visa waiver, visa, or passport-transit requirement can affect the journey regardless of Global Entry membership.
When airline records are prepared, travelers should enter each child's full legal name and birth date accurately. For children traveling without one parent, additional consent, custody, or unaccompanied-minor documentation may be required by the airline or border authorities. A Global Entry membership streamlines arrival processing only after the traveler is properly documented and permitted to enter.
Common Mistakes and Problems
A frequent mistake is treating Global Entry as an international entry guarantee. It is not. Membership can reduce queue time at participating locations, but CBP still examines documents and determines admissibility. Another error is assuming that enrolling the parent automatically enrolls every child. Each eligible family member must be included and properly linked to the application.
Parents also make the mistake of paying before checking the age-fee rule or application arrangement. Children younger than 14 are generally fee-free when included with an eligible adult, while applicants age 14 and older are treated as individual paying applicants for fee purposes. That distinction should be confirmed against current CBP instructions at submission, particularly if the child turns 14 during processing. A family should not create a separate paying profile merely to avoid reading the age requirements.
Name and identity mismatches are another avoidable source of delay. Applications should use legal information consistent with the child's passport or citizenship records, and changes in a passport number should be handled through the official account process. Families sometimes cite outdated third-party guidance about video interviews, paper applications, or guaranteed approval windows; those details can change after policy or system updates. Only the current official account and CBP instructions should control the transaction.
Finally, some families purchase the membership immediately before a single trip. Applications include a background-check period and other enrollment steps, so expedited admission cannot be assumed for departure only a few days later. The correct comparison is not simply $120 versus the value of saved time: it is $120 plus the preparation, possible appointment time, expected usage, and the less predictable benefit of ordinary processing.
When to Apply and Whether It Is Worth It
Applying is most attractive when a child crosses a U.S. border repeatedly—for example, during several international family trips in one membership period. A five-year membership means the fee can be spread across many returns, and older children may also retain membership for school trips, family visits, or independent travel later. The strongest case exists when the child's passport, citizenship status, and travel history indicate routine international use.
It is harder to justify for a child who will take one international flight in the next five years. Even a busy airport may offer only modest time savings, and the primary application fee is nonrefundable. Families can compare the number of anticipated international arrivals with the fee, the airport's Trusted Traveler availability, and the time the child would otherwise spend in line. For one low-volume arrival, paying for TSA PreCheck instead—or neither program—may be more rational.
Timing matters because approval is not immediate. Parents should apply months before travel when possible, leaving time to correct identity information, respond to government questions, attend an appointment, or receive membership credentials. It would be unwise to book a nonrefundable flight while assuming Global Entry will be active on arrival. Once approved, the family should verify each member's status and check whether their intended airport supports the relevant lane.
The program becomes easier to recommend as international crossings increase and children travel without their parents. It can reduce uncertainty in airport processing and gives a child personal Trusted Traveler status rather than relying entirely on an accompanying adult. That convenience is valuable, but it should be weighed against the modest benefit on one or two trips. The best decision is the one that matches the child's actual eligibility, itinerary volume, documents, and family tolerance for occasional airport delays.
Final Guidance for Families
Children can receive Global Entry membership, and those younger than 14 are generally enrolled without the $120 applicant fee when included appropriately with an eligible adult. Applicants age 14 or older pay the standard fee and complete the applicable application requirements themselves. The five-year term creates long-term value only if the child will enter the United States through participating airports enough times to benefit.
Parents should use the official CBP Trusted Traveler Services process, provide consistent legal and identity information, and avoid assuming that enrollment guarantees border approval. Global Entry complements—not replaces—a valid passport, any required visa, customs declarations, airline documentation, and consent requirements. It also differs from TSA PreCheck, which is primarily useful for domestic security screening. For frequent international travelers, applying early and enrolling the whole eligible family is usually the most practical approach; for occasional travelers, the cost may outweigh the expected convenience.