Updated November 11, 2026

Global Entry for non-US citizens: which countries qualify, green card rules and how to apply

Non-US citizens qualify for Global Entry if they are US lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or citizens of the partner countries listed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), plus Canadian citizens who receive Global Entry benefits through NEXUS. Holding a US work, student, or visitor visa does not make you eligible unless your country of citizenship is on CBP's partner list. Adults pay a non-refundable five-year application fee listed on the DHS Trusted Traveler Programs fee schedule (waived for minors under 18 when a parent or legal guardian is enrolled or applying), and membership includes TSA PreCheck for approved partner-country citizens and green card holders.

Which non-US citizens qualify for Global Entry?

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opens Global Entry to two main groups of non-US citizens: US lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and citizens of partner countries that have international arrangements with CBP. Canadian citizens do not apply to Global Entry directly. Instead, CBP's International Arrangements page notes that Canadian citizens get Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program.

Holding a US visa, such as an H-1B, L-1, F-1, or B1/B2 visa, does not qualify you for Global Entry on its own. Your eligibility depends on your citizenship or US permanent resident status first. If you are a citizen of a non-partner country living in the US on a work or student visa, you cannot join Global Entry.

This table compares how CBP's rules work for each group of non-US citizens:

Global Entry rules by non-US citizen group (Source: CBP and DHS Trusted Traveler Programs, 2026)

Which partner countries are eligible for Global Entry?

The CBP International Arrangements page (last modified Nov 09, 2026) lists 24 partner countries and territories (including Canada via NEXUS and Mexican nationals) whose citizens qualify, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) portal selector also lists Qatar as a selectable partner country.

Qualifying partner countries and territories:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Bahrain
• Brazil
• Canada (eligible for Global Entry benefits through NEXUS program membership)
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Germany
• India
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Mexico (Mexican nationals)
• Netherlands
• Panama
• Qatar (listed on the DHS TTP program selector and Enrollment Center schedule)
• Singapore
• South Korea (Republic of Korea)
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom

How Global Entry works for US green card holders

If you are a US lawful permanent resident (LPR), you apply through the same DHS Trusted Traveler Programs website as a US citizen. However, CBP has three specific rules for green card holders that differ from foreign visa holders.

First, your green card must be machine-readable. Both the DHS TTP application checklist and CBP's How to Apply page state that lawful permanent residents must present a Permanent Resident Card that has a machine-readable zone (two lines of letters, numbers, and chevrons at the bottom of the card).

Second, when you fly into the United States and use the Global Entry processing technology at the airport, CBP's FAQ states that US lawful permanent residents must use their Form I-551 permanent resident card, not their foreign passport.

Third, US lawful permanent residents receive a physical Global Entry RFID card in the mail 2 to 4 weeks after approval (up to 6 to 8 weeks per the TTP FAQ). That card is not used at airport kiosks, which require your I-551 green card, but it lets you use SENTRI and NEXUS expedited lanes when entering the US by land or sea. If you get a renewal LPR card that is already associated with your account and has no name change, you can update the card details online in your TTP dashboard.

Extra steps and visa rules for citizens of partner countries

If you are not a US citizen or green card holder and you qualify through one of CBP's partner countries, your membership comes with extra rules on background vetting, visa categories, physical cards, and keeping your visa up to date.

Country-specific requirements and partner backlogs. CBP's Eligibility page notes that depending on your country of citizenship, you may have to meet additional requirements under your country's International Arrangement. For example, CBP's FAQ explains that South Korean citizens must be at least 17 years old, must first enroll in the Smart Entry Service (SES) operated by the Korean Immigration Service, and must submit their Global Entry application through the Korean government's website before creating a TTP account and paying the non-refundable CBP application fee. The DHS TTP portal also warns that partner program processing has taken an extended period of time in some cases due to backlogs with international partners, and CBP cannot expedite those cases or give individual timeline updates.

Who gets a physical Global Entry card? Only US citizens, US lawful permanent residents, and Mexican nationals receive physical Global Entry cards. All other partner-country citizens do not receive a card. You do not need a card to use Global Entry at airports, where you scan your passport at the portal. Because a physical RFID card is required for SENTRI and NEXUS land and sea border lanes entering the US, partner-country citizens other than Mexican nationals cannot use Global Entry in those land lanes.

Mexican nationals in SENTRI. If you are a US citizen or LPR in SENTRI and CBP already has your fingerprints and document information on file, you can use Global Entry at no additional cost. If you are a Mexican national already in SENTRI, CBP states you must apply for Global Entry through your TTP account.

Updating a US visa requires an in-person visit. While all Global Entry members can update an expired passport online in their TTP account (as long as their name has not changed), visa updates cannot be done online. CBP's International Arrangements page states that members who are not US citizens or US lawful permanent residents must maintain current visa information with CBP. If you change your name, obtain a new visa, or get a new petition for a work visa, you must notify CBP in person at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. If you skip this step, the Global Entry kiosk may miscalculate your class of admission and admission date.

Which US visa categories are excluded from Global Entry?

Even if you are a citizen of a CBP partner country, you cannot participate in Global Entry if you enter the United States under certain temporary, transit, or special visa classifications. Most common visitor, student, and work visas (such as B1/B2, ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program, F-1, J-1, H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2, and TN) are not on CBP's excluded list.

According to CBP's Trusted Traveler Program FAQs, citizens of partner countries may not participate in Global Entry if they are entering the US under any of these 32 visa categories:

• Transit visas: C-1 (Alien in Transit), C-2 (Alien in Transit to United Nations), C-3 (Foreign Government Representative in transit)
• Certain H visas: H-1C (Registered Nurse), H-2A (Agricultural worker), H-2B (Unskilled worker), H-2R (Returning H-2B), H-3 (Trainee)
• Fiance and spouse visas: K-1 (Fiance of US citizen), K-2 (Child of K-1), K-3 (Spouse of US citizen), K-4 (Child of K-3)
• Vocational student visas: M-1 (Vocational student), M-2 (Spouse or child of M-1)
• NATO/special immigrant relatives: N-8 (Parent of SK-3), N-9 (Child of N-8, SK-1, SK-2, SK-4)
• Exchange programs: Q-1 (International Exchange Program), Q-2 (Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Principal), Q-3 (Spouse and minor children of Q-2)
• Witnesses and informants: S-5, S-6, and S-7 (Family members of S-5, S-6)
• Trafficking victims and family: T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4, and T-5
• Criminal activity victims and family: U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, and U-5

How to apply for Global Entry as a non-US citizen

Every applicant, including children and infants, needs a separate account on the federal Login dot gov sign-in platform and a separate Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) application on the DHS TTP website. The DHS paperwork estimate notes the online application takes about 40 minutes.

Follow this 6-step checklist written by our team from CBP's application and International Arrangements rules:

• 1. Check if your country requires pre-application vetting. Before opening a TTP application, check CBP's International Arrangements page for your citizenship. If you are a South Korean citizen, for instance, you must enroll in SES and apply on the Korean government's website before creating your TTP account.
• 2. Gather your 5-year history and documents. The TTP portal asks for your address history, employment history, and international travel history (excluding Canada, Mexico, and US territories) for the past five years, plus your passport, US visa or machine-readable Permanent Resident Card, driver's license, and court documents if you have ever been convicted of a crime other than a traffic violation.
• 3. Create a federal Login dot gov account and a TTP profile on the DHS TTP portal. Each family member needs a unique email address for the federal sign-in portal, though you can enter the same contact email inside the TTP profile for notifications.
• 4. Submit the application and pay the non-refundable CBP application fee. Adults pay the five-year Global Entry fee listed on the DHS Trusted Traveler Programs website by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diner's Club, or JCB) or electronic transfer from a US bank account. The fee is waived for minors under 18 if a parent or legal guardian is already enrolled or has a pending or conditionally approved application. Once you pay, you cannot edit the application online. Any mistakes must be corrected with the officer at your interview.
• 5. Wait for Conditional Approval. CBP states that application vetting normally occurs within two weeks (80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks), while applications needing manual review take between 12 and 24 months. Partner-country applicants also wait on home-country clearance.
• 6. Complete your interview within 2 years. Once your dashboard shows Conditionally Approved, you have 2 years to complete your Global Entry interview at an Enrollment Center or through Enrollment on Arrival. If you do not finish within 2 years, CBP cancels the application without a refund.

How to complete your interview: Enrollment on Arrival vs. Enrollment Centers

For non-US citizens who live abroad, booking a standalone appointment at a US Enrollment Center can be difficult. CBP gives conditionally approved applicants two ways to complete the interview: Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) when flying into the US, or a scheduled appointment at an Enrollment Center.

Enrollment on Arrival (EoA). If you are conditionally approved and flying internationally into the United States (or clearing US border control at a designated CBP Preclearance airport abroad), you can complete your interview during your regular customs and immigration inspection with no appointment. Follow the Enrollment on Arrival signs in the CBP Federal Inspection Services area. CBP's EoA directory lists participating airports across the US as well as international Preclearance locations in Aruba, Bermuda, major Canadian airports, Guam, Ireland (Dublin and Shannon), The Bahamas (Nassau), Saipan, and the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi). You cannot use EoA on a purely domestic flight. If you already booked an Enrollment Center appointment and complete EoA first, CBP cancels your scheduled appointment automatically.

International and US Enrollment Centers. If you prefer a scheduled appointment, you can book through your TTP dashboard at Enrollment Centers across the US, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, or at CBP's four international Enrollment Center locations listed on the TTP scheduler: Fort Erie (Ontario, Canada), Mexico City (Mexico), Hamad International Airport in Doha (Qatar), and the US Embassy in Singapore.

What to bring to the interview. Bring all original documents used on your application: your valid passport (if you travel with more than one passport, bring all of them so CBP can add them to your file), your US visa if applicable, your machine-readable Permanent Resident Card if you are an LPR, proof of residency showing your current address (such as a driver's license, mortgage statement, rental payment statement, or utility bill, not required for minors), and court disposition documents if you were ever fingerprinted for an arrest or incident. For applicants under 18, a parent or legal guardian must give consent and be present at the interview, though the parent does not have to be a Global Entry member. For a full walkthrough of the questions and day-of steps, read our guide to the Global Entry interview or see Global Entry interview practice.

What disqualifies an applicant from Global Entry?

Global Entry is a risk-based program, and CBP applies strict background rules to US citizens, green card holders, and partner-country nationals alike. Under CBP's Eligibility page and FAQs, you may be found ineligible if you:

• Provide false or incomplete information on your application
• Have been arrested for or convicted of any criminal offense, or have pending criminal charges, protection orders, or outstanding warrants in any country (including driving under the influence)
• Have received a criminal pardon from any country
• Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration, or agriculture regulations, procedures, or laws in any country
• Are the subject of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency in any country
• Have been denied for the purchase of a firearm
• Are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation, including applicants who have an approved waiver of inadmissibility or parole documentation
• Cannot satisfy CBP of your low-risk status or meet other program requirements

What to use if your country does not qualify for Global Entry

If you are not a US lawful permanent resident and your country of citizenship is not on CBP's partner list, you cannot join Global Entry, even if you live in the US on a valid work or student visa. Depending on how you travel, CBP offers two other Trusted Traveler programs:

1. NEXUS (for Canadian citizens and permanent residents). Administered jointly by CBP and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), NEXUS charges a five-year adult application fee set on the DHS Trusted Traveler Programs fee page (waived for minors under 18) and gives members Global Entry processing benefits at airports, dedicated northern border lanes, and TSA PreCheck for US citizens, US LPRs, and Canadian citizens. Compare the two in our NEXUS vs Global Entry guide.

2. SENTRI (open to any nationality). CBP's FAQ states that anyone with a travel document is eligible to apply for SENTRI. Adults pay a five-year application fee listed on the CBP and DHS Trusted Traveler Programs fee schedule (waived for minors under 18 when a parent or legal guardian is a member or applying), and the program provides expedited entry at southern land border ports of entry. However, only US citizens and US lawful permanent residents in SENTRI receive Global Entry airport kiosk access and TSA PreCheck.

Practice example

Why are you applying for Global Entry, what is your current US immigration status or visa, and have you ever had any arrests or customs or immigration violations?

Give a direct, honest explanation of how often you travel internationally to the United States and whether you travel for work, study, or family visits. State the exact status or visa you use to enter the US and hand over the matching original documents: your valid passport (or all valid passports you travel with), your machine-readable Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card if you are a lawful permanent resident, or your current US visa and supporting work or study document if you are a partner-country national. Keep your proof of current residential address ready, such as a driver's license, utility bill, or rental or mortgage statement. If you noticed any mistake on your submitted online form, or if your address or travel history changed since you applied, tell the officer right away so they can update your record. Answer background questions about past arrests, fingerprinting, or customs, immigration, or agriculture issues truthfully, and present certified court disposition papers if you were ever fingerprinted for an incident.

The CBP officer is verifying your identity, confirming that your travel documents and visa classification qualify for Global Entry, and checking that your five-year history matches your background check and low-risk status.

Related guides

• NEXUS vs Global Entry
• Global Entry interview
• Global Entry interview practice

This is interview practice, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney. Visaful is not affiliated with the U.S. government or the Department of State.