Knowlegde is Power
Francis Bacon
After traveling through 10 countries with Ryan’s son this summer, we thought we had become pretty good at navigating international travel as a family.
Airports, passports, security lines, immigration – we had the routine down.
Then we returned to the United States and learned something about Global Entry that caught us completely by surprise.
Ryan has Global Entry, and we approached the expedited entry process as we normally would. There was just one problem: his son didn’t have Global Entry.
We learned that a parent’s Global Entry membership does not extend to a child. Even when traveling together as a family, everyone using Global Entry needs their own membership, including children.
The CBP officer graciously allowed us through that day, and we were grateful, as the regular lines were very long. He explained that Ryan’s son needed to be enrolled before he could use Global Entry with us in the future.
It was one of those travel lessons you don’t necessarily think about until you’re standing at the airport.
So, we started the process. Along the way, we learned several things we wish we had known before that day.
Do Children Need Their Own Global Entry?
Yes.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Global Entry benefits are specific to the individual member. They don’t automatically extend to a spouse, child, or other travel companion.
There is no minimum age to enroll. Children can have their own Global Entry memberships, but they still have to complete the application and enrollment process.
That was the part we hadn’t realized.
After a summer that took Ryan and his son through 10 countries, our return to the United States taught us one more lesson in international travel.
If you have Global Entry and plan to travel internationally with a child, it’s worth sorting this out before your next trip.
Global Entry Is Free for Qualifying Children
There is some good news for parents: qualifying children can apply for Global Entry without paying the application fee,
Beginning Oct. 1, 2024, CBP waived the application fee for applicants under 18 when a parent or legal guardian is already enrolled in or applying for Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI.
The standard Global Entry application fee for adults is currently $120.
The child’s application still needs to be completed separately. The fee waiver doesn’t mean the child is simply added to the parent’s membership.
That distinction becomes important as you move through the process.
Your Child Needs a Separate Account and Application
The application begins through the official U.S. Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Programs website.
Every applicant needs their own Trusted Traveler Programs account. We quickly discovered that Ryan couldn’t manage his son’s application through his own Global Entry account.
We also couldn’t use the email address already associated with Ryan’s account to establish the separate account. Instead, Ryan used another email address he had access to that wasn’t connected to his existing account.
From there, he completed and submitted the application and waited for conditional approval.
That’s when he encountered another part of the process that wasn’t immediately obvious.
Keep the Conditional-Approval Information
Once the application received conditional approval, Ryan needed to schedule the in-person interview.
Ryan logged into his son’s Trusted Traveler Programs account expecting to see the application and scheduling information.
It wasn’t there.
There was no reference to the application he had already completed and no interview to schedule. Ryan’s own Global Entry account didn’t show any record of his son’s application either.
The missing piece was the PASSID, or membership number, provided with the conditional-approval information.
Once Ryan entered the PASSID into his son’s account and associated the application with the profile, everything appeared, and he could schedule the interview.
That leads to one of our biggest practical tips from the entire process: Keep the conditional-approval email and information handy.
Don’t assume everything will automatically appear the next time you log into the account.
Scheduling a Child’s Global Entry Interview
The child’s interview is handled through their own Trusted Traveler Programs account, not the parent’s.
In Ryan’s case, he needed to schedule the appointment online through that account. He couldn’t simply call and make an appointment.
What surprised him the most was the availability.
We remember when Global Entry interview appointments were difficult to find, sometimes requiring travelers to repeatedly check for cancellations or wait months for an opening.
The experience this time was completely different. There were numerous appointments, and he was able to schedule one almost immediately.
Appointment availability varies by enrollment center and demand, so we wouldn’t assume every family will have the same experience. Still, it was far easier than we anticipated. To find a Global Entry Enrollment Center closest to you, select your state or territory here.
Can You Complete the Interview When Returning From an International Trip?
Potentially, and this was actually our original plan.
Global Entry offers Enrollment on Arrival, which allows conditionally approved applicants to complete their interview at participating airports when returning to the United States from an international trip.
It’s a convenient option in theory. You’re already at the airport; you’ve just arrived from abroad, and you may be able to complete the enrollment process without making a separate trip to an enrollment center.
There are a few things we would keep in mind, however.
Availability can depend on the airport and circumstances when you arrive, and there may be a wait. Our advice is to ask a CBP officer about Enrollment on Arrival before leaving the customs processing area.
We learned that firsthand.
On a recent international return, we planned to complete the interview at the airport. Unfortunately, we were given incorrect directions by CBP about where to go.
By the time we realized what had happened, we had already left the area and couldn’t simply go back.
So much for Plan A.
Fortunately, scheduling an interview later turned out to be much easier than we expected.
What Should You Bring to a Child’s Global Entry Interview?
Always follow the instructions provided with your appointment, as requirements can vary by applicant.
For our appointment, we brought the child’s passport, Ryan’s passport, and the appointment documentation.
We also brought Ryan’s Global Entry card.
We weren’t specifically told that his physical Global Entry card was required, but we decided to bring it anyway. When dealing with an international travel program, we’d rather arrive with one document too many than discover something useful is sitting at home.
A parent or legal guardian must attend the Global Entry interview for an applicant under 18.
The interview itself was straightforward. The officer verified the applicant’s identity and the information associated with the application, and the process moved very quickly, less than five minutes.
Parents should also know that fingerprints are required for Global Entry applicants ages 14 and older. Younger applicants still need to complete the enrollment and interview process, but fingerprints are not required.
What Does a Child Receive After Global Entry Approval?
Once approved, a child becomes a Global Entry member in their own right.
They receive their own PASSID rather than traveling under a parent’s Global Entry membership.
That number can also be useful beyond returning to the United States. Global Entry members are generally eligible for TSA PreCheck benefits, and the PASSID can be used as a Known Traveler Number on eligible airline reservations.
Global Entry cards are also issued to eligible members. The physical card isn’t required to use Global Entry when arriving by air, however. Membership is associated with the traveler’s information.
For families who travel regularly, having everything set up under the child’s membership can make future trips easier.
What We Wish We Had Known Before Starting
Looking back, the process wasn’t particularly difficult. There were simply several details we didn’t know until we went through it ourselves.
If you’re thinking about enrolling your child, these are the points we’d remember:
- A parent’s Global Entry membership does not automatically cover a child.
- There is no minimum age to apply.
- Qualifying applicants under 18 can apply without paying the Global Entry application fee when a parent or legal guardian is enrolled in or applying for an eligible Trusted Traveler Program.
- The child needs a separate Trusted Traveler Program account and application.
- An email address already associated with the parent’s account can’t be reused for the child’s separate account.
- Keep the conditional-approval information and PASSID handy.
- The child’s interview is managed through their own Trusted Traveler Programs account.
- A parent or legal guardian must attend the interview for applicants under 18.
- Bring the required identification and appointment documentation.
- Fingerprints are required beginning at age 14.
- Enrollment on Arrival may allow a conditionally approved applicant to complete the interview when returning from an international trip.
- Once approved, the child has their own Global Entry membership and PASSID.
One More Lesson From a Summer of Travel
Traveling with a child has a way of teaching you things you never needed to know when traveling only with adults.
After 10 countries this summer, we expected the lessons to involve airports, packing, transportation, and figuring out how to keep a trip enjoyable for everyone.
Instead, one of our final lessons came when we returned to the United States.
What initially seemed like one more travel complication turned out to be fairly simple to resolve. The application was straightforward, we found an interview appointment quickly, and the interview itself was easy.
But we would have much rather known all of this before standing at immigration.
That’s why we’re sharing it.
If you have Global Entry and plan to travel internationally with your children, don’t assume your membership covers them. Taking care of their enrollment before your next trip could make that next return to the United States considerably smoother.
After this summer, it’s one travel detail we won’t forget.
Official Global Entry Resources
Global Entry applications should be completed through the official U.S. Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Programs website.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection also provides current information about Global Entry eligibility, applications, fees, interviews, and Enrollment on Arrival.
Because government travel programs and requirements can change, we recommend checking current CBP guidance before applying or traveling.
© 2026 Wanderers Compass All Rights Reserved
Language from U.S. Customs & Border Protection Site
“Requirements for Children
There is no minimum age requirement for Global Entry. However, if you are under the age of 18, you must have your parent or legal guardian’s consent to participate in the program. Your parent or legal guardian does not have to be a Global Entry member.
Regardless of your age, you must:
- Create a Global Online Enrollment System account;
- Pay a $120 non-refundable application fee, the only exception is for minors (under 18) with a legal guardian enrolled in the program or in pending status the fee for the minor is waived; and
- Schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present at time of interview.”
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