Heres what you should probably know about getting Global Entry for kidsplus, how to avoid the fee.
My only regret is not doing it sooner.
Considering getting Global Entry for your own kids?
Little girl looking out an airplane window.Credit:Yuliia Pavaliuk/Getty Images
What exactly is Global Entry?
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images
Do kids need their own Global Entry membership?
Yes, children under the age of 18even infantsare required to have their own account and membership.
A row of Global Entry kiosks.PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images
As with adults, kids memberships are valid for five years.
How much does Global Entry cost for kids?
What is the Global Entry online utility like for kids?
The first step of the process is completing an online program.
Each child will need their own email address to register for theirTrusted Traveler Programaccount.
What is the Global Entry interview like for kids?
After your childs Global Entry tool has been conditionally approved, its time for anin-person interview.
Your first option is to schedule the interview at your nearestGlobal Entry Enrollment Center.
Longtime travel editor-turned-consultant Scott Mayerowitz took this route when signing up his own daughter in 2015.
She was too young to be fingerprinted, and I had to hold her up for the photo.
Sometimes, after a long international flight, all you want to do is go home.
Everyone was relaxed and in a good mood, so the 90-minute wait felt fairly manageable.
(Proof of residency, like a drivers license, isnt typically required for minors.)
Plan to arrive early because if you miss your time slot, youll need to make another appointment.
Once youre called by a CBP officer, the interview usually only takes about 15 minutes.
Children 14 and up will also be required to provide fingerprints.
How long will I have to wait to know if my child got approved?
Any other tips?
Once your child is in the system, renewals are fairly easy.
Don’t wait until the last minute to renew.
