Big news for Australian travellers to the US: Global Entry eligibility is (finally) being expanded to Australian citizens, with a trial program to begin in January 2025.
Global Entry can be used whether travelling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) or on a visa (such as the E-3) to reduce wait times at the US port of entry, by opening up use of automated kiosks.
Global Entry benefits travellers by providing faster, more streamlined processing at US ports-of-entry, avoiding long immigration queues as well as potentially personal interactions with CBP officers. This is an especially important benefit for frequent Australian travellers to the US, given that flights to the US involve flights of 13 hours or longer.
As an added benefit, Global Entry enrolees will be automatically eligible to participate in TSA Pre-Check, which provides faster and streamlined security screenings for US domestic flights.
Note that Global Entry is not a visa. If using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for business travel, the same limitations as to permissible activities in the US, including a prohibition of ‘work’, apply.
Phase I of the rollout will be a pilot program for 1,000 Australians who’ve travelled to the US at least five times in the past 12 months.
For those who can’t get into the pilot program who are using ESTA, use the CBP One mobile application in advance of your travels to reduce wait times at the port of entry.
On the day of the announcement of the expansion of Global Entry to Australian citizens, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong, said:
“Joining the Global Entry program is a mark of the closeness and the strength of the relationship between our two countries.
“The foundation of the friendship between Australia and United States is the friendship between our people. This program will deepen these links and make it easier to foster greater commercial ties.”
Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke MP, added:
“The Albanese Government is delivering on Australia’s participation in the Global Entry program for the thousands of travellers who visit the United States frequently.
“Today’s signing is an important step and we’re working hard to ensure that from January 2025, the first group of eligible Australians will experience expedited immigration and customs clearance channels when they arrive in the US.”
If you seek our assistance with enrolling in US Global Entry, please send us an enquiry below. Please note that enrolment is not yet open to Australian citizens, and only a pilot program has been announced for January 2025.
