Children's Global Entry Application Quirks

TL;DR

Children of any age are eligible for Global Entry, but each child pays the full $120 application fee — there is no family discount. The interview is required and a parent or guardian must be present. Kids 14 and older have biometrics (fingerprints and photo) taken; younger children are photo-only. Approved children get their own PASSID that unlocks TSA PreCheck for domestic flights.

At a glance

• Cost: $120 per child — same as adult, no family rate
• Age minimum: None — even infants can be enrolled
• Interview: Required for all first-time applicants; parent/guardian must accompany
• Biometrics: Fingerprints collected for ages 14+; photo always
• Passport required: Yes (valid U.S. passport for citizens; I-551 + passport for LPRs)
• Membership validity: 5 years
• Includes: TSA PreCheck via child’s own PASSID

Why this matters for families

Every family member needs their own Global Entry membership. There is no “family kiosk” or group lane — each traveler, including children, either has Global Entry or goes through the standard customs line. When you return from an international trip with three kids, that math matters: the Global Entry kiosk line versus a 75-minute standard customs queue is a significant quality-of-life difference after a long flight.

The secondary benefit is TSA PreCheck. A child with Global Entry gets their own PASSID, which functions as a Known Traveler Number (KTN) on domestic flights. Enter the PASSID in the child’s airline frequent-flyer profile (or at booking) and they’ll see “TSA PreCheck” on their boarding pass — which means the whole family can use the faster lane together.

Who is eligible

The same eligibility rules that apply to adults apply to children:

• U.S. citizens and nationals of any age are eligible.
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) of any age are eligible with a valid I-551 Green Card.
• Citizens of countries with CBP reciprocity agreements (Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, the UK, and others) who are LPRs may also be eligible — CBP’s website has the current list.

There is no minimum age. A 6-month-old infant is technically eligible, though for very young children the practical benefit is limited (they’d need to grow into their biometric profile). Most families apply for children once they have reliable fingerprints — roughly age 5 or older — though younger applications are processed without issue.

The application process for children

A parent or legal guardian must complete the application on the child’s behalf. The child cannot apply independently through the TTP portal — a guardian account is required for minors.

Step 1: Create a TTP account for your child

Go to ttp.cbp.dhs.gov. You will log into your own account first and then add a minor applicant linked to your account. This lets you manage the child’s application status, schedule the interview, and eventually see the approval notification from your own TTP dashboard.

If you already have your own Global Entry membership, that existing account is where you add the child.

Step 2: Complete the application

The application for a child mirrors the adult application in structure:

• Child’s full name, date of birth, birthplace, and citizenship status
• Valid passport number and expiration date (or Green Card details for LPRs)
• Parent or guardian contact information
• Travel history (for older children who have traveled)
• Background disclosure questions (criminal history, immigration issues, prior Global Entry denials)

For young children with no travel history and no prior issues, most of these sections are simple to complete.

Step 3: Pay the $120 fee

There is no reduced fee for minors and no family bundle pricing through CBP. Each child pays $120. If you are enrolling two children simultaneously, that is $240 in application fees on top of any adult memberships in your family.

Some premium travel credit cards offer one Global Entry application fee credit per cardholder every 4–5 years. If you or your spouse holds a card with this benefit, you can use one credit for one child’s fee.

Step 4: Wait for conditional approval

CBP runs a background check on the child. For young children with no record, this phase is typically straightforward. Older teenagers with any prior issues — even minor ones — may face more scrutiny. Conditional approval status means CBP has cleared the background review and is ready to complete enrollment at the interview.

Step 5: Schedule and attend the interview

All first-time Global Entry applicants require an in-person interview. For children, a parent or legal guardian must be present at the interview. You cannot send a child to an enrollment center alone.

You have two options for scheduling:

Enrollment center interview: Schedule an appointment at a CBP Global Entry enrollment center. These are located at major international airports and some federal buildings. Appointment availability varies by location — popular centers in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and other hub cities often book out several weeks.

Interview on arrival: Many international airports offer Global Entry enrollment on arrival — when your conditionally approved family member returns from an international trip, a CBP officer conducts the enrollment interview at the port of entry rather than requiring a separate trip to an enrollment center. This is often the most convenient option for families who travel internationally anyway.

At the interview, bring:

• The child’s valid passport (physical document)
• The child’s I-551 if they are an LPR
• Your own government-issued ID
• The child’s conditional approval letter (on your phone or printed)

Biometrics and the interview for children

CBP collects biometric data during the enrollment interview. What gets collected depends on the child’s age:

Ages 14 and older: Fingerprints and a photo. CBP’s biometric capture for fingerprints starts at age 14, aligning with standard U.S. government biometrics policy. An older teenager goes through the same biometric enrollment as an adult.

Under age 14: Photo only. CBP does not collect fingerprints from children under 14. The enrollment is photo-based, and the child’s identity is confirmed by the accompanying parent/guardian’s own documentation.

The interview itself for children is brief and low-pressure. The CBP officer verifies the child’s identity against their documents, confirms the guardian’s relationship to the child, takes the biometrics, and completes the enrollment. For young children who are nervous, parents can explain it simply: “They’ll take your picture and look at your passport.”

Using Global Entry as a child

Once approved, a child uses the Global Entry kiosk the same way an adult does:

1. Approach the kiosk at the international arrivals hall.
2. Scan the passport (or use facial recognition at airports with that capability).
3. Answer the customs declaration questions on-screen.
4. Collect the receipt and proceed to the baggage area.

Children under a certain age — practically, children too young to reach the kiosk or read the screen — are handled alongside an adult family member. The adult family member with Global Entry can bring younger children through the Global Entry lane as a group. In practice, CBP officers at the kiosk area will direct families together.

Children who are old enough to operate the kiosk independently can use it independently. The PASSID on the child’s CBP record confirms their enrollment; the kiosk matches the passport scan to the enrollment.

TSA PreCheck for children with Global Entry

When a child is approved for Global Entry, CBP assigns them a PASSID. This number functions as a KTN — the identifier that tells TSA the traveler is PreCheck-enrolled.

To activate PreCheck on your child’s boarding passes:

1. Log into your airline account for the child (or create a frequent-flyer number for them if they don’t have one).
2. Add the PASSID/KTN to the “Known Traveler Number” field in the profile.
3. At booking, the KTN is attached to the reservation, and TSA PreCheck will print on their boarding pass when the airline’s system confirms enrollment.

Children 12 and under go through PreCheck automatically when traveling with an enrolled parent — they don’t need their own KTN. But once a child is 13 or older, they need their own enrollment to use the PreCheck lane. A child with Global Entry covers this cleanly through age 17.

Renewal and aging up

Global Entry lasts 5 years at any age. The renewal process for a minor is the same as for an adult — a parent or guardian can log into the TTP portal and initiate the renewal when the child is within 12 months of expiration. Most renewals do not require a new interview. See the Global Entry renewal guide for the full renewal process.

When a child turns 18 during their membership term, nothing changes automatically — the existing membership continues until it expires. At the first renewal after they turn 18, they can manage the renewal independently through their own TTP account.

Common pitfalls

• Paying for Global Entry before checking if the child qualifies. Children with prior immigration issues, criminal charges (even juvenile records in some circumstances), or travel document problems can be denied. The $120 fee is non-refundable.
• Missing the guardian requirement at the interview. A parent or legal guardian must be present. An enrolled grandparent, aunt, or other relative who is not a legal guardian generally cannot stand in for the interview.
• Forgetting to add the child’s PASSID to their airline profile. Global Entry approval doesn’t automatically put PreCheck on boarding passes — you have to add the PASSID as a KTN in the child’s frequent-flyer or passenger profile.
• Assuming the child can use Global Entry without a parent if they’re young. Young children without the dexterity or reading ability to use the kiosk independently travel through the Global Entry lane alongside a parent. A child’s Global Entry does not change this practical reality.
• Letting the child’s passport expire without updating TTP. If the child’s passport expires, update the new passport number in their TTP profile promptly. CBP checks passport validity at the kiosk.

What to do next

If your family travels internationally more than once a year, enrolling your children in Global Entry pays for itself quickly in time saved at customs. The $120 per child is the main friction point — but once enrolled, the five-year membership covers the ages when kids travel most actively.

Our Global Entry service handles the application for every member of your family — adults and children — from the initial TTP application through interview scheduling and status tracking. Start your family’s Global Entry application and we’ll coordinate everything together.

Frequently asked questions

Can infants and toddlers get Global Entry?

Yes. There is no minimum age. A parent or guardian applies on the child’s behalf, accompanies them to the interview, and travels with them when using the kiosk. Fingerprints are only collected for children 14 and older.

Is there a family discount for child Global Entry?

No. CBP charges $120 per applicant with no family pricing. Some premium travel credit cards reimburse one fee per cardholder, which can offset the cost for one family member.

Does a child need their own passport to apply for Global Entry?

Yes. A valid U.S. passport is required for U.S. citizen children. LPR children need a valid I-551 Green Card and a valid foreign passport.

Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck for my child?

Yes. Approved children receive a PASSID that functions as a KTN for TSA PreCheck on domestic flights. Add the PASSID to the child’s airline profile to activate PreCheck on their boarding passes.

How long is a child’s Global Entry membership valid?

5 years — the same as for adults. There is no shorter validity for minors.

What if my child’s passport expires before their Global Entry?

Update the new passport number in the child’s TTP profile as soon as the new passport is issued. Global Entry is tied to the child’s identity record, not to the specific passport document number.

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Sources: CBP Global Entry program page, CBP Global Entry FAQ.