What happens when your Global Entry card arrives

Your Global Entry card becomes active the moment U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mails it to you. You do not need to take any steps to "turn it on" — the card works at airport kiosks and border crossings as soon as you have it in hand. The activation happens on CBP's side during the enrollment process, before the card is printed and shipped.

When you receive the card in the mail, check the back for your membership number and expiration date. The card itself is your proof of membership. At U.S. airports with Global Entry kiosks, insert the card into the machine and follow the on-screen prompts. At land borders, present the card to the CBP officer.

If your card arrives damaged, does not work at a kiosk, or never arrives after 30 days, contact CBP's Global Entry program directly through the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov. Do not call a general CBP number — the TTP site has a specific contact form for card issues.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Global Entry card is active when it arrives in the mail; no separate activation step is required.
  • Use the card at any U.S. airport with a Global Entry kiosk by inserting it and following the screen instructions.
  • Your membership number and expiration date are printed on the back of the card.
  • If the card does not arrive within 30 days or does not work at a kiosk, report the issue through the Trusted Traveler Programs website, not a general CBP phone line.

Using your card at airport kiosks

At a U.S. airport with Global Entry service, look for the dedicated kiosk area, usually near the standard passport control lanes. Insert your Global Entry card into the card reader slot on the kiosk. The machine will read your membership number and pull up your enrollment record.

Follow the on-screen prompts, which typically ask you to confirm your identity and answer a few questions about your trip. Place your fingers on the biometric scanner when prompted. The kiosk will print a receipt with a barcode — keep this with you until you exit the secure area. Some airports now use facial recognition instead of fingerprints; the kiosk will tell you which method to use.

The entire process takes two to three minutes. After the kiosk approves you, proceed directly to baggage claim or your connecting gate. You bypass the standard customs line entirely.

Using your card at land borders

At a U.S. land border crossing, present your Global Entry card to the CBP officer in the inspection booth, along with your passport. The officer will scan your card and verify your enrollment status in their system. Answer any questions about your trip, goods, or citizenship.

Global Entry does not may provide you will skip the inspection line at land borders the way it does at airports. The officer may still direct you to secondary inspection if they have concerns. However, your membership signals to CBP that you have passed a background check and are a lower-risk traveler, which can speed the process.

At some busy land borders, CBP has dedicated lanes for Global Entry members. Ask the officer or check signage when you arrive.

What to do if your card does not work

If you insert your card at a kiosk and the machine rejects it or displays an error, try the card again in a different kiosk — sometimes a single machine malfunctions. If multiple kiosks reject the card, or if the kiosk says your membership is not found, your card may not have been activated properly on CBP's end.

Do not assume the card is broken. First, verify that you are using the correct card — Global Entry cards look similar to other trusted traveler cards. Check the back to confirm it says "Global Entry" and shows your membership number.

If the card still does not work after trying multiple kiosks, go to the Trusted Traveler Programs website at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov and log into your account. Check your enrollment status — it should show "Active." If it shows anything else, or if you cannot log in, use the contact form on the TTP site to report the issue. CBP typically responds within five to seven business days and can reissue a card if needed.

Card replacement if yours is lost or damaged

If your Global Entry card is lost, stolen, or damaged, log into your account on the Trusted Traveler Programs website. Your enrollment record remains active even if the physical card is gone. You can request a replacement card through your account dashboard.

CBP charges a replacement fee (currently $20) for a lost or damaged card. The replacement card is mailed to the address on file and takes 7 to 10 business days to arrive. Until it arrives, you can still use Global Entry at airports by using your passport and answering security questions at the kiosk — the kiosk will look up your enrollment by your passport number.

If your card was stolen, consider reporting it to CBP through the TTP website so they can flag it in their system, though this is not required for the card to stop working.

Using Global Entry before your physical card arrives

Once your enrollment is approved and your status shows "Active" on the Trusted Traveler Programs website, you can use Global Entry at airport kiosks even before the physical card arrives. At the kiosk, select the option to use your passport instead of a card. The machine will scan your passport and ask you to verify your identity and answer security questions.

This temporary method works at all U.S. airports with Global Entry kiosks. It is slower than using the card itself because the kiosk has to look up your record by passport number rather than reading it directly from the card. Once your card arrives, switch to using the card for faster processing.

At land borders, you must have the physical card to use Global Entry. You cannot use your passport alone at a border crossing.

Renewing your Global Entry membership

Global Entry membership lasts five years from the date your card is issued. About 180 days before your expiration date, CBP sends a renewal notice to the email address on file. You can renew through the Trusted Traveler Programs website by paying the renewal fee (currently $100) and updating your information if anything has changed.

Renewing online takes about 10 minutes. CBP mails a new card to your address on file, which arrives within 7 to 10 business days. Your old card remains valid until the expiration date printed on it, so you can continue using Global Entry while you wait for the new card.

If you miss the renewal window, your membership expires and you must reapply as a new member, which requires an in-person interview at an enrollment center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to do anything when my Global Entry card arrives in the mail?

No. The card is ready to use immediately. Check that it is not damaged, verify your membership number and expiration date on the back, and use it at the next airport or border crossing. There is no separate activation process.

Can I use Global Entry with just my passport if I forgot my card?

At airports, yes — the kiosk can look up your enrollment by scanning your passport and asking security questions. At land borders, no — you must have the physical card to show the CBP officer. If you regularly forget your card, consider keeping it in your passport holder.

What if the kiosk says my membership is not found?

Log into your account on the Trusted Traveler Programs website and check that your status shows "Active." If it does not, or if you cannot log in, use the contact form on the TTP site to report the problem. CBP will investigate and may reissue your card if there is an error on their end.

How long does a replacement card take if mine is lost?

A replacement card takes 7 to 10 business days to arrive after you request it through your TTP account. You can still use Global Entry at airports by using your passport at the kiosk while you wait. There is a $20 replacement fee.

Can I use my old Global Entry card after it expires?

No. Once the expiration date passes, the card no longer works at kiosks or with CBP officers. Renew your membership through the Trusted Traveler Programs website about 180 days before expiration to avoid a gap in coverage.