Global Entry Program

US Global Entry Program admission procedure

Travelers standing at Global Entry Kiosks at an international airport — Global Entry Kiosks, located at international airports, simplify the passenger`s entry into the United States (Photo: James Tourtellotte)

What is the Global Entry Program?

Global Entry offers a range of advantages for entry to the United States of America. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) established the Global Entry Program to allow frequent travelers to the United States expedited entry to the country at airports. Swiss nationals accepted on the program can enter the United States via an automatic kiosk, thus avoiding long queues and waiting times on arrival.

To participate in the program, please follow the three steps below.

Step 1: Prepare documents

What documents must be submitted to fedpol?

To participate in the Global Entry Program, the following three documents are required:

Signed declaration of consent form
Current extract from the Swiss criminal record
Color copy of valid Swiss passport (double page with signature / photo and personal details)

Why do we need a declaration of consent?

We require your consent to carry out a search on you in the police databases and to disclose personal data to the U.S. authorities. Please read, complete and sign the Declaration of Consent (PDF, 176 kB, 28.03.2022).

Where can you get a Swiss criminal records extract?

You can order a criminal records extract from the Federal Office of Justice FOJ here.

Children under 10 years do not require an extract.
The criminal records extract to be submitted must not be older than three months and the date of issue must be clearly legible / visible.

Why do we need a copy of your Swiss passport?

Please make a colored scan of your passport as proof of your identity (double page with signature / photo and personal details).

Step 2: Submit the documents

Important
Please do not proceed until you have all necessary documents electronically ready. Once the processing fee has been paid, the process can no longer be interrupted. It is not possible to resume at a later date without paying again!

Fees

Information
For the preliminary examination in Switzerland fedpol charges a prepaid processing fee of CHF 100.00. The following options are available for electronic payment:

Mastercard / Visa / American Express
TWINT
PostFinance Card / PostFinance e-finance

To fill out the application for the US Global Entry Program admission, please click on the button below.

Step 3: Further procedure

Pre-clearance and notification

Once your application has been processed, you will be notified in writing about the next steps in the procedure:

If you do not have an entry in the police databases, you can register with the US Customs and Border Protection here for the security check by the US authorities. To do so, create a new account (Initial Enrollment) or update your existing account (Renewal).
Participation in this program costs US$ 100.00.
The US Customs and Border Protection will make the final decision on admission to the program.
NOTE: If an applicant has not been verified by fedpol prior to applying via the TTP website, the Global Entry application will not be processed by the US authorities.
If you have a record in the police databases, you will not be admitted to the Global Entry Program.

Disclosing personal data

Once you have successfully registered for the security clearance by the US authorities, please send us your two reference numbers "Application ID" and "Membership/PASSID". Both reference numbers are visible in your account.

As soon as we have received these two reference numbers from you, fedpol will send the following data about you to the US authorities: first and last name, date of birth and the two reference numbers.

Mandatory disclosure of biometric data in the U.S.A

If the preliminary check by the US Customs and Border Protection agency is successfully completed, you are considered a low-risk traveler (conditionally approved).

Once your low-risk traveler status is confirmed, you have 365 days to complete the procedure. The next time you travel to the United States, you will need to finalize the procedure, either directly at a U.S. airport or at a center outside the airport (after prior appointment), by submitting your biometric data: a photo of you and your fingerprints will be taken. This procedure is only conducted on first-time entry to the country.

Entering the United States as a member of the Global Entry Program

As a participant in the Global Entry Program, you will be able to complete the formalities of entering the USA at a Global Entry Kiosk in the future.

Your membership remains valid for 5 years.

Global Entry speeds up the entry procedure, but does not replace the ESTA travel authorization or - if you are staying in the USA for more than 90 days - a US visa.

Maintenance of Global Entry membership

At the end of the five years, a renewal application must be submitted via the TTP website and a new security check by fedpol is required.

NOTE: Security clearance applications are processed chronologically as they are received and may take several weeks to process. Please allow sufficient time for this.