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)

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 program to allow frequent travellers 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, travellers must undergo a security check. The security check in Switzerland is carried out by fedpol. In the United States it is conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). To register for the program you must provide fedpol with the documents listed below.

Declaration of consent

We require your consent to carry out a search on you in the police databases (RIPOL and SIS) 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).

Proof of identity

Please make a coloured scan of your passport as proof of your identity.

Extract from the Swiss criminal records

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

Children under 10 years do not require an extract.
Your criminal records extract should have been issued within the last three months and must display the date of issue.

Please do not proceed until you have all the necessary documents ready electronically. Once the processing fee has been paid, you cannot interrupt the process. It is not possible to resume at a later date without paying again!

Fees

There is a charge of CHF 100 for the pre-clearance procedure. Payment should be made electronically. The following means of payment are accepted: PostFinance card, PostFinance e-Finance, TWINT, Mastercard, Visa and American Express.

Submitting documents

Are you a Swiss national and would you like to register on the U.S. Global Entry Program? If so, please complete the fields below and upload all the required documents: signed Declaration of Consent, extract from the Swiss criminal records and a coloured copy of your valid passport.

Please note that the subsequent procedure is only accessible after payment of the fee.

Surname(s)

*

First name(s)

*

Email address

*

Declaration of consent

*

Extract from the Swiss criminal records

*

Copy of your passport

*

All fields marked with * must be completed.

Applications for security clearance will be processed in chronological order.

Further steps

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 are not registered in the police databases, you can begin the U.S. procedure here.
Click on the Global Entry Program column. Create a new account using the ‘Get Started’ button. The U.S. authorities charge of fee of USD 100. The U.S. customs authorities decide whether you are definitely admitted to the program.
If you are registered in the police data bases, you will not be authorised to participate in the program.

Disclosing personal data

If you pass the pre-clearance security check by the U.S. authorities, you will be granted provisional Low Risk Traveler status. Your application will be registered with a 'PASS ID or APPLICATION ID' reference. Please send us this reference.

fedpol will then disclose the following personal data to the U.S. authorities: your first name, surname, date of birth, passport number and 'PASS ID or APPLICATION ID' reference.

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

Once your Low Risk Traveler status is confirmed, you have 365 days to make an appointment with the U.S. authorities. The next time you travel to the United States, you will need to finalise the procedure, either at a U.S. airport or at a centre outside the airport, by submitting your biometric data (photograph and digital fingerprints). This procedure is only conducted on first-time entry to the country.

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

Once a member of the Global Entry Program you can enter the United States using one of the automatic kiosks. Membership is valid for five years.

Global Entry travel expedites entry to the United States but is not a substitute for ESTA travel authorisation or a U.S. visa if your visit exceeds 90 days.