Global Entry, Passport Updates: What You Need To Know

Codie Liermann Published October 07, 2024

Have you checked the date on your passport recently? Are you finally ready to get Global Entry after years of talking about it? Or maybe you just want to stay up to date on all the latest news to share with your frequent flyers. Well, September came with several updates — read on to see what’s new and noteworthy.

Pricing Changes

Like many things right now, the price for Global Entry has increased. As of October 1, the fee for Global Entry is now $120, up from $100. This is the first time the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has increased the price since 2008, and according to a September press release, the higher price will allow CBP “to improve customer service through technology improvements, optimized processes, and expansion to additional ports across the northern border.”

Global Entry Free for Children

While the individual price for Global Entry has gone up, the cost for a family to travel with this perk may be reduced overall. Although the price increase took effect on October 1, another change came with it: applicants under the age of 18 do not have to pay the application fee. This is only the case when a parent or legal guardian already has Global Entry or is in the process of applying for it at the same time. Regardless of it being free, each child still needs to create their own account.

Online Passport Renewal

In a September announcement, the Department of State officially revealed that the online passport renewal system is available to the public. Now, Americans can ditch the traditional paper application process and simply go online to complete their renewal.

Learn how you can help your clients expedite their passport renewal

To top it off, passport processing times have decreased significantly since last year at this time. The average wait time is now four to six weeks (instead of the previous six to eight weeks) and the expedited wait time is two to three weeks. It’s important to note this does not include shipping time.

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To learn more about Global Entry, click here. To learn more about renewing a passport online, click here.

About the Author

Codie Liermann is the managing editor of The Compass. She began her career in the industry as a travel advisor prior to working as an editor. With a passion for creating valuable content for travel advisors, she aims to develop meaningful relationships with all types of travel companies in order to share their unique messages with the travel agency community.