There is some confusion about how long does Global Entry last after your initial approval for Global Entry. Most people know that Global Entry is good for 5 years but are unclear when those 5 years start. The most obvious assumption is that Global Entry expires 5 years after the date you applied and paid the application fee OR 5 years after the interview and final approval date. However, the expiration date of Global Entry is actually based on your date of birth which means that some people end up having Global Entry for almost 6 years after their initial Global Entry approval date.

How Long Does Global Entry Last?

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), “your membership will be valid for 5 years, with expiration date based on your date of birth”. Because the Global Entry expiration date is tied to your birthday, your Global Entry membership will be valid for at least 5 years – but could valid almost 6 years after the date you are approved for the first time.

For example, my sister and I both applied for Global Entry for the first time in June, 2013 but our interview was scheduled and we were approved in November, 2013. Since my birthday is in October, my first Global Entry expiration date was 5 years after the first birthday after the approval date (October, 2014) with an initial Global Entry expiration date of October, 2019. Because of this particular rule, I had Global Entry for almost 5 years and 11 months before it was time to renew. My sister’s birthday is in March so her first Global Entry expiration date was March, 2019 even though we both interviewed and we were approved on the exact same date.

For those who are applying for Global Entry for the first time and need to schedule your Global Entry interview, it might be a good idea to schedule your Global Entry interview shortly after your birthday in order to maximize the amount of time your Global Entry is valid for. By timing your Global Entry interview and approval date after your birthday, you will have Global Entry (and TSA Precheck) for close to 6 years rather than 5 years.

If you have a credit card that reimburses you for Global Entry, having Global Entry for almost an extra year does not matter but if you are paying for the Global Entry fee yourself, it is a good idea to time your initial application to get Global Entry for longer.

To summarize, your Global Entry expiration date will always be tied to your birthday. The initial length of time having Global Entry might vary from 5 years to almost 6 years. However, once your initial period of having Global Entry is over, every time you renew your Global Entry you will add exactly 5 years to your expiration date.

How to Find Your Global Entry Expiration Date

If you don’t remember your interview/approval date, you can find your Global Entry expiration date when you log into your Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) account at https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/ (if you had a GOES account you will have to re-register for a login.gov account).

Make sure to watch for emails from the CBP or put a calendar reminder with your Global Entry expiration date so that you start the Global Entry renewal process BEFORE your Global Entry expires. (You can apply to renew Global Entry up to one (1) year before your Global Entry expiration date.)

If you apply for renewal after your Global Entry is already expired, you will not have Global Entry while your renewal application is pending – which can be a long time as processing can take 6 months or more!  However, if you apply to renew even one day before your Global Entry membership expires, you will be able to continue to use Global Entry benefits until the renewal is finalized.

For more information on how to apply for Global Entry for the first time see related posts: Guide to Global Entry: Application and Interview Process and TSA Precheck vs. Global Entry: Which Is Best For You?

If you are renewing Global Entry see related post: How to Renew Global Entry.