What Global Entry Reimbursement Covers

Global Entry reimbursement is a benefit on certain premium credit cards that covers the cost of your Global Entry membership fee. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that lets you skip regular security lines and use expedited screening when you return to the United States from international travel. The membership costs $100 for five years, and some premium cards will reimburse that full amount.

The reimbursement typically works as a statement credit — the card issuer credits your account after you charge the Global Entry fee to your card. You pay the fee upfront, then the credit appears on your statement within a few billing cycles. The exact timing and process depend on which card you hold, but the end result is the same: you get the membership without paying out of pocket.

Not all premium cards offer this benefit, and the ones that do may have different rules about how often you can claim it. Some cards reimburse every five years (matching the membership term), while others reimburse once per year or once per cardholder lifetime. Read your card's benefits guide to confirm the frequency and any conditions.

Key Takeaways

  • Global Entry reimbursement covers the $100 membership fee as a statement credit when you charge it to your card.
  • You must use the specific card offering the benefit to charge the fee — using a different card disqualifies you from the reimbursement.
  • The credit typically posts within one to three billing cycles after the charge appears on your statement.
  • Reimbursement frequency varies by card: some reimburse every five years, others annually, and a few reimburse once per lifetime.
  • Global Entry membership is valid for five years, so plan your renewal timing to align with when your card's reimbursement window opens.

How to Claim Your Reimbursement

Start by confirming your card offers Global Entry reimbursement and what the terms are. Check your card's benefits guide (usually available on the issuer's website or in your online account) or call the customer service number on the back of your card. Ask specifically whether the benefit is active on your account and whether you have already used it during the current benefit year or membership cycle.

Once you have confirmed the benefit is available, visit the official Global Entry website (globalentry.cbp.dhs.gov) and pay the $100 membership fee using the credit card that offers the reimbursement. This is the critical step — you must charge the fee to the correct card, or the issuer will not reimburse it. Some cards require you to charge it to the primary cardholder's account; if you are an authorized user, check whether the benefit applies to charges you make.

After the charge posts to your statement, monitor your account for the statement credit. Most issuers post the credit within one to three billing cycles. If you do not see it after 60 days, contact the card issuer's customer service and provide your Global Entry confirmation number and the date you paid the fee. Keep your Global Entry receipt and confirmation email until the credit appears.

Timing Your Renewal and Reimbursement

Global Entry membership lasts five years from the date you enroll or renew. If your card reimburses every five years, you should plan to renew your Global Entry membership in the same year your card's reimbursement benefit resets. For example, if you enrolled in Global Entry in 2024 and your card reimburses once every five years, you would want to renew in 2029 to align with the next reimbursement window.

If your card reimburses annually or once per cardholder lifetime, the timing is simpler — you can renew whenever your membership is about to expire, and you will receive the reimbursement in the year you renew. However, if you switch to a different card before your membership expires, confirm that your new card also offers Global Entry reimbursement before you rely on it for a future renewal.

Some cardholders renew Global Entry early (within the last year of their current membership) to take advantage of a reimbursement benefit on a newly opened card. This is allowed by Global Entry, but check your card's terms first — some issuers do not reimburse early renewals, only initial enrollments or standard five-year renewals.

What Happens If the Reimbursement Does Not Post

If 60 to 90 days have passed since you paid the Global Entry fee and you do not see a statement credit, contact your card issuer's customer service. Have your Global Entry confirmation number, the date you paid, and the amount ($100) ready. The issuer will investigate whether the charge posted correctly and whether your account is may be able to access for the benefit.

Common reasons the reimbursement may not post include: the fee was charged to a different card than the one offering the benefit, the benefit had already been used during the current cycle, the charge was made by an authorized user when the benefit applies only to the primary cardholder, or the card was not yet active when you made the purchase. The customer service representative can tell you which issue applies and what your options are.

If the issuer confirms the reimbursement should have posted but did not, they will typically issue a manual credit to your account. This may take an additional one to two billing cycles. If the charge was made to the wrong card or during an ineligible period, you may need to pay the fee again from the correct card to receive the reimbursement.

Global Entry Versus TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck is a separate program that costs $78 to $85 for five years and speeds up security screening at U.S. airports. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck benefits, so if you enroll in Global Entry, you do not need TSA PreCheck. However, TSA PreCheck is useful if you only travel domestically and do not need the international customs screening that Global Entry provides.

Some premium credit cards reimburse either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, but not both. If your card offers a choice, Global Entry is the better value because it covers everything TSA PreCheck does plus the international screening. A few high-tier cards reimburse both, but this is rare. Check your card's benefits guide to see which programs are covered.

Authorized Users and Reimbursement may be able to access

The reimbursement benefit typically applies only to the primary cardholder's Global Entry membership. If you are an authorized user on someone else's card, you generally cannot use that card's reimbursement benefit to pay for your own Global Entry enrollment. However, if you are the primary cardholder, the benefit covers your membership regardless of whether you travel alone or with family members.

Some card issuers allow the primary cardholder to pay for an authorized user's Global Entry membership and receive reimbursement, but this is not standard. Call your card issuer to ask whether the benefit covers family members' enrollments or only the primary cardholder. If it covers only the primary cardholder, you would need to use your own card to pay for your own membership in order to receive the reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the reimbursement in the year I get the card?

No. You can enroll in Global Entry or renew your membership at any time, as long as you charge the fee to the card during a year when the reimbursement benefit is active. If your card reimburses every five years, you have a five-year window to use it. If it reimburses annually, you have until the end of that calendar year.

What if I already paid for Global Entry before I got this card?

Most cards do not reimburse fees you paid before you opened the account. However, some issuers will reimburse a recent charge if you request it within 60 to 90 days of opening the card. Contact customer service and ask whether they can review a Global Entry charge you made in the past few months. Keep your receipt and confirmation number ready.

Can I use the reimbursement for someone else's Global Entry membership?

Typically, no — the benefit covers the primary cardholder's membership only. If you want to pay for a family member's Global Entry and receive reimbursement, they would need to open their own card that offers the benefit, or you would need to confirm with your issuer that they allow reimbursement for dependent or family member enrollments.

What if I cancel my card before the reimbursement posts?

If you cancel the card before the statement credit appears, the issuer may not process the reimbursement. The credit is typically tied to an active account. If you have already paid the Global Entry fee and are considering closing the card, wait until the reimbursement posts before you cancel. If you have already closed the account, contact the issuer and ask whether they can still honor the reimbursement.

Does the reimbursement cover the Global Entry interview fee?

No. The $100 reimbursement covers the membership fee only. If you are required to pay an additional fee for an in-person interview or biometric processing, that is not covered by the card's reimbursement benefit. However, most Global Entry applicants do not pay an interview fee — the $100 covers the full enrollment process.