New Countries Are Coming To TSA PreCheck And Global Entry In 2025

Long immigration and security lines at airports are the bane of travel, especially if you have a flight to catch, a meeting to attend, or a flood of travelers in front of you. For 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is slated to add seven new countries to the PreCheck and Global Entry program, making arrival into the United States more seamless for Australians, Brazilians, Indians, and others who hold Global Entry membership. Moreover, CBP is adding more Global Entry kiosks at major airports such as LAX, JFK, and Miami to speed up immigration clearance.

Although membership lasts five years and the application fee is $120, the requirements to join and maintain Global Entry membership differ from country to country. However, across the board, all foreign Global Entry members are still required to have the appropriate visa or visa waiver and must update CBP if there are any changes to their visa, name, or passport. However, no matter which corner of the globe you come from, the benefits are universal. Global Entry can save travelers hours at immigration, or even give you enough time to leave the airport and explore the best of New York before jetting off to the national park known as the "Crown of the Continent." Just don't miss your connection!

One of the biggest benefits of Global Entry membership is the inclusion of TSA PreCheck. PreCheck is a game changer for families with young ones and travelers who want to speed through airport security lines in a matter of minutes. Since PreCheck is attached to each traveler's Global Entry Known Traveler Number (KTN) be sure to add this number to your reservation when purchasing a domestic flight in the United States to take advantage of the benefits. And if you forget or misplace it you can easily look it up.

Although Global Entry is not a fully reciprocal program, Americans who are Global Entry members still gain benefits outside of the U.S. due to being trusted travelers. Since 2016, Americans who visiting New Zealand have been able to use separate lanes to speed through customs and immigration at Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington airports. Moreover, Americans who have Global Entry can apply for South Korea's SES (Smart Entry Service) which allows travelers to use smart gates upon arrival and breeze past the long lines.

One of the biggest little-known Global Entry benefits makes life easier for American travelers who frequently visit Japan. Global Entry members are eligible to apply for a Japanese Trusted Traveler ID card, which, like its American counterpart, is a legal form of ID. However, if you plan to shop, note that you will likely have trouble taking advantage of tax-free shopping benefits, as your entry details will be noted on the Trusted Traveler ID and not your passport.

One of the biggest benefits of joining Global Entry for Americans, regardless of where they travel, is meeting the new REAL ID requirement. From May 7, 2025, all airline passengers will be required to have a TSA-approved form of REAL ID to pass through the security checkpoint. Unfortunately, if your state-issued driver's license is not enhanced or does not have a star or flag, it likely does not meet the requirement. However, a Global Entry Trusted Traveler ID is accepted. And, some major credit cards will even cover the application fee for the primary cardholder, saving you $120 as well as a day at the DMV.