Summary
- Australia will soon join the US Global Entry program, making travel to the US faster and more convenient for eligible citizens.
- The initial phase will include 1,000 frequent travelers, with more Australians to be included in the future.
- Approved travelers will bypass regular lines and use automated kiosks for quick entry.
US-bound Australian travelers can soon take advantage of the US Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs, making their journey faster and more convenient. Australia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement saying that the program will be available to Australian citizens from next year.
Australia to get access to the US Global Entry program
Australia will soon be included in the list of countries eligible for the US Global Entry program. The country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong, and Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke MP, released a joint statement, saying that Australia will join the program in 2025.
Both Australia and the US initiated the process in 2018 towards this goal, but it was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wong commented,
“Joining the Global Entry program is a mark of the closeness and the strength of the relationship between our two countries. The foundation of the friendship between Australia and United States is the friendship between our people. This program will deepen these links and make it easier to foster greater commercial ties.”
Starting with 1,000 frequent travelers
According to ABC Australia, the program will initially be open to 1,000 Australians who travel to the US frequently; one of the conditions for the applicants will be at least five trips to the US in the last 12 months.
But more Australians will be included in the program in the second phase, which will require legislation to be passed through the Australian parliament. While the first 1,000 frequent fliers are expected to be able to apply from January onwards, the second phase to include more travelers will begin later next year.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Of course, those applying for the program will have to meet certain criteria. The scheme is open to Australian citizens 18 years or older (minors require a parent or legal guardian’s consent) who will have to undergo a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
A non-refundable fee of $100 will be charged to apply for the program, which will last for five years if approved. Anyone found with criminal convictions pending criminal charges or giving false information will be disqualified.
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Convenience for travelers
Those who are successfully approved will be allowed to skip general lines upon arrival in the US and go straight to an automated kiosk. Access to the TSA’s PreCheck program will also be given to such travelers for quicker screening during domestic travel.
Indeed, the global entry program will make life easy for many Australian travelers to the US, where waiting lines at passport control checkpoints, particularly at busy airports such as New York and Los Angeles, can be up to an hour.
The Global Entry program is available at around 75 airports in the US, allowing pre-approved low-risk travelers an expedited entry into the country. Australia will soon join other countries eligible for the program, including Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Singapore, The Netherlands, Bahrain, and South Korea, among others.
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