Starting next year, Australians will enjoy reduced wait times and faster security checks when travelling through US airports.
In a diplomatic breakthrough with the US government, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced in Washington that Australia will join the US Global Entry program in 2025.
This means Australian travellers can take advantage of fast-track security checks, avoid time-consuming border controls and can even keep their shoes on and their laptop in their bag.
The Global Entry program allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to expedite their processing times after landing in the U.S. through the use of automated kiosks.
Travelers will not need to be questioned by border officials upon arrival.
Pre-approved Australians will have their photo taken in a seamless process to verify their Global Entry membership.
They will also enjoy faster security checks on domestic flights.
“Joining the Global Entry program is a testament to the closeness and strength of the relationship between our two countries,” said Senator Wong.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that Australia will join the US Global Entry program in 2025. Senator Wong is pictured with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Starting next year, Australians will enjoy reduced wait times and faster security checks at US airports.
‘The foundation of the friendship between Australia and the United States is the friendship between our peoples.
“This program will deepen these ties and facilitate the fostering of greater trade ties,” said Senator Wong.
Approximately 1.3 million Australians visit the United States each year.
Currently, the wait time for approximately 99 percent of PreCheck travelers is less than 10 minutes.
Entry into the Global Entry program for eligible Australians will be implemented in two phases.
1,000 frequent travelers to the U.S. will be able to apply starting in January.
They must have traveled to the U.S. at least five times in the previous 12 months.
That requirement will be lifted when Phase 2 is implemented and an unlimited number of Australians will be able to register.
The changes to entry arrangements will come into effect once the legislation has been passed by Australia’s parliament, and are expected to begin to apply by the end of 2025.
The Global Entry program will be open to Australian citizens who meet the requirements of Australia and the United States.
Applicants will be required to undergo a nationally coordinated criminal records check by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
The Department of the Interior will conduct a preliminary assessment and final approval will be left to the U.S. authorities.
It will cost Australians US$100 (AU$154) to apply for the program and they will be required to pass a background check and have an in-person interview with a US official.
Australian travelers won’t need to take off their shoes or remove their laptops from their bags at U.S. airports thanks to the U.S. Global Entry program.
The Australian government will also charge a fee for processing background checks.
These fees have not been set and will be waived for the 1,000 participants eligible to join in phase one.
Australia first announced its entry into the US Global Entry program in 2018, but it was delayed due to the Covid pandemic.
Senator Wong blamed the previous government for the delay.
“I understand that this was warned about many, many years ago, but it did not materialize,” he said.
“It’s the previous government, so you’d have to ask them, but I’m glad we managed to get it.”
Australia will join other global gateway partners including Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.