Eligible frequent flyers to the USA will finally be able to jump the queues at immigration and airport security after US authorities rubber-stamped Australia’s entry into the US Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs.
Announced during a state visit to Washington DC by Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, the admission into Global Entry comes after a previously agreed trial of the program in 2019 was put on the backburner by the pandemic.
A trial of 1,000 Australians who have visited the US five times or more in the past 12 months will be conducted from Jan 2025 ahead of a planned wider rollout of the program, which will come following passage of relevant legislation into Australian law.
During her visit, Minister Wong unlocked access to the program through the signing of a new information sharing agreement which will allow the US Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the trial and Australia’s eventual participation in Global Entry.
“Joining Global Entry is good for our citizens,” Minister Wong said.
“It is good for Australian businesses [and] good for our friendship.”
Aspiring applicants to America’s ‘trusted traveller’ program must pass a thorough criminal history check, which will assess any criminal convictions, pending charges or violation of any customs laws anywhere in the world. There’s also an in-person interview which will take place at a US Consulate or Embassy.
There will also be a $100 application fee, plus any charges imposed by Australia to facilitate its part in the approval process, which will grant the applicant five years of easier access to the US.
Successful admission means travellers will only need to show their passport and have their fingerprints scanned to pass through immigration on each subsequent visit to the United States.
Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, said the Albanese Government is delivering the Global Entry program for thousands of travellers who visit the United States frequently.
“Today’s signing is an important step and we’re working hard to ensure that from January 2025, the first group of eligible Australians will experience expedited immigration and customs clearance channels when they arrive in the US,” Minister Burke said.
