Australia will join the U.S. Global Entry program next year, allowing Australian citizens to enjoy expedited customs clearance upon arrival in the United States.
According to an announcement from Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the program will initially launch in January, targeting some of the “most frequent travelers” to the United States. The country is working to expand eligibility to all Australians who apply later in 2025.
Upon acceptance into Global Entry, participants will automatically be eligible for expedited screening through TSA PreCheck lines.
“The foundation of the friendship between Australia and the United States is the friendship between our peoples,” Wong said in a statement. “This program will deepen those connections and make it easier to foster greater commercial ties.”
Charlene Reiss, president of the Americas for Flight Centre Travel Group in Australia, said Australia’s inclusion in Global Entry was “huge news.” The U.S. is Australia’s largest economic partner, with about $118 billion worth of goods and services traded between the two countries each year. She noted that airlines are opening more direct routes between Australia and the U.S.
“With faster and easier travel, Australian corporate travelers will be able to leverage their trips to the U.S. to build stronger overseas business relationships, open new growth opportunities and expand their global presence,” Leiss said in a statement.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Global Entry is currently open to citizens of 15 countries. These include Mexico, as well as citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Bahrain, the Dominican Republic, India, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
Source: Business Travel News
