The United States has officially confirmed which foreign nationals can apply for its Global Entry programme, a trusted traveller scheme run by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The programme allows pre-approved travellers to clear customs faster upon arriving in the country. According to CBP's eligibility guidelines, the programme is open to US citizens and lawful permanent residents, as well as citizens of 22 other countries. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, though minors can also enrol with a parent's or legal guardian's written consent.
The 22 foreign nations whose citizens qualify for the programme are: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, India, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. This list includes major economies and travel hubs, but notably excludes all African countries. The scheme is particularly valuable for frequent international travellers, enabling them to bypass the standard customs queues and move through US border control more efficiently after landing.
The exclusion of African nations from the programme carries significant weight for the large number of African travellers who make regular trips to the US and could otherwise benefit from the programme's expedited entry process. Major countries on the continent such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa do not appear on the list, meaning their citizens are currently ineligible for Global Entry membership regardless of their travel record or history of visits to the United States.
The US Customs and Border Protection published the full list of countries eligible for its Global Entry trusted traveller programme. The programme is run by CBP and allows pre-approved travellers to clear customs faster upon arriving in the country. The programme is open to US citizens and lawful permanent residents, as well as citizens of 22 other countries.
The Global Entry programme is particularly useful for frequent international travellers, who can use the programme to bypass standard customs queues. The programme has been expanded to include citizens of 22 countries, but no African nation is included. This exclusion affects millions of African travellers who regularly visit the US.
The absence of African countries from the list is notable, given the large number of travellers from the continent who visit the US each year. The programme's benefits, including expedited customs clearance, are not available to citizens of African countries, who must instead use standard customs procedures.
The US Global Entry programme is an important tool for frequent international travellers, and its expansion to 22 countries has been welcomed by travellers from those nations. However, the exclusion of African countries from the programme has left many travellers from the continent facing longer customs wait times.
Key points
- No African country is eligible for the US Global Entry programme.
- The programme is open to citizens of 22 countries, including the UK, Germany, India, and the UAE.
- The exclusion of African nations affects millions of travellers from the continent who regularly visit the US.
