TTPRADAROn October 27, 2026, CBP announced Saudi Arabia as a Global Entry partner, and Saudi citizens can now apply. Press reports say the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the announcement and that CBP describes Global Entry as a program for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.
One caveat up front: we could not read the CBP announcement itself. This guide relies on CBP's general Global Entry page and press coverage, and it flags the gaps.
Who qualifies
Saudi citizens are the group the announcement covers. Beyond that, we could not confirm any Saudi-specific eligibility criteria, such as visa or residency requirements, or an application start date. One press report says approved members must still hold a valid US visa, but we could not check that against CBP, so treat it as unconfirmed.
Check the current eligibility details in the Trusted Traveler Programs system before you pay for anything.
What it costs and what you get
CBP's general Global Entry fee is $120, and membership lasts five years. Minors are free if a parent is already enrolled or applying. We found no Saudi-specific fee confirmation, so read $120 as the program fee, not a promise for Saudi applicants.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck. Press reports say approved Saudi members can use it on eligible domestic US flights.
The application and vetting
CBP's process has four steps: submit and pay, wait for the CBP background check, attend an in-person interview, then receive benefits. Press coverage says Saudi applicants are vetted by both US and Saudi authorities, and that the interview is required before enrollment.
CBP says most background checks finish in about 2 weeks. Some take 12 months or longer, depending on criminal history. CBP gives no timing specific to Saudi applicants.
Press coverage says the Trusted Traveler mobile app lets you apply, check status, schedule interviews and manage your membership. The TTP system works too.
Approval is not guaranteed. Members can still be selected for further examination, and violations can end a membership.
The in-person interview
First-time applicants must attend an interview with CBP. That means booking an interview appointment at a US enrollment center after conditional approval.
CBP also offers Enrollment on Arrival. Conditionally approved applicants can do the interview when they land at a participating airport instead of booking a slot. Bring a valid passport and proof of residency, and note that hours vary by airport. CBP's page does not say whether Saudi citizens can use it, so confirm that before building a trip around it.
How long the wait is
Nobody can promise you a date, and waits change daily. As a snapshot, our scan on October 29, 2026 found availability at 97 of 115 US enrollment centers, with a median wait of 0 days. That is one day's measurement, not a forecast.
The interview happens in the US, so the useful question is which enrollment center sits near where you will be, and what its board says today.
Finding an early slot
- Check the live board. The Global Entry wait times page shows the current soonest appointment at each enrollment center.
- Be flexible on location. A center in a different city, or an airport you pass through anyway, can have a much earlier slot than the nearest one.
- Watch for cancellations. Cancellations open earlier slots. Our free browser alerts watch the centers you pick, and paid text (SMS) alerts are available if you want them on your phone.
- Browse your options. The list of enrollment centers helps you match a center to your itinerary.
What to do now
Open the TTP system, check whether you can apply as a Saudi citizen, and start the application, since the background check runs before you can interview. Then pick one or two enrollment centers that fit your travel and watch them.
TTPRadar is independent and not affiliated with CBP, DHS or any agency. Every approval and interview decision stays with CBP.